sleep most of the time. She ate a few days ago, so there’s no reason she needs to be fed. Just…check on her.”
“Does she spit?”
“She does, another reason you need to keep the glass between you and her.” I looked around. “They went to the kitchen, right?”
“Yes. Should I tell him now or later that you expect a bill for the clothing?”
“Later, when I’m not here.” I didn’t want to be around if he put up a fight when he realized I was trying to pay him back. Leith would make my opinions clear, and that would be the end of it. Cassius wasn’t willing to fight with Leith about things. The butler could commit murder, and if he had a decent reason, Cassius would just shrug and ask for it be cleaned up. He was incredibly lenient with his staff, something I always respected…and exploited.
Both men looked up when I walked into the kitchen. I hadn’t heard them talking, which had me worried. Had they been sitting there in silence the entire time?
“Any word from the nest about Carter?” I asked, heading for the fridge before Leith could jump into action and start making anything.
“Not yet,” Cassius said with a heavy sigh. “I can’t believe you used Carter to get at Sinclair.”
Yes, you can. You’re just trying to avoid being angry at me. Eventually, you won’t be able to hide it, and we’ll fight.
“It was supposed to be completely safe. The Mistress of Phoenix hates Sinclair, anyway, so I promise you, she had her own spies, trying to figure out what the hell he thought he was doing in her city and her club. She would never turn him away because her club is the safest place for vampires to feed here, but she doesn’t like him.”
“She doesn’t like you, either,” Cassius pointed out once again.
“Why does it seem no one likes you?” Raphael asked, giving me another strange look.
With a sigh, I pulled out a bottle of water. Looking at the two men, I didn’t think I could imagine a less likely audience. Cassius, uptight, perfect suit, flaming red hair, and those nearly cold blue eyes. Raphael, dark, warm, massive in leather, the typical bad boy look. They didn’t fit together.
“I’m confrontational and politically outrank most people in the city. I can say ‘fuck you’ and almost always get away with it.”
“She’s rude and has no sense of decorum,” Cassius translated.
“Okay.” Raphael practically rolled his eyes. “Of course, I get saved by the one person everyone in the state hates.”
“Yes, your luck has run out,” Cassius said with a heaping helping of pity. “But, like most Executioners, she’s very good at defeating an enemy. There are better killers out there, but the best killers don’t want to fight against each other. They want to keep a wide berth. If you need a weapons expert in your corner, you have one right now.”
“Is there anything…” Raphael narrowed his eyes on me. “Is there anything you’re good at besides killing things?”
“Possibly, but I haven’t had a hobby in a few decades. You should be grateful. I could have just…not saved you.” My fangs ached in protest. “You weren’t my business. You should be glad I stuck my nose where it didn’t belong. Sinclair would have had you if I hadn’t convinced you to come with me. If you couldn’t tell, Sinclair is the bad guy.”
“I could tell,” he bit out.
“Maybe we should get the werewolves involved,” Cassius considered, sipping on something Leith put in front of him the moment the butler walked into the kitchen.
“Absolutely not. And we can’t get a werecat on Duty, either,” I said, frustrated even with just the idea of involving more parties into the mess. As it stood, it was me, Raphael, and Cassius; Sinclair, and his friends(I was certain the witch was already being replaced);the city’s vampire nest, and Paden with the crew at The Jackalope. Mygi the mega pharmaceutical company, and the Tribunal were on the outskirts, watching everything happen. There didn’t need to be any more.
“Duty?” Raphael once again was lost by where the conversation went.
I gave Cassius an exasperated look he recognized. I had told him Raphael knew nothing and asked a lot of questions, and part of me was starting to get incredibly annoyed.
“Werecats are duty-bound by parts of the law pertaining to them. They can’t interfere in the affairs of other supernatural races, mostly werewolves, but they can be called to Duty,” Cassius explained.