Page 50 of The Devil's Mercy

Titus could lie, it would be the smarter move. But with Calix staring up at him so earnestly, he found himself unwilling, even if it would help tie the man to him. “I love Aodhan.” He did. Not more than himself, but as an extension of himself. Thedoctor felt the same way. “I’m capable of falling in love with you, too.”

“So you took me just because our frequencies match.”

They’d had Calix in their home for a little over a month now, and Titus didn’t monitor the conversations had between his Second and Third. The problem with that was he didn’t know how much Aodhan had said or to what end. It seemed like there was something specific Cal was trying to get at, but even though Titus typically was able to read the other man like an open book, he struggled to identify what was being asked between the lines.

“Do you love us?” he questioned.

“It’s been weeks,” Cal stated. “If I don’t love you, and you don’t love me, shouldn’t we call it quits? Wouldn’t that be simpler?”

He clicked his tongue. “Always trying to take the easy way out, Detective.”

“I’m no longer a detective,” he reminded. Up until now, he’d allowed them to continue to call him that, but it seemed he’d reached his limits. “I’m not an agent anymore. I’m nothing.” He held up a hand when Titus went to speak, stopping him. “That’s not me being self-deprecating. A clean slate was what I wanted. That’s the problem, can’t you see? There’s nothing clean about the two of you. You can’t give me what I want.”

“Perhaps not.” Titus released him, and it took all his willpower not to react to the flash of disappointment in Calix’s eyes. The temptation to skip the party, drag him back upstairs, throw him on the bed, and show him how good Titus couldlovehim was strong. But he resisted. They were close to a breakthrough, and he wouldn’t allow his desires to cost them that. “But I can give you what youneed, little monster. That’s more important than your wants.”

“No part of me needs to see another man get sawed in half.”

“That’s old news.” Aodhan came back around, motioning for Titus to take the driver's seat. “The theme tonight is different.”

Cal eyed him suspiciously. “What’s the theme?”

Ever the instigator, the doctor leaned forward and whispered against the curve of Cal’s ear, “Auction.”

Titus shook his head and turned away.

Tonight was either going to be the best idea he’d ever had.

Or the most foolish.

Chapter 14:

They weren’t auctioning off people.

Titus had driven them to another unknown location deep in the heart of a forest on the outskirts of the city. They’d taken so many twists and turns down narrow roads, there wasn’t a chance of Cal finding his way back on his own. Especially not with Aodhan seated next to him, distracting him with random conversation the entire time.

The building where the party was being held was different from the last one. Instead of a home, it appeared to be a large building once used to sell furniture. The outside hadn’t looked like much, but the inside had been lavishly decorated with rich red carpeting and tan painted walls with gold trim.

Almost immediately, they’d been directed to the main hall where a row of chairs had been set up into three sections. They were close to the front in the middle row, not giving Calix much of a chance of escape should he have to throw up like he did at the last party.

It also didn’t give him much to look at, but he tried to scan the surrounding people, not familiar enough with those in power on the planet any longer. He’d been away too long, and the masks everyone wore did a surprisingly good job of shielding their identities.

“They’re not all from Emergence,” Titus rested a hand on Calix’s upper thigh and leaned in closer to say.

If they weren’t somewhere so public, he would shove the director off.

Probably.

“That’s Experiment.” Titus motioned to the far left with his chin.

A tall man standing off the side of the left row, talking with a redheaded woman, was pointed out. He was in form-fitting black leather pants and a sleeveless crop top made of silk with small gold embellishments and what appeared to be real diamonds. The mask he had on was covered in black rhinestones that glimmered every time he moved his head even a centimeter.

“Who?” Calix guessed he was probably relatively attractive beneath the mask. “That’s not a name.”

“He’s a famous model from Usurn.”

“I think he’s friends with Yuze Quint,” Aodhan said.

“Oh, really?” Cal’s interest was somewhat piqued by that, which didn’t go unnoticed. When Aodhan stiffened on his left side, he rolled his eyes. “Relax. I’ve seen some ads and stuff, that’s all. He’s been the cover model of at least one major magazine on pretty much every planet in this galaxy.”

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