Quick as anything, he glanced at Jannie, as though he was making sure... of what?
Whatever he saw, it relieved him. Mathlin’s shoulders lost their tightness when he looked back up.
“You ran off,” Titan said. “I was worried. Are you okay?”
Mathlin nodded quickly. “Very okay.”
His orange eyes had turned yellow, pupils elongated into slits. Not a wolf. But Titan’s instincts sat up and took notice anyway, pressing just beneath his skin.
“You’re dual species?” Titan asked quietly. “Most people tend to mate within their own species.”
Mathlin ducked his head shyly. “I guess I am. My omega dad was a wizard, and my alpha dad was a shifter. But my omega dad wasn’t particularly strong. Just a bit of healing is enough to knock me out.”
Wasandwas.Titan’s heart sank. Aside from Jannie, did Mathlin have any family still alive?
But Titan didn’t know a good way to ask without making Mathlin sad.
“I heard a story,” he said instead, stepping close enough that he could see Jannie’s yellow feline eyes. “My alpha friends said you cut up and reattached Walren’s leg.”
Mathlin winced. “We were out in the wilderness when I found him. His ex had beaten him up really badly! He was going to die if I did nothing. So I tried my best to patch him up—I had to remove his shattered knee and join the rest of his leg together, but I couldn’t do a good job because he needed a lot of healing, and I didn’t have enough magic. I only managed to stabilize him and call 911, and I waited until the paramedics got there. Then I crawled away and passed out for hours.”
Despite the sheer magnitude of what he had done, Mathlin still looked doubtful.
Who had taken away his belief in himself?
Titan frowned deeply. “Math, you saved his life. You did a tremendous job.”
Mathlin glanced up, surprise evident on his face. “Really? I couldn’t save his knee. He walks with a limp now.”
Titan growled. “If I had been the one who had found him, he would’ve died. I would’ve picked him up and run to the nearest hospital, but—it was far away, wasn’t it?”
Mathlin nodded uncomfortably.
“I might not have made it in time. I don’t have healing magic like you do. He was better off with you than me.”
“You would’ve just taken out his ex,” Mathlin pointed out. “And saved him from that beating.”
“Well... You have a point. But I wasn’t there.Youwere. And we’re all grateful for that.”
Mathlin blinked at him, wide-eyed. Then he blushed and ducked his head. “Thanks.”
Titan’s instincts rumbled with pleasure. He ached to pull Mathlin into a hug; he wanted to show Mathlin how appreciated he was. Instead, he sighed, stepping closer. “Damn arms.”
“Would you like another round of healing?”
“You’ve already done a lot today. I don’t want to wear you out again.”
“Just a tiny bit.” Mathlin moved Jannie to his hip. Then he hovered his fingers over Titan’s forearm, and held it there.
Warmth soaked through the cast into Titan’s arm, reaching all the way to his broken bones. It lasted for a few seconds before Mathlin pulled away.
“There. It’s not intense healing; I sped it up by a few hours. But if I do that often enough, it’ll add up. Maybe shave some days off your healing.”
Titan’s heart swelled again. “Thanks.”
“That’s why you’re hiring me, right?” Mathlin looked hopeful.
“Yes,” Titan said. Thankfully, he had been stashing his extra income from the Baby Service; he could afford to pay Mathlin for a while. “C’mon, let’s head back. Hamilton should have the contract ready for you to sign.”
