Titus frowned. “At least let Rachel continue to examine you until you have own actual doctor.”
“We will, but our trips need to be a lot less common than they have been to lower the risk to Isla Luna, but…”
Maximus gritted his teeth. He didn’t like having to say the next part, but there was no reason to hold back the truth. Titus was a leader, and he understood having to protect his own.
“What is it?” Titus asked, his eyes narrowing.
“We don’t know anything about Ouroboros,” Maximus said. “Other than they worked with Quinen, and some of their members might have similar powers. We can’t be sure your new friends in the government aren’t compromised by them.”
Titus growled, his hand gripping the edge of his desk tightly. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying it’s safer for both of us if we keep our mutual distance and only interact on a limited basis. I trust you and your people with my life, but we both know how far some of these groups will go to strike at hybrids and Vestals. I think Rem has the right idea. If we’re spread out in different areas, it lowers the chance of trouble, and since your people are safe here, I think you should concentrate on building a safe life here and leave taking down Ouroboros to us.”
“What if you need help?” Titus asked.
Maximus shrugged. “Then we’ll ask for it, especially with cleanup, but just because Quinen has strange powers doesn’t mean these people are all powerful. They’ve had to keep their heads down by his own admission, which means they’re probably a smaller organization than the Horatius Group or the Phoenix Corps. Quinen was still relying on the last bits of Phoenix Corps funding, which means that Ouroboros might not be as tight-knit or centralized as either the Group or the Corps.”
Titus folded his arms. “Are you sure about not staying here? You already told me you can’t call your new power on command, and we can’t sure if and when the other eleven will manifest powers.”
“No, we can’t, but I believe they will when they find their Vestals, and I’m going to keep training and trying to figure out if I can draw this power out without Selena being threatened.” Maximus lifted a fist. “We fought all those guards, and Quinen was the only one to have strange powers. That means it’s rare.”
“Maybe.” Titus scratched his cheek. “I know Rem’s keeping a lot secret from us, but I know his people have also displayed strange powers after bonding. But you don’t have the same kind of eyes and tattoos, so I don’t think you’re the same.”
Maximus nodded. “Quinen said it was a result of his modifications, and the man might have been a sociopathic monster, but I don’t think he was lying. He was proud of what he’d done, even when it killed him.”
Titus shook his head. “Just when we thought it was over.”
“It is over for you.” Maximus stood and rubbed underneath his nose. “Let Alpha Squad handle this. Once Ouroboros is finished, and we know it’s safe, we might consider joining you.”
“I don’t understand something. You know now this isn’t a disease. Why send the others here?”
“Something doesn’t have to be a disease to be dangerous, and we still don’t know a lot about this. For all we know, this ends up with us turning into super-Glycons with strange, deadly powers. Quinen said the potential was in everyone, but he didn’t strike me as the kind of guy who cared that much about side-effects. I think we need to end the Ouroboros threat and firmly establish what’s going on with us before we mix too much with other hybrids.” Maximus considered for a moment before adding, “And it’s hard enough to keep hybrid unity with all the differences. I think for the moment it’d be too strange, and us being here might cause trouble.”
“I doubt that, but if you’re certain, I’ll respect your decision.”
Maximus nodded. “I’m, certain, and all my men are. Like I said before. You’ve earned some peace. Let us handle the rest. Don’t worry. We’ll finish off Ouroboros and help usher in the true age of hybrid peace.”
* * *
Maximus hefted a box full of books to Selena’s bed and grabbed a roll of tape to seal it. “You triple packed this because I’m a hybrid, didn’t you? I don’t think a human could lift this.”
Selena winked from across the bedroom. “When your man is a superhuman stud, it really helps when moving. Why not take advantage of it?”
“You sure about this? Living on Port Winter Island is going to be way different than living in Los Angeles.”
They’d had the discussion a few times in as many days. Each time he raised a different objection, wanting her to be sure about the choice she was making.
“I’ll hit the mainland often enough.” Selena shrugged.
Maximus laughed. “The largest city in Maine is only around 70,000 people.”
“You know what I’ve accepted?” Selena asked.
“What?”
“That I could use a little more nature and leisure in my life and less concern about high-powered careers.” Selena sauntered over to Maximus and put her arms around his neck. “It does help that my man is a handsome statue come to life.”
Maximus kissed her on the forehead. “And what about your friends and family? You might be able to tell them the truth eventually, but it won’t be for a while.”
Selena cocked her head. He’d not actually asked about her friends and family before. Maximus watched and waited.
“So what?” she said.
