“There isn’t much time for me to give him. Justus’s trial is in less than three days. Unless you think forcing a redraw will delayit…?”
Faythe could only shrug. “I’m not even sure we’re forcing a redraw yet. Titus seems set againstit.”
I frowned, picking at my ragged fingernails. “Why would he want to keep Robert Taylor on thetribunal?”
Faythe turned a serious glance toward the door, as if she could see through it. “I’m assuming he knows something wedon’t.”
Eighteen
Justus
“What the hell were you thinking?”Titus demanded again the moment the door closed behind Kaci, and I could tell from the volume of his voice alone that he knew the room was virtuallysoundproof.
He’d commandeered Faythe’s office to yell atme.
“Do you mean the cash advance on my card, or trying to flee the country?” I sank onto the couch, trying to look calm and in control—and nothing like the kid he obviously still thought I was. “Or marryingKaci?”
“I mean all three of them. Somehow you’ve managed to commit a trifecta of stupidity, and you dragged a traumatized little girl intoit.”
“She’s not traumatized. She’s…scarred. Healed. She’s strong, and she’s smart. And she’s not achild.”
“She’s eighteen yearsold!”
It wouldn’t do any good to point out that it was perfectly legal to get married at eighteen, or that eighteen was old enough to vote. He would only point out all the things eighteen wasn’t old enough for. So I went with a different kind of truth. “She’s older at eighteen than Iwas.”
“She’s probably older at eighteen than you are now!” Titus snapped. “Pleasetell me you haven’t slept withher.”
Anger flared inside me like fuel dumped on a bonfire. I’d never really fought with Titus, yet suddenly, he felt more like an enemy than the lifelong ally I’d always thought of himas.
My brother knew what it was like to fall in love at an inconvenient time. He should be celebrating with me. Not grillingme.
“What Kaci and I have done is none of your business,” Igrowled.
“Donottake that tone with me,” he growled back, and I fought an infuriating instinct to cower away from him. This Alpha crap was bullshit.Iwas in the right. Kaci and I were both of age, and we’d made a legal and binding decision. One I would stick with until the day Idied.
“She’s my wife,Titus.”
“Don’t—”
“You should be happy for me. You should be cracking open a bottle of fucking champaign and welcoming her to the family, not yelling at me. Not interrogatingme.”
His mouth snapped shut, and he seemed to be consciously trying to edit whatever he wanted to say as he sank onto the couch across the rug from me. “She’s a child, Justus. So are you. Tell me this isn’t binding. Marc said he didn’t think you’d…consummated. I’ve spoken to my lawyer, and we can get this annulled if you twohaven’t—”
“None. Of your. Business.” I managed to keep from growling that time, but only barely. “The things I will listen to from you right now include, ‘Congratulations, Justus, I’m so happy for you!’ and ‘She’s wonderful. Mom and Dad would’ve loved her. I hope you two are veryhappy.’”
His gaze darkened. “Momand—”
“Youhaveto say that, Titus,” I growled at him. “Someone has to say that, and you’re the only one left. They would love her. Youknowthey would loveher.”
“Of course they would love her. She’s fucking adorable, and Marc says she’s smart, and quick on her feet—hell, she wrecked a car to get away from a kidnapper—but none of that is really relevant. Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me? To all the people in my territory who depend on me? I’m fighting to get our territory recognized. To provide basic civil rights to a population that’s been disenfranchised for centuries. To protect them. To protectyou. Marc and Faythe took you in as a favor to me. To help you. And you run off and sleep with their fucking daughter. You marry her to get your damnedinheritance.”
“Youknowthat’s not true.” I launched myself off the couch and paced toward Faythe’s desk, then turned to face him and sat on the edge ofit.
“It’s not about what I know. It’s about what the council will think. It’s about the facts, and the picture they paint. In college you were with a different girl every week, until Ivy. Whom you’re on trial forinfecting. Who died because she cheated on her boyfriend withyou.”
“Donotthrow that in my face. You knowDrew—”
“I know what Drew did. I know that wasn’t your fault. I’m on your side. Butthey’renot. Half of the council—maybe more—is looking for any excuse to execute you. To make an example of you. You have to give them areasonto be on your side, but you skipped straight from infecting a girl you were cheating with to manipulating a traumatized eighteen-year-old tabby so you can access your trust fund, on your way to fleeing the country! What are they supposed to think? How are they supposed to rule in your favor now? How are they supposed to rule inmyfavor?”
