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But his final words chasten me. My duty has always been as leader of the brotherhood. It can’t matter that a human brings out my darkest desires or my need to protect. There is so much more I’m responsible for.
“I will not fail you or our brothers so close to the end. No one, no human, not Julianna or anyone, will keep us from our goals.” My voice booms with purpose, rattling the table beneath my claws.
I have lied to Julianna.
I told her she could ask me for anything and I would make sure she would get it, but that’s not entirely true. I would turn her down if it got in the way of our mission.
“She will help us secure an invite to Freddy’s artifact unveiling. She is a means to an end and that’s it.”
This morning I pretended she was all I had to care about. I saw her carefully built strength, her unflinching drive for survival, and everything in me wanted to ease her burden. But my brothers reminded me that the Pull must always come first.
ChapterSeven
JULES
No one, no human, not Julianna or anyone, will keep us from our goals.
“There you are.”
My shoulders jump to my ears, and my heart skips several very necessary beats as I register Eden’s voice behind me. I back away from the archway leading into the library and spin on my bare feet to see Eden marching towards me down the hall in a maroon sheath that hugs her full curves, and low but fashionable heels that put her several inches taller than me.
She is a means to an end and that’s it.
There it is, just like I said I wanted, clear motives and expectations. We are both a means to an end for each other.This is the perfect situation, I tell myself, even as a sharp pain zings through my stomach.
“I thought I lost you, Jules.” Eden shakes her head, looking around the long, wide hallway of the penthouse with its expansive ceilings and ornate molding. She frowns, and I follow her gaze to a rather disturbing painting of a chaotic scene between humans and otherworldly creatures. “This place takes a while to get used to.”
“Is that Hieronymus Bosch?” I ask, taking full advantage of the nightmarish artwork to distract myself from the gnawing pressure that seems to have started in my chest.
“Yes. Frightening, isn’t it?” She narrows her green eyes at it, investigating the painted scene further.
An hour ago, Titan had me bent over his lap crying his name as he edged me on his claws. He had me choking on his cock, wishing he would take me fast and hard in the shower. But after all that, he’s loudly pronouncing to the world how little I mean to him.
This isn’t about my feelings. This relationship is transactional. I like it that way. This is about pride. It’s all I’ve had for so long. I saw the way he looked at me as I took him in my mouth, like I was precious, like I was everything. Making him feel that way about me is my job, and I’m good at it. That gargoyle is acting like he is doing me a favor.
I want to growl in frustration, and I almost laugh at how pitiful it would sound in comparison to the very real growls from Titan.
“You okay?” Eden interrupts my thoughts as she steps back from the painting. “You’re flushed. Are you feeling well?”
“I’m fine,” I answer quickly, some of the anger towards Titan finding its way into my words, but Eden doesn’t respond to them.
“Were you able to get in contact with your friend?”
“My lawyer,” I gently correct.
I’d stepped out of the dining room where Eden and I were eating a breakfast of guava pastries and coffee from the nearby Cuban bakery and going over outfit options to make the call.
Luis Gutierrez has been my lawyer for almost a decade and has given me multiple extensions and payment plans. However, my last conversation with him a week ago made it clear he was no longer making exceptions for me. At this point, any friendly feelings he’s had towards me bounced along with the last check I sent him.
“Uh, no… I didn’t get through.”Because I forgot to call because I was too busy eavesdropping on Titan. “But I’m just going to text him.”
When Eden doesn’t leave, I realize she likely has orders to never leave my side. I sigh, giving my head a small shake, and set to texting Mr. Gutierrez.
His last message to me had been a reminder that I owed him my next installment a week ago. I first navigate to my bank app, where Titan’s payment has already arrived, and set up the transfer, then shift back to my messages. I write to him quickly, thanking him for his patience and letting him know the money has been sent.
Relief floods my body. It is a small and fleeting respite from my worries, but at this moment, I feel better than I have in years. If this is what being a “means to an end” for Titan is like, I can squash down my ego long enough to buy several more moments like this one.
“All good?” Eden smiles.
