Chapter 17 AERON
AERON
Something was off.
Even after Samael procured clean clothes for Killian and ushered us back into the club, I knew that something was off.
When I stared at our fourth as he walked himself down the stairs and exited the club, I didn’t see the man I fell in love with.
I didn’t see the obstacles we had overcome or the trauma that he had suffered through over the past couple of weeks.
I didn’t see anything that would speak to the man who just wanted to be a crime journalist.
Killian… wasn’t Killian. He wasn’t Finn either but the darkness surrounding him was heavy, almost palpable.
He didn't really lean into us until he was in the backseat of the car, curled into my side like Killian would have, the shivers running down his spine almost manufactured.
Was he toying with us? Or was Finn using Killian as a mask to pretend to be the one I fell in love with?
Still, I held him close after sliding him into the backseat, Slash peeling out of the parking lot.
None of this made any sense but the wide-eyed look on the man’s face in my arms kept me from commenting on it.
I pulled out my phone when Killian’s eyes closed, texting Samael to see if he had noticed the same thing.
What the fuck is going on?
He’s safe?
I guess but he doesn’t feel like Killian
One of the others?
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 like that 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.”