“Ongoing.” It wasn’t rude or clipped, but for Andrew it might well have passed for such. His tone tended to be open, inviting. It was neither now. This was business and not even especially pleasant business. He did still grace Roxy’s humor with a faint, short-lived smile. “I’m not sure who should be more offended. Do you get to be Bana or Norton? Ruffalo, maybe?”
He was behind on everything that constituted a hobby, but he couldn’t really complain. He had gotten everything he wanted, except of course peace with Kaylee. And there was still hope for that. He wouldn’t begrudge Abel his own happy ending. Tristan was another story, but Abel Haskel’s current ambitions didn’t seem to impede on Andrew’s life and Andrew was happy enough to return the favor. That was another reason for this awkward encounter; in the very place he had first met Roxy. He could understand Able’s position to some extent. He was being forced to ally himself with the woman who had taken everything from him, but even that situation was mired in greys. Clarinda had brought that fate upon the coven—Melisande had merely stuck to her guns. Andrew had perhaps had no small part in bolstering that resolve.
Studying Roxy now revealed a somewhat different individual than the first impression had left him with. But that was mutual enough. They both came off as more innocent than they really were. It probably said a lot about Andrew that he didn’t care what Melisande was. Angel, demon, something inbetween… He truly didn’t care. Perhaps he was right, and who she was mattered most, but there was merit to the other side of that argument. This blood oath of hers could be the best or the worst thing to ever happen to humanity, perhaps to everyone, and he was supporting more than just the woman he loved by aiding in its survival now. Kaylee said he was selling out for a pretty face.
“I’m gonna just go ahead and admit that I’m a little unclear about what we’re trying to accomplish here. You,” he nodded to Roxanna, “wanted to talk to me, right? Say whatever it is you have to say. Or ask what you need to ask. I’ll do you a favor and we can skip the foreplay and get to it.”