“No…no way,” Titus growled. “Not after all they’ve done to you. They can go to fucking Hell.”

His anger was cruel and pure…so different from the man he was days before. This was a new Titus…a powerful Titus. He raged for me…because of me—and in spite of me.

He was a perfect mess of power and vulnerability.

So utterly human.

“What did they do?” Rival cut in. “Get me up to speed here.”

Titus jerked his head toward the hellhound. “What haven’t they done? They manipulate, they rule…and, in their world, only the glamorous and the perfect survive. They have no place for Lorn, and they make that abundantly clear.”

“They threatened you?” Danger seeped into Rival’s growl. “Did they hurt you?”

“They may as fucking well have,” Titus snapped, and dragged his hand high.

He combed his fingers through his hair. It was his thing…his signal. He was pissed. “They treat her like shit, make her…they force her…oh shit,” he turned away, stalking along the worn driveway before he turned back to us. “They bully her into low-paying jobs so she can’t fucking eat, can’t survive. I dunno why she stays, why she puts up with their shit.”

“Because it was meant to be mine.”

Titus stilled, took a breath, and answered slowly. “Come again?”

“The Circle, the entire business. It was meant to be mine. My grandmother, Alma Goodchild, started the business years ago. She was the first real hunter, and the first one to make the supernatural beings in the city fall in line. You break the code, and you feel her wrath…until Alistair Horton stabbed her in the back and took everything. But she was smart enough to enter a clause of her own in the contract. He can’t fire me…not in any way. The only way I’d leave was if I resigned. And that day will be when Hell freezes over.”

“So they have you over a barrel?” Rival growled. “They can’t force you to leave, so they take the food from your mouth?”

Orange flames burned red in the hellhound’s eyes. His top lip turned. A whisper of shadow form swallowed flesh before the darkness left once more. He was too close to shifting. Too close to being the beast and not the man.

His voice was so calm, so pure as he spoke. “I think I’d like to meet this Alistair Horton.”

Titus gave a nod. “As would I. Just a friendly chat amongst three grown men.”

A shudder tore through me. Their tone implied anything but friendly, and, for a second, I was consumed by this new bond, until reality crashed the perfect illusion. “It doesn’t matter. None of it matters. I’m not there for the money. I’m there for answers…and it’s about time I had some.”

Titus held out his hand. “Then let’s go and get what you deserve.”

Rival closed in, holding out the crook of his arm. I stepped forward on trembling legs, hollowed from the inside out, and left the warehouse with its sickening secrets behind.

We walked out of that compound different people than the ones who'd walked in. I let them lead, let them help me through the cut strands of wire, and let them open the car door and settle me inside.

The trunk was opened and both men moved behind the car. I caught the flare of color as Rival pulled on one of Titus’s shirts.

Doors opened and closed around me, and then the engine started with a growl. I lifted my gaze, staring at the old clapboard warehouse as we reversed. I was still in there, still staring at the mess of blood and bodies. Pink glistened in my mind, and blood ran freely over flesh.

Shattered bones stuck out from the mess, with black fur trapped underneath.

I didn’t understand what I was seeing, couldn’t make the pieces fit.

White orbs glistened, webbed with tiny red veins toward a single white nerve that dangled like a string. The beast's snout caved into the head. Ivory shards were scattered around the rim. It took me a second to understand…they were teeth…

My gaze drifted to the others…they were all the same…all flesh on the outside, and fur in the middle.

Like they were inside out.

Those words haunted me as Titus carried me through the doorway.

They haunted me now as Titus spun the wheel and nosed the car toward the city. Gravel crunched as we left the dirt track and jolted onto the asphalt. The engine growled, the speedometer climbed.

“Rival,” Titus murmured.

I lifted my gaze as the car coasted. Bodies writhed on the ground…black blood oozed out. Demons…four…no, five.

White ticket stubs floated in the air, trapped by a breeze. One slapped to the windscreen…the bolded words ran with the first drop of rain.

“Jesus…Jesus Christ. Lorn, don’t look…” Rival urged.

But it was too late. Bones stuck out from the middle of a ball of organs. There was no form, no skin…no nothing…and in my heart I knew what’d happened.

We drove past, finding more. Witches, and wolves…a ghoul, and demons.

They littered the streets. Humans were slowly coming out from shops and houses to stare at the mess of immortals.

It was me…it was all me.

I closed my eyes to the horror, closed my eyes to that ticket splattered on the windscreen. Raindrops thundered on the roof of the car, sounding like the stampede inside my head.

I did this. I did it all.

“It’s stopped. Look, these are fine,” Titus urged.

I just had to see for myself. I opened my eyes to find three witches gripping their talismans, whispering prayers. Wolves cowered behind them and scanned for the threat.

But the threat was right here, driving past them.

The silence inside the car was deafening. I glanced into the side mirror, watching them for a second longer.

“It’s a line, like a salt circle,” Rival murmured. “A line of power.”

But what happened when the power grew?

They were thinking the same…

“It doesn’t matter,” Titus growled, drawing my gaze. He glanced at me and then shifted back to the road. “You didn’t know. We were under attack, for fuck's sake.”

But now that we knew, it changed everything.

My power was a weapon…I was a weapon.

And I had to be controlled.

Titus handled the car, plunging through the city streets, headed for The Circle.

I wanted answers…I wanted to know my own power, and yet here it was in all its terrifying glory. But the truth was far more frightening.

Don’t say it, don’t say a word.

Would they leave? Is that what I was afraid of? That I’ll wake up and everything will be back to how it was? Alone, and hating the world.

I’d rather that. I’d rather be alone…than put them in danger.

“That wasn’t the extent. That wasn’t all there was.”

“What?” Titus answered. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I could do more. I mean, I was frightened…I mean, I pulled back at the last minute.”

“You pulled back?” whispered Rival. “You pulled back?”

But Titus wouldn’t leave it alone, stealing glances at me. “Pulled back to what? Eighty percent…sixty percent?”

I tried to relive that moment—tried to feel the power underneath that whisper inside my head, and yet all I remembered was the fear.

I could do more…so much more. I'd barely scratched the surface, barely registered the power inside.

Answer them…tell them exactly how dangerous it is being around you.

I counted backwards, finding the ripple of strength, and stopped at a number. “If I had to put a number on it, then I’d say five.”

“Five what? Five fucking percent? Jesus…Jesus.” Titus roared and turned away from me to stare out at the streets.

“Are you sure?” Rival murmured.

His touch was soft…and careful. Everything I didn’t want. They were afraid of me… “It’s okay,” I whispered. “I’ll understand.”

“Understand what?” Titus snapped.

I winced with the lash of fire in his words. He was angry. I swallowed and tried to still the tremble in my words. “I’ll understand if you want to leave. I mean, I get it. You never signed up for this…hell, I never signed up for this.”

“What the fuck are you saying? If I want to leave?”

Titus jerked the wheel, swinging the car hard. I threw out a hand as I hit the door and then fell forward as we braked to a stop.

“I’m only going to say this once. I want you to understand me. I don’t run. Period. I won’t leave when things get tough, and, sure, killing immortals in a two- block radius is kinda crazy…isn’t it? But I can do crazy. Just give me a fucking chance. Don’t bail on me, and don’t decide what I can, or cannot, handle. Leave that shit up to me.”

His fingers trembled against the wheel. I was wrong. I was so fucking wrong. He wasn’t angry. He was scared. God, I’m so stupid. So goddamn stupid. This was a terrifying re-run for him, wasn’t it?

His wife left, because she decided she knew him better than he ever could.

And here I was, making the same wrong assumption. I shifted in my seat, turning to face him. He reached for my hand, but this time I caught his hand.

“You’re right. You’re right, and I’m sorry. I’m not running, and I’m not pushing you away…Titus…look at me.”

He glanced at our hands in my lap, and then lifted his head. The pain in his eyes was a knife to my chest. I’d done this. I hurt him.

“Me, too,” Rival growled, and moved forward.

I turned and reached for his hand, too. “Never again. I’ll never push you away again. The decision will be yours.”

“Don’t pull away from us. Don’t give us a shadow to care about. If we’re going to do this, then we need everything. I’m not going to waste another fucking second loving a reflection someone wants me to see,” Titus’s hand tightened. “It’s all or nothing, Lorn. All or nothing.”

There was no doubt. “Then it’s all…it’s all.”

“Okay,” Rival reached for my hair. “Then it’s all. We need to understand what we’re dealing with, Lorn. We need to understand your power. Otherwise, how can we protect you?”

How can they protect me? I turned my head, rubbing my cheek against his palm, and stared at my hand.

Black flames conjured. Even now I could feel them. One tiny thought was all I needed. One perfect simple release… “I could hurt you.”

“Oh, you’re dangerous…dangerous as fuck, actually. But not to us. Only to everyone else. You used your power to save me,” Titus leaned in, brushing the back of his fingers along my cheek. “I’d be dead, do you understand me? If you hadn’t done what you did, I’d be lying dead in that warehouse.”

The memory surfaced. The image that was the trigger. Titus dying on the floor. I couldn’t hurt him, couldn't hurt either of them. I lifted my hands, capturing both theirs against my face.

“Then we’re good?” Titus murmured. “We know where we all stand?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

He straightened, fingers lingering for a second, before they slipped from my hand. I’d stay like that forever, touching them…having them touching me. Titus glanced to the rearview mirror and over his shoulder as he signaled and then pulled into the street.

But Rival stayed, leaning harder into the seat to kiss me. I gripped his hand, needing the softness of affection for just a second longer.

There’d be time for fire. There’d be time for steel.

But not with us…here and always, there was only comfort.

There was only love.

Titus punched the accelerator. There was an urgency now, one that swept through the cabin of the car like wildfire. The Circle’s wheel had been turning for far too long…crushing those they wanted to and holding others in positions of power. It was about time we shattered the spokes and tore the fucker apart.

We wanted this to be over. I wanted this done. My stomach tightened as familiar streets blurred. I let Rival's hand fall, leaving him to the door as the first glimpse of The Circle came into view.

The towering building took my breath away, as it was always designed to do. I looked up, catching the darkening sky in the reflection, until the flare of red and blue caught my eye.

“What the hell?” Titus murmured as he slowed the car, looking for a place to park.

Two marked police cars blocked the street. People milled outside. I scanned familiar faces and saw Betty.

But it was the scuffle that snagged my focus, and I stared as three officers wrestled a man to the ground. The crowd tightened around them. I couldn’t see, catching fragments, as Titus pulled the car hard against the curb.

I fumbled for the door handle, shouldering my way out.

“This is a mistake!” came the roar behind the wall of bodies.

I surged forward, drawn by the familiar voice, as the officers yanked Redemption to his feet and marched him toward the open patrol car door.

Betty glanced at me, and then rushed forward, wringing her hands.

I couldn’t look away, turning back to the patrol car as the door closed with a thud. “What the hell is going on?”

“Lorn, oh my goodness. It’s crazy…utterly crazy. Redemption’s been arrested.”

The heavy thud of boots closed in behind me as I asked the only question that was important. “Arrested for what?”

“Distribution of drugs. It’s crazy, I know. But they found…they found that drug sigil all over his house and in his car.”

I flinched with the words and turned toward the flashing lights.

“Let me find out more,” Titus growled, and moved away.

Rival moved close, brushing his arm against mine. The movement was barely noticeable, but to me it spoke volumes. He was right here, whatever happened.

A hard thud from inside the patrol car drew my gaze. Redemption turned his head, and our gazes connected. Panic seized him. His eyes widened, mouth moving as he screamed.

I took a step, and then another, unable to understand the muffled sound. Whatever he was now, he was something to me…once a lover, always a friend. I couldn’t hold the injustice of this place against him. I couldn’t hate him, not now…not ever.

“Ma’am.”

A voice called as I moved closer.

“Ma’am, please step back.”

Fingers dug into my arm, gouging as I was wrenched away.

“Get your hands off her,” Rival growled, and closed in.

I glanced at the young constable as he looked to Rival, and paled.

“Now.” Rival warned. His top lip curled with the unspoken threat.

Fingers slipped, leaving me to step closer as Redemption slammed his head into the window. He lifted his head, eyes alight with rage and need. Only this time I heard him…loud and fucking clear. “Get out of the city, Lorn! Get out tonight!”

“Oh my God! Redemption!”

I turned my head at that sound and watched Veronica Falls hold a hand over her mouth and stumble forward. She whipped her head right, searching the group of officers. “Who’s in charge here? Who the hell is responsible for this?”

Redemption’s scream was muffled under the roar of the engine. I jerked my gaze back, catching Redemption's rage as the patrol car pulled away from the curb and out onto the street.

But his hate wasn’t aimed at me…it was aimed at Veronica.

“I demand to speak to the officer in charge!” She was a blur of black and white as she marched on stilettos. “You, you there!”

She clicked her fingers toward Titus. “I want to know what’s going on. I want an update and I want one now!”

He gave her an icy stare and then retreated to his buddies before turning away, answering as he passed. “I’m not the one you want. The officer in charge is over there.”

He left her sputtering and headed for me. His cold, careful gaze gave nothing away. He looked to Rival, gave a jerk of his head toward the car, and then settled his gaze on me.

Thunder cracked across the sky above as Titus reached for my arm. “We need to get out of here. Trust me, okay. Let’s go, we’ll talk on the way.”

None of this made any sense. I wanted to argue. I wanted to stay. Whatever Redemption was, he deserved to be heard.

But I trusted Titus, and I followed where he led, making my way back to the silver sedan. Red and blue lights flared once more before they ended. The other patrol car pulled away and headed in the same direction as the first one.

Titus unlocked the car and waited as I walked around to the other side and climbed in. No words were spoken, not until The Circle glinted lonely and cold in the rearview mirror.

“Jesus Christ, what a fucking mess,” Titus shook his head. “Your friend back there is in a lot of trouble.”

“They said it was Sigil. Are they right?”

The answer was in his eyes. “Oh yeah, his house was full of it. They’ve got him with possession, and intent to distribute…and that’s on our side.”

A shudder raced through me. On our side. They’re blaming the attacks on him. Titus gave a slow nod. “How well do you know this guy?

“Redemption? We had a thing…it’s over now, been over for a long time. But still.”

Rival answered for me. “Loyalty.”

I was loyal, if I was nothing else. But that wasn’t all. “I don’t think it’s him. I think they’re wrong.”

“The evidence is overwhelming, too overwhelming.”

He was right, and I’d already lied. “The drug outside The Circle, the one I picked up, it came out from underneath the grill on his car.”

There was a flash of anger, one I felt to my core.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I didn’t want to tell you. But it flew out when the tire deflated.”

Titus shook his head. “Dare I fucking ask?”

“I stabbed it. I was fucking pissed after the goddamn meeting and I stabbed it. I could’ve done worse…just remember that. So, when it deflated, the drug flew out, and I picked it up without thinking.”

“Man,” Rival muttered. “That guy is going down.”

Titus glanced right and then left and pulled out into the lane of traffic.

“I don’t believe it’s him. I mean, it’s not just our history that makes me say that. He was there at the club last night and I was fucking positive my grandmother was there, as well. I could’ve sworn I saw her. Could’ve sworn I heard them fighting.”

“You mean Alma Goodchild?” Rival shot forward, reaching through the seats to grab my arm. “She’s here?”

“I think she is. I think there’s a lot more happening here than a car full of damn drugs, and the dark Lord of Hell wanting…wanting whatever the hell he wants.”

“I don’t like this,” Titus shook his head and turned into my street. “I don’t like this at all.”

“There’s one common factor…the only one we haven’t thought about. The club…Wicked.”

Titus slowed the car as Chang’s came into view. “The tickets.”

“Something’s happening tomorrow night, and all this,” I swept my hand through the air. “All the attacks, the drugs, everything is related somehow.”

“He said to leave…that Redemption guy. He screamed for you to leave,” Rival broke in as Titus pulled into a parking spot and killed the engine. “It’s something we need to think about.”

Silence settled as I reached for the door handle.

I wasn’t running.

Not from a damn hunt.

Not from my grandmother.

Not from the second damn coming of Lucifer himself.