whispered. He took a deep breath, looking out his window and away from me while I tried to navigate through the rain. “So, let’s have a quick rundown. I’ve killed a redcap, trying to kill you. You killed a fae, trying to kill you. Nakul was asked to kill you and didn’t, but he also has no memory of who asked him to do it. Now, Wesley is running around, a werewolf who is more fucked up than other werewolves, and for some reason, he was able to get to us to try to kill you, all the way in Phoenix and at the top of a condo complex in his normal form.”
“Yeah, sounds about right,” I said, hitting the gas as if they were on my tail at that very moment. “Not very often I’m afraid, but I’ll give it to whoever orchestrated this nightmare. I’m terrified.”
“You’ve got me, and I’m stronger than all of them,” he said confidently. “I meant it, Kaliya. I’m in this with you. You went through hell and lost a friend when you helped me. Whatever the reason, you did that, so I’m in this all the way. No reason to be terrified.”
“You aren’t?” I asked, trying to look in his direction. I could always see him out of the corner of my eye, but I wanted to really see him. I wanted to see his eyes and his face and understand what he was really thinking.
“I’m worried. I’m scared. I don’t know any of these people. But I’m tough, and you’re skilled and have all the intel we can get our hands on. We can get through this.”
I let that sink in, then nodded.
“You’re right. We’ll make a good team.”
“Just as long as you don’t throw me out of danger anymore,” he said quickly, and I heard the bite of anger he must have been hiding.
“Sorry.” Not really.
“Sure, you are,” he snorted. “You don’t need to protect me, Kaliya. If I know what I’m up against, I’ve had a lot of practice at protecting myself over the years.”
Yes, I do. “You don’t think it’s even a little admirable that everyone’s trying to kill me, but I’m protecting you?” I asked, trying for a faulty, fake smile, trying to tease him a little and feel better.
“It’s a little admirable, but also just a little stupid,” he retorted. “I’m probably not skilled like Cassius or anyone else you’ve worked with, but I’m not incapable.”
“I know.” I just don’t care. “Look, I promised to look out for you. I’m sorry this entire mess is taking us away from what we’ve been trying to do for you—”
“We were at a dead-end anyway and have been since the moment we left the Tribunal,” he reminded me. “I’m not an idiot. I know you and Cassius have dug into everything you can and haven’t found anything. I know Mygi isn’t making this easy for us.” He sighed. “Do you think this might tie back to them?”
“I’m honestly hoping it doesn’t. It would be stupid for them to do something like this. I don’t know what sort of connections they would have with the prison, which I haven’t heard from since we left…” I rolled my tongue over my lip piercing. “We should drive back down there and question some people once we get word it’s secure. Korey, if she’s alive, will have already launched her own investigation, and that could really help us.”
“Good plan. I’m just following your lead.” He nodded once, and I smirked.
I kind of like this Raphael, the one who doesn’t argue a lot, goes with the flow, and helps me. He’s nice.
Oh, wait a minute. I thought the exact same thing about Cassius right before I started sleeping with him. Work together on a thing, then get drunk and fuck. Because that’s how I really need this to go down again. What’s the definition of insanity?
We pulled in front of my house in the wee hours of the morning. I parked in the repaired garage, glad to see the garage door was already installed and working. Leading Raphael inside, I felt a wave of déjà vu from the last time I brought him here, which had led to Sinclair attacking. He hadn’t come with me when I stopped by for repairs. I dumped him off with Cassius or went by pictures and meetings with my contractors.
“It looks done,” he commented. “Why haven’t we moved in?”
“Some of the contractors are magical and have been spelling the