they give me the…green light, as humans say.”
“That’s the one,” I said, chuckling. Cassius had a problem with modern human sayings. He was catching up, mostly because everyone gave him shit for not figuring them out already.
“I do have one question that’s not totally relevant,” he admitted finally.
“What’s up?” I was insanely curious now.
“How is it you have already stumbled on this when you’ve only been home for…two days? You were just at the Jacky Leon Trial, and now you’re in this.”
“Oh, was that her name?” I frowned. “Yeah…The bounty came up while I was out of town, so I’m actually a week behind everyone else in the city who watches these things. Sinclair showing up really pushed up my time frame to figure out what was going on. Initially, I had no intention of getting involved and protecting Raphael. I just figured I would look into it for Paden, and he could decide what he wanted to do with it.”
“You always did strike fast.”
“I’m a snake, of course I do,” I reminded him.
“Send me a report, and I’ll look into it.” Something about those words seemed final as if he was looking to get off the phone.
“Can do.”
“Stay safe, Executioner.”
“You too, Investigator.”
We both hung up, and I stared at my cellphone for a moment. Cassius must have had company at the last moment if he said goodbye using my role. That was the sign someone was around who he didn’t want to know that he spoke to me on a semi-regular basis. Maybe it was his soon-to-be wife, or maybe it was one of the Tribunal, who didn’t like it when their Executioners and Investigators teamed up and caused trouble for them. Cassius lived with the male fae Tribunal member, so it would make sense he would have to be careful.
Before moving on with my list of tasks, I wrote a small report on Raphael’s abilities and what he looked like when he used them—the red and black eyes, the black ink spreading from them in his veins, the unidentifiable smell, the super strength, and advanced healing. Maybe he would know someone similar or something about it. The more we knew, the better.
I didn’t put anything about my reaction to the not-human, though. That wasn’t Cassius’s business. That was a problem only I could handle, but it meant keeping Raphael alive was extremely important.
I called Paden next, pushing aside thoughts of Cassius.
“Before you say fucking anything,” Paden growled on the other end of the call, “just know that I know what you did. You have him, and Sinclair is furious. He’s in the Underground right now, talking about you and how you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. His witch looks a little beat up too, and I’m guessing that was you?”
“No, that was Raphael,” I answered. “Paden—”
“How does a human do that to a witch?”
“He’s not entirely human, but I don’t know what he is. He doesn’t know what he is,” I snapped quickly, tired of the berating tone in Paden’s voice. “He’s here at my fucking place, sleeping in my second bedroom, and it’s been a fucking challenge, let me tell you, to fucking get him here.” Taking a steadying breath, I realized I couldn’t tell Paden much until I knew more. “Let me get back to you tomorrow night. I might have more, but the last couple of days have been crazy.”
“I’ve noticed, and I only have myself to blame for it,” he snapped back. “Should have never told you about this. Someone is going to get hurt.”
“Someone already has,” I muttered, thinking about the witch. Poor bastard had been in that SUV when Raphael flipped it. “Too late now. I’ve called Cassius, and he’s getting the Tribunal’s permission to investigate. This is going official, and hopefully we can keep Raphael alive and learn what he knows. I’m sure in the five years he was with Mygi, he heard some things that might not seem important to him that you would love.”
“Something has gotten into you, but I haven’t figured out what,” Paden said thoughtfully. “I know there’s an off chance he knows something you might care about, but the likelihood of that is tiny, Kaliya. What are you really fighting for?”
I don’t know anymore. There are too many questions, not enough answers, and my fangs ache.
“It’s nothing. You pointed out this all seemed fishy, and you were right. I’m in it now, and there’s no turning back.” I tried to brush him off, but