you knew the truth, and I promise you, I am telling the truth.”
“We’re going to find out soon enough,” she replied, then turned to me. “He showed up before dawn. We’ve kept him down here because we’re under orders to kill him on sight, but I submit to the Tribunal, I do not kill for them. I intended to call you if I couldn’t find the truth myself or bring myself to do it. I don’t like people, you see.”
“I know,” I said, keeping my eyes on the traitor.
“Well, he had such a story to tell, I’ve decided you need to hear it.”
I thought about it. Kartane could tell me anything, whether it was true or not. I had a more reliable source to get to first.
“Nakul’s memories first,” I decided. “Then I’ll interview Kartane. If what he says holds any truth, I’ll hold off and keep him alive for trial.” I didn’t know if he could be exonerated.
“Where’re Eliphas’ eyes?” I asked him, crossing my arms. That was the only thing I wanted to know.
“I don’t have them.”
My eyebrows went up as I turned fully on Monica. She shrugged.
“Don’t give me that look. I didn’t take them. I don’t need Eliphas’ power. He’s a solitary creature, I like the community. I draw strength from them when they offer it. I don’t steal. He didn’t have them when we had him searched upon showing up on our doorstep. If he doesn’t have them, and Eliphas doesn’t have them, I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Thanks. Kartane, I’ll be back to deal with you. Monica, take me to my group, and let’s get Nakul ready for his appointment.”
“Of course.”
We walked out, leaving Kartane, who seemed to accept his fate, not moving to call us back. He knew who I was and knew not to push me. I would get to him when I got to him and not a moment sooner.
“You know…” Monica sighed. “You can’t go running out into battle right now. That potion gave you energy to get on your feet and help the fog lift from your mind, but you aren’t in a good place to go out and fight.”
“Yeah, it takes two weeks for a healing you did to fully set. I know.” Before that, there was a chance a new injury could break the magic done, and wounds could reopen.
“For the way you were? I’d give it more of a four to six range. You had layers of injuries from repeated fights. I know the last day has been mostly on your shoulders—thank you for killing Levi—but you need to learn your body has limits the werewolves and vampires do not. You are just as fragile as me, and you don’t see me out there with a gun, trying to kill everyone.”
“You don’t like to kill people,” I reminded her.
“And you do?” The look on her face was disbelieving.
“I’m good at it, and it’s my job. Being proficient at a task and enjoying it are two different things. No one enjoys being kicked around while trying to do their job.”
I didn’t want to talk about this. The idea of enjoying my job was too close to being like Nakul or someone like Erline, who loved what she did. I wasn’t a serial killer. I was a professional, who took out the serial killers, despots, and abusers—those who would see the supernaturals return to darker times, doing as they pleased. I enjoyed cleaning up the world I lived in to be safer for everyone, from this coven to the werewolf pack of Phoenix to the nagas in India.
I didn’t enjoy killing. It was a means to an end.
We walked beside each other to the ground level of the coven’s home, then she led me to a sitting room near the main entrance, opening the door with a wave of her hand and a mumbled word.
I saw Raphael first, his head coming up. He jumped to his feet and took two massive steps to meet me near the door as I tried to enter.
“They said you were okay, but…” His eyes searched my face, looking for confirmation.
“Good as new!”
“Not quite,” Monica snapped. “I mean it, Kaliya. You need to be careful.”
“I can’t promise that, Monica, and you know it,” I replied in a singsong voice. “I never knew you cared so much about my health.” I was naturally distrustful of most witches and generally kept my distance from the coven unless we were brought together for my job