Partners, kind to get involved in tricks (8)
I believe the answer is:
consorts
'partners' is the definition.
('consort' can be a synonym of 'partner')
'kind to get involved in tricks' is the wordplay.
'kind' becomes 'sort' (synonyms).
'to get involved in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'tricks' becomes 'cons' (trick can mean to scam or con).
'sort' put within 'cons' is 'CONSORTS'.
(Other definitions for consorts that I've seen before include "Hangs out with" , "Scorns to mix with royal husbands or wives" , "Partners, companions" , "Scorns to mix with royal couples" .)