That was all true. But… “That’s not why I killedhim.”
Kaci frowned. “Thenwhy…?”
“Okay. If you get called to testify against me, I’m screwed.” I meant it as a joke, because I had no intention of standing trial. But she looked more curious than amused. “I didn’t know how’d I’d become a shifter or who had done that to me until that night at the zoo. Drew infected me, then abandoned me. On purpose. He let me suffer through scratch fever and figure out how to shift back on my own, without any guidance or help. He didn’t teach me how to control my new instincts or fight bloodlust. Again, all on purpose, as part of his plot against my brother. He let those things rage inside me, then he sent me a picture of my girlfriend sleeping with some other guy. Less than a month after I’d been infected. Fully aware that emotional stress can trigger a new stray’s shift into cat form and that without training, new strays have little impulse control and difficulty thinking like a human in catform.
“He treated me like a loaded gun, then he aimed me at Ivy and Leland, hoping I would lose control and hurt someone. Or infect someone. Or accidentally kill someone. Because he knew that my scent is so much like Titus’s that everyone would assume he’d committed my crimes. Especially since they had no idea I’d even beeninfected.
“It wasDrew’s faultIvy died. Hell, he killed Leland himself. That’s why I attacked him. Because of what he did to them. Because of what he made me do to them. Because of what he turned me into. I’m a killer because of thatbastard.”
Anger on my behalf flashed in Kaci’s eyes. “Tell that to the tribunal,” she said. “Exactly like you said it just now. They can’t find you guilty if they understand thecircumstances.”
“They already know the circumstances. Titus told them all of that when they tried to make him choose between me and Robyn. Armed with all of the information, at least two of the three tribunal members have decided to vote against me before the trial evenstarts.”
“Okay, but even if that’s true, you don’t know they’ll vote to execute. They didn’t for Robyn. OrManx.”
“Manx and Robyn are women. The council needs them, but they don’t need me. They don’t evenwantme. There are more than enough strays, from the council’s perspective, and they’re already pissed off about being forced to give me atrial.”
“You don’tknow—”
“Kaci.” I took both of her hands and captured her gaze, trying tomakeher understand. “There is no future for me in the territories. I have to go. I have to win what I can tonight, then get on an international flight in the morning. I want you to come with me. But I’ll understand if you can’t. I’ve gotten you into enough trouble as itis.”
Kaci stared at our intertwined hands. She rubbed my forefinger with her thumb. Then she took a deep breath and looked up. “I’min.”
“You’re in?” For a second, I was sure I’d heard her wrong. I’d asked her for something crazy. Something that made no sense. I’d been prepared for the toughest rejection of my life. But… “Seriously?”
“Yes. I’m coming with you. So, let’s go downstairs and win some money.” She frowned. “How do we do that? I don’t think they’ll even let me on thefloor.”
“They won’t. The bad news is that I’m going to have to gamble on my own. You can stay here and get some sleep or go grab dinner. There’s a great Asian place in the casino that’s open all night. Those are pretty much the options, though. The spa and the pools areclosed.”
“Okay.” She looked disappointed, but resigned. “I’ll go get some dinner. Was there goodnews?”
“Oh. Yeah.” I leaned in and kissed her again. “After I win, we’re going to party. Then we’re going to book a one-way flight out ofhere.”
Five
Kaci
Light bled through my eyelids,and the pain in my head was like an open wound, as if someone had cut off the top of my skull. The sound of running water offered an encore of sandpaper against my exposed and vulnerable graymatter.
I groaned as I pushed myself upright on something soft, and the sound of my own voice made me want tocry.
“Kaci? I’ll be out in aminute.”
My eyes flew open. Direct sunlight speared my brain straight through my optical nerve, and at first, all I could do was blink tears from my eyes as I waited for them toadjust.
Then the room came intofocus.
A long gray couch. Gray carpet. A coffee table littered with clear plastic cups. A wall of windows, with the drapes pushed all the way open to reveal the Las Vegasstrip…
LasVegas.
JustusAlexander.
Kissing, and talking, and…drinking?
I had vague, blurry memories of pouring something clear into my soda. Several times. There was an alcohol-scented stain on myshirt.
What the hell? I tried to stand, but my legs were tangled in the covers. Mybarelegs.Shit.
