“Get out!” Carha nearly shrieked.
“What do you think we’re doing?” Saxondemanded of her.
Carha’s eyes shot to Maggie when Aiden drewher closer against him. Her lips peeled back to reveal her fangs asher red eyes raked Maggie from head to toe.
“If you touch her,” Aiden snarled, “Iwillkill you.”
Carha recoiled as if he’d slapped her;hatred simmered in her gaze when it met his. “Don’t ever come backhere,” she grated through her teeth.
“I didn’t plan on it,” he assured her andkept Maggie well away from Carha as he hurried her forward.
Saxon led the way, waving his hands togesture the straggling onlookers out of the way as he strodeforward. His demeanor remained casual, a smile curving his mouth,but Aiden sensed the tension in him. Carha trailed behind them asthe crowd continued to part.
“I mean it. Don’t ever step foot in hereagain,” Carha said.
Aiden didn’t acknowledge her as he continuedforward.
“Do you hear me, Aiden?” Carha demanded andgrabbed his arm.
“Don’ttouch me.” He yanked his armaway from her. “I have no intention of ever seeing you again,Carha.Ever.”
Lifting Maggie off the ground, he switchedher in front of him and set her down away from Carha. He slid hishand up to Maggie’s nape and cradled her head protectively againsthis chest. Saxon glanced back at him before slipping into thehallway, and Aiden followed. The door slammed behind them, throwingthem into the inky blackness once more.
No one spoke as they walked to the end ofthe hall where Brutus undid the locks, and they exited into thealley. Aiden glanced around, but he didn’t detect any foul aromas.At the end of the alley, a black Ford sat idling. Saxon led them tothe car and opened the back door.
“Where are we going?” Maggie asked as shedug her heels in and refused to move forward.
“I’m taking you home,” Aiden said.
Her shoulders slumped in relief. She was soexhausted her lumpy bed was a welcome slice of Heaven.
“Go on,” Aiden encouraged, and she slid intothe back seat.
A man with red hair a few shades darker thanhers turned to face her. She had no doubt the man was a vampire asone fang became visible when he smiled before speaking. “What’s up,Red?”
Maggie’s heart leapt into her throat whenshe saw his hair color and gray eyes, but the more she studied him,the more she relaxed. His hair was similar in shade to hers, but itleaned more to the brown of auburn whereas hers leaned more to thered. They both had gray eyes, but hers were so dark they sometimesappeared black, and his were so pure a gray they were nearlysilver.
Besides, she’d inherited her coloring fromher mother, not the father she’d never known.
“She doesn’t like being called that,” Aidensaid as he sat beside her and closed the door.
He’d been through hell tonight, killed andbeaten vampires, yet he still smelled entirely too enticing for herliking. She was acutely aware she didn’t smell anywhere near asgood. It was completely unfair, yet Aiden seemed not to notice thesweat and alcohol scents clinging to her as he settled close besideher.
Maggie shifted when Aiden’s thigh pressedagainst hers. After everything she’d witnessed from him, aftereverything she’d learned, she couldn’t stop the thrill ofexcitement that ran through her when they touched. She had to putsome distance between them.
“Completely understandable. I’m not all thatfond of it either, but it’s better than ginger, am I right?” theauburn-haired vamp asked her.
“It is,” Maggie agreed.
“It’s annoying.”
“Not as annoying as when someone tries topick you up by asking if the carpet matches the drapes.”
“I think it’s different if a woman asks aman that question. I find myself more than willing to proveit.”
Maggie couldn’t stop the burst of laughterthat escaped her. “It’s entirely different then,” she agreed.
“Declan,” he said before holding his handout to her.
