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