No. He’s Killian but not. Not Finn either. Something is wrong.
I noticed as well. Just keep him in your sights.
I wasn’t planning on letting him go without an explanation.
We’ll also have to find a fucking way to explain everything else. Let me clean up. Stay safe.
Samael didn’t say ‘stay safe’ unless things were going to shit. I hated the uncertainty of our lives and the dwindling safety net that had protected us thus far. I met Slash’s gaze through the rearview mirror and then glanced down at Killian again. His eyes had reopened, a mischievous filtering into his expression that reminded me of Dark. Just as I was about to speak, the expression changed and Daemon became fully seated.
“What the fuck?” slipped out of my mouth, Daemon relaxing against my side.
“He’s playing Russian Roulette. I think I won.”
I stared at him for several seconds before Daemon promptly fell asleep. Was Finn trying them on for size like someone shopping for clothes? Or was Killian in on this too? My head hurt trying to wrap my brain around it.
Slash stepped into the bathroom as I sat Killian on the couch before joining him. “Aeron, this shit is fucked up.”
“I already know that.”
“I’m serious. One of the doctors I spoke with briefly about HMD told me that it can be physically taxing. Switching between alters, especially demanding ones will wear his body out faster than his mind. I heard what he said in the car, that Russian Roulette shit. No one’s body could handle switching alters likethat and Finn is having fun with it.” He grabbed a bottle of lavender and dumped a healthy serving into the water.
“Is it all Finn, though? Something’s wrong with Killian. He’s acting innocent but it’s not the same.”
Slash remained quiet as he turned the heat up a little higher. When he finally answered, it wasn’t what I needed him to say. “I’m ignoring it, Aeron.” He turned and gently grabbed the front of my neck, pulling me close. “Finn is playing games I don’t think we’re ready for. We just found out he’s known us before we even knew he existed. And to think that Killian is somehow either the worst alter, the first one, or in cahoots with Finn? I don’t want to think about it. Let’s have our peace for a little while longer. When Samael returns, we can fall apart.”
I snorted. “Wasn’t planning on the falling apart bit. Dragging out Finn for an explanation, though? I’d like that.”
DAEMON
I rested my head back against Slash’s chest, relaxing into his hold in the bath, Aeron across from us as he cradled my feet in his lap, his thumbs running across the insole of my left foot. For men who were so uncertain of Finn, they seemed to be okay with the rest of us in a way that didn’t make sense. The moment we got in the car, Finn started swiping through us like we were just his toys to break. Dark had grabbed the driver’s seat at his first opportunity but was violently ripped out before I was stuffed there.
The whole ordeal made my body feel like lead as I sagged against Aeron, needing a few minutes before I could function. Finn’s cackles echoed through my head but it was Killian’s look of disinterest that haunted me. My beautiful Primrose wasn’tthe wilted flower he used to be. He was dark and apathetic. He wasn’t crouching in the corner, almost as if Finn’s appearance gave him a confidence that hadn’t been present previously.
The ride to Samael’s estate had been mostly silent as I tuned everything out and slept like my life depended on it. Samael had still been in that room when we left, Slash and Aeron taking care of me as if I had still been the innocent creature they first laid eyes on.
When they both disappeared into the bathroom to draw up a bath, I weakly slipped out my phone, surprised that it wasn’t covered in blood and guts and cum. I still smelled like a fucking disaster but the quick rinse and new clothes meant that I could escape the club without much attention.
Jade had messaged me goodnight with several kiss emojis but it was the numerous texts and missed calls from our father that worried me. Now that he knew our dominant alter—Finn—had resurfaced, he wanted to talk. There was no substance to the texts. Just a lot of ‘call me’ and ‘where are you?’.
I had decided not to do anything until we could speak but Finn had other plans. I watched in horror as Finn pushed through, responding to our father’s last text.
Father
It’s not you, right? Finn?
You finally used my name, Dad.
By the time Slash had washed me off in the shower and then deposited me in the bath, I was confused, strung out, and worried that whatever plans Finn had would ruin what little happiness we had left. Aeron had joined shortly after, the silence enveloping us becoming more and more uncomfortable by the minute. They were still the men I fell in love with but the distrust in their eyes was evident.
What was the point of all this, Finn?
Speaking to him while I was running the show was dangerous. At any point, he could choose to rip me back into our head and take control. There had to be a reason why he had allowed me to stay present though.
Being ripped out like that was fucking brutal.
It’s all about the game.
And Killian fucked up. So it’s your turn.
