Page 21

Last time they’d had their Third dressed like this, Titus had been too far away to truly enjoy it. Now, he unabashedly took in the view, gazing at Calix as the younger man finished adjusting the bubblegum pink silk vest to the three-piece suit.

They could have gotten new ones, but a part of him still felt like that night had been stolen from him, even if Aodhan had been the one to decide to take it. Because of that, Titus had wanted to see Calix in the suit he’d picked out. Wanted to see them both in them.

And apparently, he wasn’t the only one.

The second Aodhan stepped into the room, Cal’s gaze shot toward him, eyes roaming up his fit form, only to linger on the collar secured around the doctor’s neck.

Titus’s collar. A sign of ownership to warn off any of the other partygoers.

A bunch of bored rich people he only bothered to interact with in case of emergency.

Sometimes it paid to have friends in high places, both literally and figuratively.

Though tonight’s bunch were the lowest of the low.

Members no one couldn’t live without. They’d called in a favor with Nyxian, the Organizer.

It'd cost them too, but that was no matter.

He wasn’t short on coin. The Mercer family name carried a lot of weight throughout the universe on its own, with coffers filled enough to last several dozen Connect lifespans, not to mention the funds he added from being the director of one of the galaxy's top hospitals.

But real power came through connections, so networking, as tedious as it was, was a necessary boredom.

Plus, Aodhan always enjoyed it. He got off on tricking the rich and depraved every bit as much as he did fooling the average person. Probably even a little bit more, since half the members of the club also boasted above-average intelligence.

Since one could simply buy their way in, there weren’t many worthy of Titus’s attention, let alone respect. Nyxian Kuji, the mastermind behind their obscene secret society, was possibly the only one, in fact.

There’d even been a brief moment where Titus had considered making him their Third, but the energy pattern had been slightly off. He hadn’t wanted to settle for anything less than perfect, and he had time to keep searching, so he’d decided against it.

Not to mention, he’d hated the way the other man flirted with Aodhan in front of him, and if jealousy was a factor, becoming a pod was near impossible.

With Calix, things were different.

He didn’t grow defensive over the way the detective was staring at his little killer. On the contrary. It sparked an ember of pride in the center of his chest, gave him a warm feeling that sent the energy frequency in the room zipping.

It felt right.

Both of them dressed in his favorite color, Aodhan’s matching suit a shade lighter than the one Cal had been given.

“Do I get one of those?” Calix finally asked, touching the center of his bare throat, seemingly without realizing. His eyes stayed glued to the martingale collar in pink and gold that Aodhan was wearing.

“Remember what I said the last time you asked that?” Aodhan replied, the corner of his mouth turned up teasingly.

Titus hadn’t been privy to whatever conversation he was referring to, but when the detective immediately turned his gaze his way, he sort of got an idea. “Would you like one, little monster?”

Calix’s expression shuddered instantly. “No.”

He hadn’t intended on giving him one yet anyway, knew Cal wasn’t ready for it, so the swift refusal didn’t bother him. “Meet me in the car.”

“What are you going to be doing?”

He quirked a brow. “I can’t exactly go like this, can I?”

Titus had waited with Calix while Aodhan had gone to change. Now it was his turn.

“What is it exactly you have up your sleeve?” Instead of following Aodhan to the door, Cal held his ground.

Though his tone was casual, the intense way he stared Titus down was anything but.

“You’re trusting I won’t run, which means you’ve already done something to ensure I won’t be able to. What is it?”

They’d explained where they were going earlier but had mostly kept things vague. Calix had been surprised when told they were allowing him to leave the house, but he’d simply gone along with it up to this point.

“If it’s anything like the last party, there are going to be lots of people there. What makes you so sure I won’t tell everyone you’ve kidnapped me and are holding me against my will?” he continued before either of them could give him an answer.

“Trust me, Be’urn,” Aodhan walked back and took Calix by the wrist, “you won’t find any help where we’re going. Those people? They’re more likely to pass you around until you're broken and bleeding than call the police on your behalf.”

“You’ll be safe because you’re with us,” Titus clarified.

“As for the rest of it…” He took a threatening step closer, altering the air around them until it was thick with a sense of foreboding and dread.

“Just because I’ve been easy on you, doesn’t mean you should forget what I’m capable of.

You like to run into danger, but let me assure you, this,” he shoved more of his ability out, twisting it so the fear was potent enough to cause Calix to stumble a step away from him, “is a state I can keep you in forever.”

“A person can only handle so much fear,” Aodhan joined in. “The adrenaline rush you’re addicted to won’t last, but the feeling that something awful is about to happen? That paranoia? That will stick with you.”

Calix yanked his arm away from the doctor’s hold. “I get it. Stop.”

“You asked,” Titus reminded.

“Yeah, and now I know the answer. Cut it out.”

“Are you going—”

“I’ll behave,” he said. “Just stop. It feels…” He couldn’t finish his sentence, but Titus had an idea.

“Are you reminded of being trapped in a cell, waiting to find out if you’d thrown your life away? Is that the lowest you’ve ever been? The most afraid?”

“When I do eventually get out of here and have you arrested for all the shit you’ve done,” Cal replied, “you can get a taste of what it’s like firsthand.”

“That isn’t going to happen, Azi.”

“Because I’m not smart enough to escape?”

“Because you won’t betray us even if you do.”

Calix opened his mouth, but swiftly snapped it shut before speaking. He’d either realized Titus was right or had decided to pick his battles. The first option was preferable, but Titus wasn’t going to push him on this, not when there were places they needed to be.

People they needed to encounter.

“Whatever. Move.” Cal shoved Aodhan aside and left the room.

The doctor watched him go and let out a low whistle. “Weren’t you the one telling me not to push him too hard?”

“He can handle it.”

“Yeah, and that,” he pointed at Titus, “is definitely my line.”

“Has everything been prepared accordingly?” Titus kept his hold on the pheromones, not needing to be in the same room as Calix to continue altering the ones around him.

Technically, he wasn’t holding them back from the area around Aodhan either, but existential dread wasn’t something the doctor was familiar with.

The only sign he gave that he felt anything from the change at all was a light scratching at the center of his chest.

“Nyxian confirmed we’re all set.” Aodhan cocked his head. “How do you know this will work?”

“I read his files from the orphanage,” he said as he opened the garment bag he’d brought with him to Cal’s room and began getting dressed.

He couldn’t wait for them to do away with this separate bedroom nonsense and start sharing the one upstairs.

“They’re surprisingly detailed, despite all the things Sister Grace put him through. ”

“Laws weren’t as strict back then. She was able to get away with torturing her charges.”

He caught the sour note in the doctor’s tone. “You want to get even?”

“Don’t you?”

“In due time.”

Aodhan blew out a breath and then moved to the door. “I’m going to go make sure he’s not trying something stupid. We’ll wait for you in the car.”

“As soon as you step outside, my hold will break,” he reminded.

“I won’t let him make a run for it.”

“We need him to be able to walk tonight.”

“I won’t break his legs either, Good Light.” Aodhan shot him a glare and then left with a huff.

Titus trusted that Aodhan wouldn’t actually permanently damage their man, but he dressed quickly anyway.

Surprisingly enough, it was Calix who was the unpredictable one at the moment.

There was no telling whether he would try to run now that they’d let him out of the house, or if he’d stay in line, knowing it was a pointless battle.

“What have I gotten myself into?” he murmured as he grabbed the box that held his red mask. One unruly bondmate was enough, but he’d had to go and find himself two. He wondered if his cousin would laugh at him if he found out.

Not that they’d spoken in years.

He had very little in the way of family, having left the Connect homeworld at only fourteen years old.

That wasn’t unusual for their species. Ever since birth rates had lowered to dangerous levels, the considered age for relocating continued to drop.

Sixteen had been the average age when he’d left, so he’d only been two years ahead of that, and he’d heard rumors that it was now fifteen.

His parents hadn’t given him a choice, shipping him off to a coed boarding school on the opposite side of the galaxy. The hope had been for him to find a suitable match while doing his studies, but he’d spent most of his focus on learning and preparing for medical school instead.

Every now and again, he was summoned back, but he only went if the invitation was by Imperial decree. He’d no doubt receive fewer of those as well, once word got out that he’d chosen a third who also couldn’t help continue their species.