Page 36 of The Devil's Bargain
Chapter 15:
“Hey, baby.” Titus settled down on the edge of the bed next to Aodhan after locking the door behind Calix and the others. For this to work, he needed complete, uninterrupted focus. He had to manage the connection between himself and Cal and the one between him and Aodhan separately.
Calix couldn’t know how worried he actually was, it would only make this worse for him, and he needed to be able to pay attention to the case. Titus had been sending waves of comfort through their bond since Aodhan had left surgery, soothing him as best he could without alerting the stubborn detective to what he was doing.
Now, he trailed his fingers lightly down the curve of Aodhan’s nose, then traced the sharp cut of his jaw. It’d been touch and go there for a moment, a blindingly terrifying one where he’d felt the bond snap, where Aodhan had just been….gone. But then he’d returned, that sensation rushing back into place, practically knocking the wind out of Titus, who’d already been halfway to his car with Calix right there with him.
He leaned down and planted a chaste kiss on Aodhan’s right cheek. “You can’t ever do anything like that again, do you hear me? If you ever put me through something like that a second time, I’ll kill you myself.”
He would never.
Could never.
“Are you comfortable, baby?” Titus tucked the thin white blanket more securely around Aodhan’s arms. “As good as you’ve always been taking large objects down that throat of yours, this can’t feel great.”
He was referring to the breathing tube secured down Aodhan’s throat.
The one he was struggling to look at.
“How about you wake up for me so we can take it out, hmm? How does that sound?” Titus carefully placed his palms over Aodhan’s chest and closed his eyes, feeling for the energy source that was always present within him. It didn’t take long to find and tap into it, and he directed it outward, pushing it through his body into Aodhan’s.
The snake tattooed to his body twisted and slithered down his arm, rearing up before striking, embedding its sharp fangs into the side of his Second’s delicate throat. More energy flowed through that connection.
Energy was life force, and as a Connect, Titus controlled that source with skilled ease. He wouldn’t lose his Second to something like death. He’d meant it when he’d sworn no one would ever take what belonged to him away. That included the Grim Reaper. What was his was his. Aodhan Solace wasn’t allowed to leave him.
“We’ve only just found our Third,” Titus kept talking, hoping his voice would help lead Aodhan out of whatever darkness currently gripped him. “You’re going to have to be punished for scaring him like this. How about it? Should I edge you for every minute you stay asleep? Or would you prefer a reward? Perhaps incentive is in order this time instead.”
The medically induced coma would prevent Aodhan from actually waking, but Titus would be able to feel the moment hisbody was healed enough that he could summon the doctor back to wean him off the strong sedatives. The sooner the better. He’d made a promise to his Third, after all, and Titus couldn’t afford to break that trust.
“How about I let you murder that pesky forensic scientist?” Titus scowled. “No, wait. Unfortunately, I doubt Calix would approve. Something else then.”
It’d been a while since his little killer had gotten his hands bloody. Maybe Titus should call their friend Nyxian and have him schedule a party. Of course, word had gotten around about the absolute carnage the last one had turned into, but that was neither here nor there. If anything, it would simply keep away the undesirables. Since this was meant as a reward, the theme would need to be sinful enough to whet Aodhan’s appetite.
“What would you like?” Titus asked. “You’re going to have to wake up and tell me. If you take too long, though, I’ll rescind the offer. You won’t be very happy with that, now will you, little killer?”
He began whispering suggestions, each one more twisted than the last.
Aodhan’s right lung had been punctured, and his skull had been fractured. There’d been brain bleeding and swelling, and his left arm and leg were both in casts. It was going to take a lot of energy to heal injuries like that, even more to ensure there was no lasting damage from those three minutes and sixteen seconds he’d gone without oxygen to the brain.
Titus didn’t care how long it took. He’d cleared his schedule and wouldn’t move from this spot until it was done. Until his Second was returned to him, whole and happy.
Though he hadn’t visited his home planet in years, old teachings returned to him, helping him to navigate through the lengthy and arduous process. Energy was a power source like any other, which meant it took strength to harness it. Too much,and he could end up stopping Aodhan’s heart. Too little, and it’d be like putting a Band-Aid over a bullet hole.
He had to feel out each and every injury, repair them one by one.
The damage fueled his fury. That someone had dared do this tohisSecond. That they thought they could get away with it unscathed.
If Calix didn’t break the person responsible, Titus would. He’d make them suffer three times over for every hurt Aodhan was made to suffer.
* * *
Eight hours later, Titus was still seated in that same spot, but the nurses had been in and out, and his delectable doctor was finally conscious. At the sound of the door, Titus pulled his gaze off of Aodhan, smiling when he found Calix entering the room.
“Come here, little monster.” He held out his hand, waiting for Cal to come over and take it before turning and tugging him in close. With the detective standing between his legs, he wrapped an arm around his waist and then motioned toward Aodhan, who was watching silently. “He can’t speak yet, but he’s up, and he can hear us.”
Calix didn’t say anything right away.
“He’s going to be all right,” Titus told him. “The drugs in his system are dwindling. Once he’s cleared, he’ll be able to tell you anything you want to hear. Isn’t that right, baby?” He glanced at Aodhan and hummed when their Second gave a slight nod. “See?”
