Titus pulled his hands free, and she immediately dipped her head back into the water, washing away the bubbles. He waited until she’d finished before continuing.
“I was recently forced through the Rite, which is the ceremony in which a druid can ascend into that black magic.”
“Forced as in… no choice?”
Titus watched her expression, finding no disgust or pity, not even when he nodded. He only saw strength, almost pride.
“I was fighting the change.”
“But you accepted it, and you grew some pretty cool wings, not to mention you saving me.” Rae cocked her head, expression pensive. “Were your eyes the first to change? Is that why you don’t look in the mirror?”
He tensed beneath her.
“Your eyes are beautiful. Unique.” She moved forward, legs straddling and her hands coming up to stroke along his jaw. “You said yourself, it’s the choices they make which makes them bad. Your eyes don’t show you as the monster you believe you are. They show you as a survivor.”
Rae kissed him, and Titus pulled her even closer, her breasts flush against his chest with her pendant biting into them both. He needed to continue bathing her, worshipping her. He still had to rub oil into her skin, massage every single mark he’d left on her body.
“Not many people are as amazing as you, Titus-fucking-Liu Wood,” she whispered, pulling back. “Not that I would ever admit that to anyone else. We can’t have your ego growing any bigger, now, can we?”
Titus welcomed the warmth spreading in his chest, his beast content.
“You need to tell me what happened at the gala,” she asked gently, his hands exploring her skin beneath the water. “Who made you react like that, so I know who to kill.”
Titus smiled at that. “I was hurt when they forced me through the Rite, badly. The man who spoke to Councilman Edwards reminded me of one the Daemons.”
She stilled beneath his palms. “Was it him?”
“Yeah, although it wasn’t the same face.” He was sure it was Bishop. His beast was never wrong. “And I suspect he’s behind the hit against me. I don’t believe the Councilman knew anything about it.”
“So, are we going to kill him? The Daemon who wore a different face?”
He stroked up her arms. “When we find him, yes.”
“Good.” She nibbled her bottom lip. “So then what’s our next step? Howdowe find him?”
Titus sat up, his wing sopping behind him, uncomfortably heavy against his back. How the fuck did he make it disappear?
His eyes dipped to between her breasts, past her pendant to where the guild moon was entirely black. “Rae…”
They’d run out of time.
“Oh, I guess it timed out.” She sounded unsure, her shoulders slumped. “It’s weird, I don’t feel any different.” She pressed her palm to the mark. “It’s supposed to hurt, ache. But all I feel is this warmth.”
Titus pressed his hand over hers. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Her smile was sad. “Even if the worst happens.”
“You’re –”
“Even if I’m so glad you didn’t die, despite me trying.”
Titus pressed a single finger beneath her chin, tipping her head back. “I’m glad you’re a shitty contractor.” He hadn’t wanted a mate, his beast making the decision for them. And now, he couldn’t imagine his future without her.
Pulling her arms around his neck, he lifted her out of the water. She didn’t protest, clinging to him as he walked them both towards the towels he’d prepared. His wing dragged against the cool tiles, shoulder and back stiff as he tried to figure out which muscle did what.
Rae spread her fingers through his hair, yanking slightly. “Titus, I –”
A shrill ring echoed through the bathroom.
