“You okay?”
So many voices, all concerned, but he couldn’t concentrate, not until his stomach stopped twisting, the nausea settling to a chunk of solid coal in his gut. Spitting the last of the vile taste, he stood, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
It was Riley who stepped forward, moving around his desk to grab a bottle of water. “You want to explain what just happened?”
Titus accepted the bottle, taking a swig before answering. “The Order paid for my hit.”
Riley froze at the information, supernaturally still, his beast flashing behind his eyes. “How sure?”
“I need to confirm with a data trace, but I’m confident. I found the original paperwork, and other than you guys, no one knows the names of my direct family.”
“The Order would have records, considering all our fathers were once members.” Riley swore, gripping the edge of his desk hard enough to leave an indent.
“Fucking Archdruid,” Xander growled. “He’s wanted us gone for years, ever since we wouldn’t jump to their fucking demands anymore.”
“Except he hasn’t done anything until now,” Jax added. “So, why now? And why Titus?”
“I think the answer’s obvious,” Lucifer said. His wings were held tight against his back, a dark silhouette against the light from the glass behind.
“No one knows what happened,” Kace said. “We’ve made sure of it.”
“So you believe in coincidences?” Lucifer chuckled, the sound hollow.
“Lucy’s right,” Riley said. “No way, out of all of us, it’s a coincidence Ti’s been hit. But we can’t make a move against the Order, or the Archdruid without solid proof.”
“That’s why I’ve called you all here. I need access to my computers, my apartment’s been compromised.”
Riley frowned. “You always have access to –”
“I would never risk the family, so I wanted permission to take Rae with me. Wherever I go, she does.”
“What aren’t you telling us, Ti?” Xander asked.
“Rae isn’t a risk to anyone.”But me,he silently added. “And I only need my computer, we won’t stay because you’re right. Wherever I am, it’s dangerous, at least until I sort the hit out.”
“She’s the assassin,” Kace said, swearing low beneath his breath. “She’s the one who shot you.”
Jax’s head snapped to the side, eyes glowing.
“Fuck the Fates, right?” Titus’s humour fell flat. “Because I think she’s also my mate.”
Four pairs of eyes widened. It was only Lucifer who reacted, bending over with laughter, shoulders shaking. “Fucking hell, and I thought I had bad luck.”
“That’s why you almost exploded earlier,” Riley muttered. “She’s your fucking mate.”
Unease flowed through him, putting him on edge. “My beast could be wrong.”
“Wrong?” Xander dragged a hand down his face. “We don’t really get to choose our mate’s, Ti.”
“I don’t believe in this mates shit. Shouldn’t I be able to choose? Not my beast? The curse can go fuck itself.”
Xander smacked his hand against the table. “That doesn’t make it any fucking less true.”
“That’s enough.” Riley demanded the attention. “Right now we need to confirm who paid for the hit, nothing else matters.”
“Unless his assassin kills him,” Kace muttered, arms crossed. “That’ll fucking matter. Do you trust her?”
“Of course not,” Titus said, the words causing a strange ache in his chest. “But we have a truce.”Sort of.“She won’t move against me, because I have something she wants.”
