Page 78 of Castor

“Breakfast is ready,”Bellamy told me.“Better get down here fast. Ray’s circling the table and eyeing the food like a panther on the prowl.”

I laughed, and Kyo cocked his head.

“Bell said breakfast is ready. If we want any food, we need to hightail it downstairs.”

“Good. I’m starving,” Kyo said. “Grab your shit, and let’s go.”

After making sure my golden dagger was tucked into my bag, I followed him out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Everyone was crammed into the kitchen, piling food on their plates. Titan had made eggs, sausage, and toast with avocado, along with cutting up some fruit.

“You’re amazing, Titan,” Raiden said, biting into the sausage link. It had a nice snap to it.

“It’s nothing fancy.” Titan averted his gaze, his cheeks darkening a shade.

After breakfast, we helped clean up the kitchen before taking our bags outside. Alastair was already out there waiting, but Bellamy had run back upstairs to brush his teeth and freshen up. It didn’t matter if we’d be stuck on a plane for over nine hours; he always had to look his best. Raiden was the last to join us outside, and he swept his gaze around the hillside.

“Looking for someone?” I asked.

Just then, a voice called out from down the path. “Hey, Raiden!” Titan jogged toward us, a little out of breath. He had gone down to Lysandra’s house after breakfast to talk to Naida, Elon, and Kian. “I’m glad I caught you before you left.”

“Hey.” Raiden blinked at him and moved his bag to his other shoulder. “Um. Yeah. We’re about to head to the airport.”

“Cool.” Titan rubbed the back of his neck. “I think we’re gonna head out soon too.”

“Cool.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Bellamy nudged my arm, a smirk on his lips too. I had seen Raiden flirt with Jasper at Konnar’s club. He’d even flirted with Sterling a bit. But when hereallyliked someone, he got bashful and awkward as hell.

Raiden’s eyes narrowed as he caught us looking at him.“Fuck off, you dickwads.”

“Nah, I’m enjoying the show,”Bellamy responded.“Now give him a kiss.”

“Fuck you,” Raiden said and then flamed bright red as he looked at Titan. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud. That was directed toward Bell. Not you.”

“It’s cool. Hey, listen.” Titan stepped closer to Raiden. “I know I was kind of an asshole when I first met you guys. Like a major hard-ass. But I didn’t know what you guys wanted or whether you were there to attack us or whatever. Angels hate our guts, and I knew you were on their side. Anyway. I’m rambling. I just want—”

“Titan!” Baxter ran over to us. “Have you seen Elon? I can’t find him anywhere.”

“No,” he answered. “He wasn’t at Lysandra’s. I just came back from there.”

“Is everything okay?” Bellamy asked him.

“I’m not sure.” Alarm rose in Baxter’s eyes, and he swiped his hand over the top of his pink-streaked black hair. “Something just feels off. Elon won’t answer my calls. Have you noticed anything strange about him lately?”

“How would I know?”

“Because you’ve been fucking him,” Baxter said with a snarl, then blew out a breath, briefly closing his eyes. “That doesn’t matter right now. Who you fuck is none of my business.”

“Why would he be acting strange?” Alastair asked.

Baxter turned to him, sweat beading on his brow. The sun’s heat was unrelenting today. “Remember when I said not all of my people wanted to ally with you? Elon was the one who spoke out the most. He was against the idea from the start but seemed to understand it was our best choice once I spoke privately with him. Yet, I still got a weird vibe, which is why I brought him with us on this trip. I hoped he would come around.”

“Why are you just now telling us this?” Alastair asked, nostrils flaring. “Elon wanted to side with Asa, didn’t he?”

Guilt clouded in Baxter’s eyes. “He might have mentioned it.”

“If he’s still opposed to the alliance, he could be trying to derail it.” Alastair looked pissed but also worried. “We need to find him.”

“Hey, wait.” Baxter held up a hand. “There’s no reason to jump to conclusions here. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”