26. MONSTERS

26

MONSTERS

S tepping out of the club into the nighttime air, Aiden looked around in search of Charlotte. Riley said she saw her go out the door and followed her with Blaire and Layla in tow. That was ten minutes ago.

Lukas, Seth, and Dominic trailed behind him. Both Seth and Lukas were eager to check on their Korrenas as much as Aiden was his. Though his friends still didn't know her importance to him beyond what they witnessed on the dance floor.

He hadn't realized his friends saw them. At least the fog, lighting, and the dark outfit Charlotte wore camouflaged what he did to her.

As much as he tried to resist temptation, he couldn't stop himself from touching her like he had. After being apart for a week and a half, only to spend another two days unable to do more than talk on the phone, his body was angry with him, and his need for her dominated his every thought—especially when he saw her in the outfit she wore for him .

When a scream rang out through the air, his blood turned to ice in his veins. He knew that scream, but never accompanied by a blanket of fear.

Pushing through the few stragglers making their way into the club, he rounded the building toward the alleyway where the scream came from.

He saw the backs of Riley, Blaire, and Layla first.

As he approached them, panic grasped his heart, digging its claws in. He stopped short, gagging and struggling to breathe against the dread overtaking him.

"Are you okay?" Lukas said, stopping beside him, putting a hand on his back when Aiden doubled over, gasping for breath.

"It's Charlotte," was all he managed to choke out. He felt as if he was being strangled by an unseen force.

Seth stopped on his other side. "What are you—"

Another scream pierced the air.

Forcing down the overwhelming emotions he recognized to be Charlotte's, he staggered upright and rushed forward past the trio of girls at the mouth of the alley.

Terror of his own seized his lungs as the scene came into view.

Halfway down the alley, another man had Charlotte's arm held high near his face in a tight grip. His eyes were wild, ablaze with the fury of his primal side. He grinned, fangs on display as he said something Aiden couldn't hear.

Charlotte's head thrashed back and forth in denial of whatever he said.

Noah leaned against the wall, cradling the arm hanging limp at his side. Blood streamed down his face, leaving a distinct smear on the wall where his head had made contact. His glowing blue eyes narrowed on the man holding Charlotte. She recoiled when the man stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"Let her go!" Riley shouted.

The rogue Vasirian's head snapped up, his blond hair sticking to his forehead and temples with sweat. He snarled at Riley for interrupting him.

Seizing the distraction, Aiden sprinted toward the pair with everything he had, but it proved futile. The man brought his head down as Charlotte sobbed, begging him to let her go. Aiden's chest tightened as the rogue's fangs sank into her skin.

Her screams echoed in the dim alley, and if there were people outside at this time of night, it would draw unwanted attention.

Layla's hands went over her eyes, and Blaire screamed.

The sight of the rogue's fangs tearing into the skin of his Korrena triggered something inside him to snap. The frenzy consumed him as he closed the distance between them.

Someone would die tonight, and it wouldn't be him.

He glanced sideways as Lukas flanked his left side. His friend had his back.

He collided with the rogue. Pressing his shoulder against the rogue's torso, he put all his strength into the move to dislodge the bite from Charlotte's arm. When the rogue fell backward from the force, Lukas scooped up Charlotte into his arms and rushed her over to the others.

Aiden and the rogue hit the ground, snarling at one another.

Bloodlust had consumed the rogue, causing amber eyes to flare and his pupils to dilate. He tried to twist out of Aiden's grip, but he couldn't match Aiden's strength.

"Get off me," the rogue said, struggling against Aiden. His head turned toward Noah. "Get her, you piece of shit!"

Aiden's attention pivoted to Noah. The rogue took advantage of the distraction, disentangling himself and slamming his boot into Aiden's shoulder, sending him off balance. He fell to the side, a growl ripping free from his chest. Red blanketed his vision as he stared down the rogue.

No one would take Charlotte from him.

He used his position to his advantage, lunging forward and bear-hugged the rogue's waist, pushing forward until they slammed into the brick wall of the side of the nightclub. Bits of debris fell to the ground at the contact.

Searing pain greeted him when he stood, as the rogue's fangs dragged over his cheek, splitting the skin with deep gouges. The pain made his vision spot, but he didn't release his grip. If he let go, Charlotte would be lost. He only hoped one of his friends would dispatch Noah before he got to her.

Blood poured from the wounds on his cheek, fueling his rage.

He leaned forward and shredded the side of the rogue's throat with his teeth. The rogue shouted in pained fury before grabbing Aiden's head, dislodging him before he could rip into a vulnerable spot and end things. Saliva dripped from the rogue's bared teeth onto Aiden's shirt as they tussled. Blaire shouted at Lukas to do something while Layla's panicked scream cut through the frenzy.

His friends interfering in the fight would not only put them in danger but endanger him as well. Too many bodies posed a threat. Rationally, he knew they didn't want to hurt him, but if they interfered and took his prey from him—the one who tried to harm his Korrena—they would become his enemy as well.

Blaire didn't understand that as a human, but the others did.

When the rogue lunged for his jugular, Aiden grabbed him by the throat. His fingers dug into the torn flesh on the side of the rogue's neck, making him howl in agony .

Aiden staggered to his feet with the rogue's throat in his tight grasp. His body vibrated with the energy from his unsuppressed preternatural strength. He had no desire to hold back.

He wanted blood. He wanted vengeance. He wanted to rid the planet of the filth that dared to lay a single finger on his Korrena.

With a snarl, he threw the rogue. His prey collided with the wall and nestled into the bricks, leaving an imprint that cracked like lightning.

Aiden closed the distance with little effort. His need to avenge his other half dominated him.

With a strong grip, he seized the rogue by the hair and jerked his head sideways.

"Aiden, no!" Riley screamed, but her warning came too late.

His fangs tore into the rogue's throat and ripped out his jugular. He spit the torn flesh from his mouth and dropped the lifeless body at his feet—a testament to what he would do to anyone who tried to take his Korrena away from him.

He turned to deal with Noah, but he had vanished.

"I've called reinforcements to clean this up," Dominic called, striding forward.

Aiden's chest heaved, and he trembled violently. The fury coursing through his body hadn't diminished. When Dominic got close enough, Aiden snarled at him in warning.

Hands lifted, Dominic canted his head to the side. "It's me, Dom. Listen to me," he said in a soothing tone like one would a rabid animal.

"We need to get you out of here. This is bad." He motioned to the corpse on the ground. "You've committed a crime punishable by death. As a member of the Blackthorn Clan, I'm obligated to take you in."

Aiden growled at him but stopped himself from stepping toward the new threat.

Dominic lifted his hands again. "Listen to me. I'm not going to," he said, voice softening. "You think I don't recognize what's happening?" Dominic looked over his shoulder at Charlotte, prompting another growl.

"You protected what you cared for, so I won't do it, but you need to get out of here. I'll do what I can to cover this up. I have someone local who can dispose of the body before word gets back to Blackthorn Security or the clan, but I can't hide what you look like. Go. Clean up and heal before you return."

After seeing them on the dance floor and witnessing Aiden's response to the rogue biting her, Dominic clearly saw the truth of their connection.

"You need to run," Seth said, coming forward, concern etched in his features.

Charlotte moved forward, catching Aiden's eye. He stepped around Dominic to look at her. He had to know she was safe.

The first thing that hit him was the overwhelming fear radiating from her. She looked paler than normal, her eyes glossy and red, streaks of black mascara staining her cheeks.

He stepped forward, reaching up to touch her face. When she flinched and stumbled back a step, the rage that fueled him evaporated into nothing. Her fear sobered him.

Of course she feared him. He was the monster, and she was the innocent human. Prey to devour—at least through her eyes. He was nothing more than a predator.

He knew his eyes were glowing in the alley's darkness. Blood ran down his chin from killing another Vasirian. His fangs grazing his lip added to the terrifying visage. The gouges in his cheek undoubtedly looked horrific .

His gaze flicked to Lukas, and he barked, "Get her to the academy."

"She can't! They'll wipe her memory!" Riley protested, glancing at Dominic as if he would call on the clan to charge in and do it there and then.

"W-what?" Charlotte sucked in a breath as she stepped away from both Dominic and Riley. "I don't want my memory erased," she said, voice hitching with alarm.

"No one is touching her!" Aiden roared, startling them all. His voice dropped to a low rasp as he fought to get his demons under control. "No one touches her," he rasped, voice guttural.

Lukas positioned himself behind Charlotte, not physically touching her in an effort not to provoke Aiden, but showing his commitment to protect her in Aiden's place.

He nodded his thanks to Lukas and then his gaze settled on Charlotte's face. "No one is going to hurt you. I'll die before I let that happen."

The tears rolling down her cheeks combined with her fear split him open.

Part of him wondered if it would be a good thing for her to forget. To forget him. He didn't want her to know fear at this level. Didn't want this night to traumatize her further and bring more nightmares. Didn't want her bound to someone she would fear her entire life.

The mere thought of her forgetting him hurt.

Not able to look at her any longer, his gaze swung to Riley, and he said the words he dreaded sharing from the moment it became his reality.

"They won't wipe my Korrena's memory."

Turning from the sounds of everyone speaking over each other, trying to express their shock and thoughts all at once, he disappeared down the dark alley.

He would heal, but he didn't know if his heart would ever recover.

Charlotte saw his monster, and she feared him.