by K. N. Banet
“Well, I was hoping to know where your eyes are. Kartane didn’t have them.” I looked around the room, not seeing any evidence they were around. It didn’t even look like a fight had taken place, but I knew it was possible someone cleaned up already.
“You found the traitor? Oh good. Well, if he lost them, I’m certain I can do a spell to track them down. It might take some time, but I don’t need any assistance. A shame he’s misplaced them. They are very important to me.”
“They are, aren’t they? Why didn’t you try to track them earlier? It would have been helpful in locating your traitor.” It was my turn to be annoyed.
He knew a spell to find his eyes, huh? Well, Eliphas, you really are digging yourself quite the hole.
“I’ve been a little weak since they were taken. It was my last resort if you were having a hard time tracking him down.” Eliphas sighed. “I didn’t want to expend the energy until the prison was cleaned up.”
“Your eyes are in this room, aren’t they?” I asked softly. “You took them out and hid them, didn’t you?”
He straightened, realizing I had ulterior motives.
“How dare you? I’m a highly respected witch with allies in the Tribunal. Your bosses. I can see you fired for accusing me of something so heinous.”
“There’s nothing heinous about hiding the most vulnerable part of your body,” I said carefully. I wanted him to walk into it.
“It implicates me in other things, and I won’t tolerate it.”
“Fine, forget I ever said anything.” I waved my hand around casually, dismissing the topic. “Let’s talk about the healers you and Tarak invited into the prison without telling anyone.”
“As I told Korey and the Tribunal, they are unrelated to this. I vetted them personally. When Tarak came to me, disappointed Mygi could do nothing to help Wesley, I reached out to several smaller groups, traveling healer teams. The one I chose seemed to understand the best and were willing to help, even at risk to themselves, where no one else was.” He was pissed off now, which was okay with me. “They are a non-issue, and I will take the reprimand the Tribunal decides to give.”
“You let this healer and his team see other inmates,” I reminded him. “Any reason for that?”
“I wanted to see if he could help the therapy we did with many of our patients. I’ve spent years trying to help the supernaturals here by finding the root of their problems and using that to put them on the right path. Years, Kaliya. Have you ever been so dedicated to something, you would take risks?”
“Oh, yes.” I nodded slowly. “I’m one of nine living naga. I know all too well about risking everything to protect an ideal. I do it every day, out here in the real world instead of a naga compound. I do it every time I go on an assignment. Every time I perform an execution for the Tribunal, upholding the Law that also protects my people. I do it to put the fear of the gods into anyone who might try their luck, toying with me or any other of my kind.”
He went very still.
“What did he blackmail you with?” I asked gently. “What was it, Eliphas?”
“He paid me to see some of the patients. We kept it very quiet. He would go in, perform a couple of blood tests, take samples. That was all. Nothing more.”
“And yet, it broke rules, didn’t it? You were subjecting prisoners to medical procedures against their will, and they could tell people you were corrupt. He could tell people you were corrupt.”
“How…how did you know?” He slowly stood and brought his hands together, pleading. “You must understand. He was going to stop all the good work he was doing with Wesley, and I knew that would hurt Tarak. Wesley didn’t belong here, and we all wanted to help him. He just wanted more access in exchange for that help. It started small and…”
I didn’t need a werewolf’s nose to know that was a lie. He got greedy. A little money, and no one would have to know. He was too smart to get caught. Eliphas was always fucking full of himself, and his attempt earlier to throw his political might at me only proved it.
“Then it grew bigger and got out of your control,” I finished. “I get it. So, things escalated. You kept it from Tarak and the others in the prison. You couldn’t stop it, right? You thought what he wanted was harmless, so why not? Those prisoners would probably never see the light of day, or no one would ever believe them.”
“He manipulated their memories. They didn’t know.”
“Even worse,” I said. “You know, for years, I walked into this prison and had no sympathy for any of the inmates. None at all. I knew they would all end up on the wrong end of me or some other Executioner, eventually. They never cleaned up their act for long, and we don’t often get second chances. But you know what this entire thing has taught me? Or rather, reminded me of since it really is a lesson I should have already known.”
“What?”
“The monsters aren’t always the ones in the cage,” I finished coolly. “Now, let’s stop with the lies, and I’ll tell you my version of the story.”
He scowled, but I wasn’t shaken. The wheels were turning in his mind to find a way to talk himself out of this. He wouldn’t give up hope until the very last moment. In his mind, it would be easier to talk me out of killing than it would be explaining my death to the Tribunal.
“You brought this guy in to help Wesley. Sure, we can run with that. Tarak would have never agreed to help keep him a secret otherwise.” I touched something on one of his shelves, looking over the odd little figurine. Something from a distant land I wasn’t completely familiar with—human in origin. “Then you had him help with the therapy. Okay, you liked his services. Then he wanted to purchase a service from you. You said yes. There was no blackmail about Wesley. I think you got greedy. How do I know? The sob story would have worked if you had come forward. You know it would have. A sob story about saving Wesley and getting roped into a scheme is sympathetic before you took his money. Second chances and all that. You would have taken a slap on the wrist long before all of this.” I hissed in anger as it all came together.
“No, you were just greedy. When your friend came to you and said, ‘I can destroy you unless you help me kill Kaliya Sahni,’ you knew he could. So, you helped him. You went through with it.” I pulled my sidearm and aimed. “You used the compulsion spells on the inmates he told you to. You orchestrated the breakout during my walkthrough because it was perfect timing. You wanted me to die in this prison, then clean up the mess, maybe look like a hero, and be done with the asshole who blackmailed you.”
“The Tribunal would have told me if I was served an execution for any of your paranoid ramblings,” he said with a boldness I could appreciate. Under normal circumstances, they would have put his name on the Wanted list and been done with it. Considering his position and his power over the prison compound, everyone in the supernatural world would have known—which couldn’t happen. It would have rattled the faith in the Tribunal too much to know one of their oh-so-special Wardens had betrayed them.
“I’m not here to kill you for any of that,” I whispered. “This is just for trying to kill me, and I don’t need the Tribunal’s permission to do this.”
I fired two off. They ricocheted off a shield that came up a split second after I pulled the trigger.
Shit.
I dove, shifting into a snake and moving for cover as a blast of magic blew the door open and destroyed a section of the wall to the staircase.
As I moved around the office, getting closer to him, he spun around, desperate. Most aggressive witches like him and Levi resorted to the same basic attack—a magical pressure blast that could be flung out wildly. Depending on the power of the witch, the more damage it caused.
He blew another hole in the wall, this time opening up the tower to the night sky.
The intercom came on only a moment later.
“This is Warden Korey speaking. Everyone remain calm and hold your positions. Warden Eliphas has been sentenced to death by Execution by the Tribunal. I repe
at, everyone remain calm and hold your positions.”
I moved silently. Eliphas stumbled into the middle of the room, where the floor was clear of debris. I kept moving out of his possible line of sight among the furniture, books, and laundry around the room. I wanted to get behind him, not wanting another brawl.
When I found myself near the open wall, his back was turned for a split second.
I shifted back into human form behind him and grabbed a handful of his hair, yanking his head back. I struck hard and fast, sinking my fangs into his neck. I could have killed him in snake form, it would have been easier, but it wouldn’t have given me the same satisfaction.
When I released him, I spun us around, so his back was to the night sky and the terrible drop. My fast acting venom was already doing its work as a red tear ran down his cheek.
“That was for me,” I whispered.
I shoved.
Stepping closer to the edge, I watched his fall to the yard, scaring guards as his body landed right in front of them.
“That was for Nakul,” I said, knowing no one would hear the words. They were for me.
I walked out of the tower, feeling empty, knowing my job was done.
31
Chapter Thirty-One
Another three hours passed by the time Raphael and I got back to Cassius’ mansion. Raphael had made several good points—my condo was a mess, my house wasn’t finished, Cassius’ mansion was the safest place to be—so I didn’t fight his request to return there.
Part of me only said yes because it was a mansion, with all the creature comforts of one.
Leith unlocked the door, then bid us a good night when he caught my mood. I needed to be alone, not because I was angry or upset, but because I just needed to be.
I left Raphael to unload the BMW and went to take a long, hot shower. By the time I was out, I only felt marginally better. Knowing it would be impossible to sleep, I pulled on a t-shirt and sweats, then headed downstairs to the entertainment room Cassius had tucked away, where I could stream a movie and let it carry me away.
I found a seat right in the middle of the room. It wasn’t a movie chair. Whoever had designed the room had made very deep couches, where people could essentially lie down and enjoy their films. I enjoyed the soft, plush fabric the moment I sat down and made myself comfortable among the pillows.
I turned on something but didn’t really pay attention, some noir film, an old classic I was certain. Movies were cool, but they were never my thing. I was more fond of art and the written word. I loved to read stories, not watch them. Reading a book wasn’t a good idea tonight, though. It wouldn’t give me the mindless activity I needed.
I didn’t know how long the movie had been playing when Raphael walked in, saw me, then took a seat next to me. He, not subtly, put an arm over me. I didn’t curl into him, though his heat made me want to, and my fangs demanded it.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly.
“I just need some quiet time.” If he had been anyone else, I would have gotten snappy. He knew how the last day and a half had gone—thirty-six hours of violence and secrets that should have killed me somewhere along the way.
I wasn’t in a bad mood. I was just drained.
“Do you mind a little company?” His arm began to lift but dropped as I shook my head. “Everyone is asleep. Leith helped me unload, then made himself scarce. Terry wasn’t in the kitchen, so I made a quick bite to eat, then came looking for you.”
“Quiet time,” I repeated softly. He said nothing else.
The movie finished with the good guy and his clear morals winning and the bad guy, who was definitely evil, losing.
“Nakul did evil things,” I whispered, staring at the screen as credits rolled. “But he wasn’t always evil. He was never really evil.”
“You don’t need to explain, Kaliya.”
“I do.” I needed to get this off my chest. I had to. “He was once a doting uncle. I loved my cousin. He was a good kid—a little older by a couple of years. My aunt was amazing. She and my mom were so…” I closed my eyes, letting the pain hit me, knowing there was no stopping it. “He was actually softer than my dad and brothers.
“My dad was tough. He had to be, you know? He had two sons and a daughter. That’s a lot of children in a naga family. My brothers were grown, but they still lived with us, and they all protected me…all the time. I couldn’t go out, not even into walled-off land. They were that paranoid. But then Nakul, Rashmi, and Sanjit would come over, and they would loosen up my family. I would get to play outside while Nakul distracted my father and brothers. My mother and aunt would laugh as I snuck off, not telling anyone I was going to swim in our pond.”
“It sounds like it was a nice life,” Raphael whispered.
“It was sometimes…most of the time. Whoever killed them broke him. My uncle did evil things, but he wasn’t evil. He was just broken.”
“Kaliya, what’s wrong?”
“I should hate him, but I pity him. I should feel terrible for helping him because he did evil things, but I don’t regret it. He was already so broken from losing his family. So, so broken,” I whispered, knowing all too well. “He didn’t deserve what Eliphas did to him or let be done to him.”
“No, he didn’t,” Raphael agreed.
“And I don’t think he should walk free, but…” I tried to find the words.
“No one deserves to be violated,” Raphael said carefully. “I think you’re walking the tightrope as best you can, Kaliya. I see it. I’m sure the Tribunal does, and I’m sure your people will. What was it you said on that phone call? You’re a leader of the nagas and have to protect your own at any cost. You’re their Executioner, and you have to uphold the Law. From where I sit, I can see the split responsibilities, and I think you did your best. Nakul doesn’t need to walk free, but he can be held under house arrest with his own people. That should appease both your loyalties, and you shouldn’t feel guilty. You’ve done your best.”
“Thanks,” I croaked. Now I did lean into him. He understood. He got it.
He picked up the remote and chose the next movie.
This one was also a blur to me—until the leads kissed. Sitting beside Raphael, my head on his shoulder and chest, my mouth watered, and my fangs dropped down. He shifted a little, moving his legs, and his breathing picked up.
The leads had sex later in the movie. I had a feeling Raphael hadn’t been expecting this, either. He cleared his throat, somewhat uncomfortably, as he tried to move his legs again to hide an obvious erection. As he got more comfortable, I sank into him more. Our bodies began to tangle, his arm under my head, one of mine thrown across his abdomen. I stretched, and one of my legs went over his, falling between them. After another shift, I was half draped over him, enjoying his blazing body heat; just what I needed. He started to rub my back, and I started to draw circles on his abdomen.
When I went lower, teasing the edge of his shorts, his breath hitched, and the pressure of his hand grew. His mouth touched the top of my head, and I teased further, grinding against him ever so subtly. The small growl that came from him was erotic, giving me shivers down my spine.
I knew what I was doing. I was looking for something to ease the empty feeling I sometimes got after a job ended—something to ease the loneliness brought on by my place in the world.
And it was working as his erection grew just under where my hand played at the edge of his shorts. Raphael was a good man, and just lying beside him made me want him. Biology, my own attraction, it didn’t matter the reason—I wanted him.
Two people silently leading each other through the same dance. We both wanted. I knew neither of us considered it the right time, but here we were, having opened up about things over the last day and a half, we spent four months avoiding.
We’re adults. Why not? I don’t have to bite him. He just has to know...
“I don’t kiss, and I’ve never had sex sober,” I said suddenly.
“You don’t
kiss at all?”
I looked up and tilted my head as I opened my mouth, showing my fangs. Showing him my fangs was easy. What surprised me was how he didn’t ask about the second half of the statement. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant thought.
“Oh, yeah. I can imagine a heavy makeout session doesn’t go well when someone accidentally punctures their tongue on one of those.” He was trying to be humorous, but I saw the heat in his eyes. He still wanted me, even with the very dangerous fangs. “Um, one is dripping. Isn’t that a…”
You know what it does to me. Make your decision, Raphael. It’s the perfect plan. I don’t need alcohol if I just accept that my body has given me a way out.
I watched him consider it. Slowly, he reached out and pushed up my chin, closing my mouth.
“Swallow,” he whispered. I did, and the effect started slowly, a warmth spreading from my gut.
He turned onto his side, coming out from under me, causing me to sink into the soft couch. His hand trailed up my side as we stared at each other, his warm chocolate eyes soft in the dim light of the screen.
“Are you sure?” he asked softly.
“This is the only thing I’ve been sure of in weeks. If you leave me with my venom coursing through my veins, I’ll kill you the moment I can walk.”
He nodded, chuckling. “There’s the Kaliya I know.”
He ducked down, and a thigh went between my legs as he half rolled over me. His mouth found my neck, and I let my head go back as he kissed a hot line from under my jaw to the collar of my loose tee. From the bottom, he pulled the shirt up and wrapped his hand around to my lower back as his erection pressed against my thigh.
Then the fire really began to spread. It had been ages since I purposely or accidentally ingested my own venom, decades at least. I had forgotten just how potent it could be.
I clawed at his shirt, and he obliged, pulling away to his knees, his thigh still pressed between my legs. While his shirt came off, revealing his beautiful, scarred body, I threw my own aside, revealing I hadn’t bothered to put on a bra. I hadn’t been expecting to hang out with anyone tonight after getting back.