Listening to them go back and forth on that topic excited me. Of course, I was the original; however, Killian’s growing haughtiness was starting to worry me. Was I not the original? Had Killian created me? That didn’t make any sense because that would mean Dark and Daemon existed before I did.
Cat got your tongue, Finn?
I growled at him and then pulled out of my head after stuffing them back into that room. Jade was still staring at me, hopeful but it was time for the next step in my plan. A plan that didn’t involve fucking Jade anymore than I had to. “Later,” I purred in her ear, trying to appease her. “Let’s get you all cleaned up.”
She didn’t protest as I led her to the attached bathroom, leaving me in peace. I stared back at my handiwork, enjoying the horror I had left behind.
Do we even like Jade?
I wasn't sure how Daemon had pushed through, my little room not strong enough to truly hold them back. Or maybe I was losing control on being able to stay present in reality, the desire to hide away in my head with the other three growing over time.
She’s a bit annoying.
I’m not a fan.
I made them wait a little longer for my response but when I gave it, there was silence after.
I have plans for Jade.
SAMAEL
The bastard left his location on so either he wanted us to find him or he was losing his touch. It had to be the first one with how meticulously Finn planned out everything else. The fact that he was even sending out an SOS text at all told me that he hadn’t gone home after work. Knowing Chief Matthews as I did, the man would do everything in his power to nip Finn’s behavior in the bud. With curfews, rules that definitely wouldn’t work, and a monologue meant to help his son that would only backfire.
Since Finn hadn’t complained in any of the texts that he messaged me, I assumed that none of that had happened. Yet.
It’s really pretty. Better than the last one, I promise.
So he said.
I hadn’t expected to find his location at Bondage Palace. The last time he had been here, the other three alters had been slowly losing themselves to Finn’s arrival. I hoped this wasn’t the announcement of yet another alter. We had barely gotten used to Finn.
A low growl permeated the air around me as I stepped into the club, the immediate debauchery that met my gaze lighting the fury within. I didn’t even know why I was here.What are you doing, Finn?He had said it was really pretty, which meant that someone was dead. Who that was, I had no idea. No one had fucked with us recently or Finn for that matter so this outburst felt out of place.
Aeron and Slash stayed a few feet behind me as I made my way to the counter, signaling the man behind it. He shrunk back a few inches, eyes widening when I flashed my badge discreetly, the horror in the man’s eyes growing as he leaned over the counter.
“Bad breakup, huh?” He whispered and I assumed that meant he recognized me. He pointed up to the private rooms. “Saw him go upstairs with two smoking hot women. He’s plastered too.” He threw me a wild grin, obviously wondering what kind of shit I had brought into the club but I wasn’t looking for a show. Just answers. I wasn’t going to tear down the club from within either to find them. “Didn’t peg you for a cop though.”
Most did. Between the young features, wide shoulders, and permanent nonexpression that usually sat on my face, most people pegged me as some type of law enforcement. Why this bartender hadn’t picked up that vibe, I had no idea. Slash snorted from behind me, somehow acquiring a shot glass and downing it. Aeron was a little more tactful, eyes peeled for any signs of Finn and his destruction. They were a little closer than I liked but seated a few stools over gave the illusion that we weren't together.
“I feel like that’s a you problem, honestly.”
The bartender gasped. “Wait! He done something wrong? You gonna arrest him? He’s a sweet kid. I’m sure he didn’t—”
Aeron shot me a soft glance to keep me from doing something I'd regret. I let out a heavy breath and settled on a grin that I knew would terrify the guy. “First off, we’re the same fucking age. Second, I suggest you go back behind the counter and pretend we didn’t have this conversation.”
He gulped and nodded, moving away from the counter and hurrying to another customer on the other side. My attention turned to the private rooms as I began my ascent, unsure of what I would find. Finn’s idea of a present was vastly different than anyone else’s and while we appreciated them, this was getting out of hand. A few moments passed before Aeron and Slash joined me.
“Wait, did the bartender say two women?” Aeron asked. “Finn likes women? Is that even possible?”
It was, unfortunately for us. However, I knew that Finn also still wanted us, which made this whole situation messy. The confusion in Aeron’s voice was evident and when I glanced back at him, I wasn’t surprised to see his hand running along the hallway wall, tapping in sets of threes. He hadn’t done that shit in a while. Slash on the other hand was a bit more put together but the tightness in his jaw worried me. Would he lash out at Finn, fuck him into the lounge, or ask him out on a date that involved more death?
“Does this mean we’re going to find two dead women?” Slash hummed, his excitement growing. “I wonder who they are.”
I opened my mouth to respond, about to throw a joke back at the two when a familiar two-color-eyed boy stumbled into the hallway, disoriented and confused, blood splattered across his clothes and face. Relief settled into his features when he saw me, even as fear threatened to overtake him.
“Safe,” he whispered before crumpling to the ground. Aeron shot past me, cradling the man in his arms, rocking him back and forth as he muttered sweet words into his ear. I placed a firm hand to Slash’s chest, watching the difference between this version of our lover and the one who had been toying with us for the past few days.
“That’s not Finn. That’s Killian.”
