My patience reached its breaking point. Even as a fuckingvampireof all things, I wasn’t taken seriously. My entire nature was bloodthirsty. Murderous. I knew for a fact that I’d killed more people than this mugger. I took no joy in the act, and tried to forget about it every time I was forced to do it, but it remained the truth.
With a snarl, I snapped the knife out of the man’s hand. By the time he blinked and let out a startled grunt, I’d crushed the blade in my fist. Steel chunks and debris fell from my palm.
“What the fuck?” he cried.
I shrugged, dusting off my hands. “I told you. Now are you ready to--”
The man rushed at me, grabbing the front of my shirt, and pinned me back against the brick wall. Maxwell yelped and leapt out of the way like a frightened animal. His eyes darted back and forth, unsure of what to do.
Honestly, I could have easily stood my ground and not allowed the man to move me at all. But it was easier to be theatrical this way.
“I don’t know what kind of freak you are, but stay out of my way!” the man snapped.
While he spit, I hooked my leg around his ankle and yanked it hard, tripping him. I slipped out of the way as his face collided with the brick.
“Theo,” Maxwell mumbled fearfully behind me.
“It’s okay,” I promised. To the mugger, I added, “Are you done now? Maybe you should give up your life of crime. You’re not very good at it.”
Maybe he would have given up if I was a big, hulking alpha like my brothers, but my unassuming stature and young age must have infuriated him. He didn’t stop. With a bleeding nose, he lunged at me again--except this time, he didn’t grab me.
He snatched Maxwell, holding a forearm tightly against his neck. Maxwell’s eyes widened and he let out a shriek.
“Shut up!” the man ordered.
Something inside me snapped. The door I kept shut on the inner demon blew wide open. My claws and fangs erupted as I let out a hideous snarl, an unholy sound unlike anything the man had ever heard. When I lunged at him, his eyes and brain couldn’t conceive my speed and it seemed like I had teleported. In the next moment, I slammed him down into the concrete while prying Maxwell out of his grip.
“Theo!” Maxwell cried.
Beyond the roar in my ears, I barely heard him calling my name. My vision flashed red. Dark images swam in my mind--of Maxwell being hurt, of him suffering because of this wretched human. I knew in that moment I would do anything to protect him. I wouldn’t let anyone else ever lay a hand on him again.
I snatched the mugger by the collar of his shirt and dragged him into the air. His legs dangled as he screamed in fear and grabbed at my stone-like hand, trying and failing to slap me off.
My fangs grew sharp with anticipation. Saliva pooled in my mouth as familiar hunger crept into my stomach. I thought about plunging my fangs into this worthless man’s neck and draining every drop of--
“THEO!”
Maxwell’s sharp voice broke my vision. Horrified, I dropped the man. He scrambled to his feet and disappeared down the alley, his echoing footsteps fading into the night.
I stared at my clawed hands, unable to reconcile what I’d almost just done.
“I…”
“Are you okay?” Maxwell cried. “Oh god, please tell me you’re normal again.”
I shook my head, trying to rattle my brain back into place. “Yeah. I’m fine, I think.”
I wasn’t fine. I’d almost murdered someone right in front of Maxwell.
“Maybe you should get back to the mansion,” Maxwell suggested.
My eyes snapped onto his. They were still wide and shaken. I noticed his glasses were off-kilter from the confrontation, and I reached over to fix them. He went still, but I could still hear his heart racing. It pounded in my ears. Deliciously.
Stop it, Theo,I scolded myself.Get a hold of yourself.
“You’re right,” I said, not liking how hoarse I sounded. “But you’re coming with me.”
Maxwell blinked. “I am?”
“I’m not leaving you alone after that. I wouldn’t feel good knowing you were wandering these streets without some kind of protection.”
Despite being shaken from the encounter, a small smile tugged at Maxwell’s lips. “So it’s back to the Tenebrae mansion after all, huh?”
