Twisted

Second thing, Aden had fought Tucker before and knew the guy wasn’t giving the confrontation his all. He was actually spreading his arms, allowing Riley to pound those meaty fists into his face. Well, until survival instinct kicked in and Tucker probably reacted without thought, bucking the shifter off him.

Third, the metallic scent of blood coated the air, whipping Junior into more of a frenzy. The beast raced from one corner of his mind to the other, claws cutting deeply, making him grimace. Any minute now, and Aden’s brain would be ripped into tatters. Surely.

Fourth, Mary Ann was dodging the combatants as she raced around the room, searching for a weapon.

Fifth, Victoria was in an unconscious heap at the door. Blood trickled from her nose.

No one hurts her. No one. Such a killing rage…blooming inside him…so strong he wasn’t sure how he could contain it…had never experienced anything like it…not even when he’d fought Sorin…was going to detonate…

What’s happening to us? Julian asked, barely audible as Junior roared and roared and roared.

Aden threw himself into the fray, batting Riley away with one hand and grabbing Tucker by the shirt with the other. His momentum gave him strength, and he was able to spin, slamming Tucker against the wall, then the floor, and pinning him in place.

Sensing his opportunity to strike, Junior burst from his skin, the roaring now directed at Tucker. Junior wasn’t solid—yet—and caused no damage as he tried to bite. Tucker just lay there, taking the abuse. He looked as if he were smuggling golf balls under his eyelids, and a couple of his teeth were missing.

Riley must have gained his bearings because he was beside Aden a few seconds later. Junior had already decided Tucker belonged to him and wrenched around, snipping at Riley, teeth—solid now—slicing through his arm.

The shifter reared back, and Junior returned his attention to Tucker. Saliva dripped from sharpened fangs.

Tucker smiled. “Remember…promise…” he managed to get out. “Protect…brother.”

Aden tried to rise, but it was too late. Junior had slipped from him completely, and attacked, feasting. Not once did Tucker struggle. And then, his head lulled to the side. His eyes were open, staring into nothing. Glassy, dull. His pulse stopped thumping—because he had no neck left.

Suddenly sound whooshed back. Aden heard a male scream—a bloodcurdling sound that echoed throughout the room, though no one in the room was screaming. He could hear Junior’s snarls as he ate. Could hear Riley panting. Could hear Mary Ann fighting sobs. Could hear Victoria’s shallow breaths.

He couldn’t face any of them. Not yet. If Junior decided to turn on them…

“Riley, get the girls out of here.” Aden wrapped his arms around his beast, holding for all he was worth. “Now.”

“Where and when should we meet you?”

“I’ll call you and let you know. Now go.” Before it was too late.

A pause. Footsteps. The squeak of door hinges. He stayed where he was until Junior had eaten everything. He could feel the beast’s pleasure and satisfaction. Then the beast’s discomfort from overindulgence.

“What did I just let happen?” he whispered, even as he petted Junior behind the ears.

Tucker wanted to die, Elijah said, sadness dripping from the words. Vlad can’t use his brother against him if he’s dead.

“I know. And Tucker needed to be stopped, but not this way.” All Aden’s threats aside, not this way.

These things happen, Caleb said. He didn’t sound sorry or upset but vindicated.

Really? Julian sniped, because I don’t remember anything like this happening before.

Aden continued to pet Junior, and the beast allowed it, not even trying to attack. Junior even fell asleep, his body misting before seeping back into Aden’s pores.

He lay there for a long while, Tucker’s blood pooling around him, soaking into his clothes, his hair. He’d known Junior was dangerous. But this…there’d been no controlling him, no reining him in.

That couldn’t happen again.

You can ward yourself, as the other vampires do, Elijah said. The ward will help keep Junior inside you. Help keep him calm, quiet.

Uh, why are you so despondent? Julian asked. Controlling that monster is a good thing.

Yes, but the ward will quiet us, too.

What? Julian.

What! Caleb.

We will be aware, as Junior will be aware, but we will have no voice. Not any longer. No, don’t protest, any of you. I knew we would reach this point. And I wanted to be sure Aden could exist without us. He can. You’re strong enough, Aden. Smart enough.

So we’ll just fade into the background? Caleb asked, incredulous. Upset.

That’s not fair, Julian said.

Life never is.

So. Aden was supposed to choose between controlling his beast—who could emerge and kill everyone he loved—and destroying his dearest friends. No, life wasn’t fair.

He sat up, saying grimly, “Right now, Junior’s content and maybe even battling a case of indigestion. Nothing needs to be decided right now.”

What do you mean, nothing needs to be decided? There shouldn’t be anything to decide, Caleb said.

Aden ignored him, couldn’t yet deal with him. “Let’s get cleaned up, find the others and pay Tonya another visit.”

We don’t have a car, Julian said, everything else forgotten at the mention of his… wife’s?…name.

We don’t need one, Elijah replied. Not anymore.

TWENTY-NINE

BY THE TIME ADEN TEXTED to set the meeting place and time, Riley had already procured another room, was cleaned and bandaged, Victoria was awake, showered and changed, and she was pretty bruised up. Mary Ann was showered, changed and pissed. At herself, as well as everyone around her.

Tucker was dead, killed in the most violent, vile way, and no one seemed to care. She hadn’t thought she would care. He’d caused so much pain and suffering—and would have caused more. But part of her mourned him. Mourned the boy she’d once known. The boy who had treated her with respect and kindness and made her feel pretty. The boy who would never know his kid.

How was she going to break this to Penny? She’d have to call, have to tell her. Just not now. Maybe after her own grief had settled.

Mary Ann didn’t blame Aden for what had happened. If he hadn’t killed the boy, Riley would have. There was simply no middle ground with these creatures. It was either kill or be killed.

What had happened to a good old-fashioned locked-away-for-the-rest-of-eternity punishment?

Adding to her sense of anger was Riley’s treatment of her. Yes, he’d offered his beast, but she never would have taken it had she been coherent.

If Riley wanted to end things with her, he could end things with her. However, he was going to have to tell her straight out. No more giving her the silent treatment, then defending her “honor” with such fury, as if he still cared. No more keeping her at a distance, then looking at her as if she’d make a tasty snack.

If things were over, things were over. She needed to know—and cut all ties.