Page 69 of B Negative
“I know that two years ago you broke your city’s protocol and went on a killing spree, draining humans for almost two weeks.”
“It was closer to one week, if we’re being specific here.”
Titus grunted, finishing off his blood.
But it didn’t seem like he knew the reason I’d gone bloodlusty was that I’d just been made.
Titus came close, hovering over me. His presence was overbearing and made me want to flinch away. I stayed still as a statue. “How are you able to drink from a live vein and not give into your desire?”
I didn’t miss Sunny’s sharp inhale next to me, but I didn’t risk breaking eye contact with Titus.
If he was trying to intimidate me…
Well, he definitely could.
But I had to play it cool.
I straightened my back, hardening my gaze. “I’ll tell you after we’ve addressed the reason I’m here.”
“Um, Eden, maybe not such a great idea to poke the bear,” Sunny whispered next to me.
Titus froze, then smiled. “You certainly aren’t lacking in gumption, are you?”
I quirked an eyebrow at him and he finally retreated to his side of the desk. “Fine. What are you here to discuss, young one?”
I dove in. No preamble. No steadying breath. “You have a witch problem. I have a solution.”
The corners of his mouth tightened ever so slightly, but his gaze never left mine. “My problems are not yours to solve. Or yours to know.”
Sunny opened her mouth to defend her actions, but I silenced her with a raised finger. “I’ll tell you exactly what I told Julian. Sunny and I were friends before we were on opposite sides of the river. I trust her with my life, just as I trust her with the life of my mate. Neither of us would ever do anything to jeopardize anyone’s position.”
Titus stared at me, icy glare boring right through my close. “Say what you’ve come to say before you anger me further.”
“The witches in Laurel Cove have already formed one coven. There is no bidding. No fighting for resources or to win contracts. They are paid fairly for the work they do and the proceeds are divided among the single coven.”
“Make your point, Eden,” Titus growled.
“I thought I’d been rather clear. A united coven isn’t a bad thing. Sure, it will take some time to adjust, but there are always growing pains when new systems are put in place. But continuing to do things the way you’ve always done them is just not feasible anymore. Not if you want your city to survive.”
Titus’s jaw locked in place, muscles flexing, as he spewed his next words from behind gritted teeth. “You think I haven’t thought of that, girl?”
“Titus,” Sunny said, calmly, warning.
The ancient king didn’t hear her, rising to his full height behind the desk. “You think that the witches in Cypress City will be happy to unite once they’ve learned how they’ve been undercutting each other for generations? What kind of coven do you think they’ll form when they hate each other? How willing do you think they’ll be to continue to do work for me once they discover how much I’ve underpaid them?”
I stood, staring up at him, wishing I was wearing heels so I could look at him straight on. “Looks like someone is coming face to face with the consequences of their actions. This is your mess, and I’m offering you a way out for all the people’s lives at stake. Think long and hard before you spit on it simply because all the kinks haven’t been ironed out.”
“Kinks?” he roared. “I’d hardly call the glaring problems mere kinks.”
I crossed my arms, staring into his cold blue eyes, and said one word. “Reparations.”
Titus opened his mouth, prepared to swat down my comeback. But he had nothing. He squinted at me, working the problem over in his mind.
“You’ve been too set in your ways to see the easiest option out of this. Pay them what you’ve cheated them out of. With interest. A lot of interest. You can afford it, and it’ll go a long way to softening the blow. You need them, Titus. So own up to your mistakes, make it right, and promise them to do better.”
Titus let out a long sigh, seated himself, and steepled his fingers together. I chanced a glance at Sunny, who was alternating glances between Titus and me with a tiny, devious smile on her lips.
Titus swallowed and pretended to rub a smudge off the glass top of his desk. “If that’s all you’ve come to say, then answer my question.”