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 repeat, 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