Page 89 of Forsaken
“I will,” Cassidy said and rested her hand onAida’s arm.
“I can help you clean,” Aida offered. She’drather wrestle with a polar bear, but she couldn’t abandon him andKyle to this. “You saved my life.”
“You’ve had too much involvement in thisalready. I don’t want you near this asshole anymore,” Julian said.“Go on and let Cassidy take care of you.”
Aida hesitated, but the pleading in his eyescaused her head to bow.
“I’ll take care of Nicolette and get thecleaning supplies,” Kyle said. “We’re going to have to find a safeplace to stash the body until the sun comes up.”
“We will,” Julian said.
“Come on,” Cassidy said gently. “Let’s cleanyou up.”
Aida reluctantly allowed Cassidy to lead herback into the gallery.
CHAPTER 45
Julian stayed in the shower until the water ranclear of blood. And then he stayed longer to let the hot water easesome of his remaining hostility. What remained of the red and blackcolor covering his body was fading, but his skin felt too tight ashe turned his hands before him.
For a disorienting second, he thoughtGerald’s blood had seeped into his skin, marking him for life as avicious murderer. Gerald deserved to die, and he would gladly killhim all over again, but he never should have lost control like hedid. The feel of his fists tearing apart flesh and breaking boneswould always haunt him.
But when Gerald hit her…
Julian’s breath hissed out of him as hisshoulders tensed, and his hands flexed. The veins in his arms stoodout; his muscles vibrated as he tried to regain control. Hecouldn’t think about the sound of that punch; if he did, he wouldpummel this shower into pieces. Losing his temper wouldn’t help himregain Aida’s trust or put her at ease.
Think of her. Think of her.
Closing his eyes, he flexed his hands as heconjured an image of Aida smiling at him while she draped her armsaround his neck and kissed him. His heartbeat slowed when herecalled the scent of her engulfing him and the loving memory ofher enveloped him.
It will be more than a memory, hevowed.
Finally feeling stable enough to face Aidaagain, he turned off the water and left the shower. It was time toset her memories free… hopefully.
When he erased himself from her memories forthese past two weeks, he implanted in her mind she was to rememberhim when he commanded her to do so, but he didn’t know if it wouldwork. Because he was so ingrained in her memories, and because ofher love for him, he dug deeper into her mind than he ever had withanyone else. He’d used more power than he was required to usebefore too.
If he’d been a turned vamp instead of apurebred looking to protect his mate, he never could have done it.It had taken a lot of work, but eventually, he eradicated himselffrom the past two weeks of her life. If Gerald killed him, Aidanever would have remembered their relationship. Heloathedthe idea of her forgetting everything they shared, but her heartwouldn’t have broken.
The only problem was, he didn’t know if he’ddonetoogood of a job.
If he couldn’t fix this, he would earn herlove again. He wouldnotlose her. It might be a whole lotmore challenging to get her to love him again after learning he’dplayed with her mind, but he would never give up.
He dried off, dressed quickly, and left theroom. Steam followed him into the hall as he strode into the livingroom. Cassidy and Kyle sat on the couch, but Aida stood in thekitchen with her hands clasped behind her back as she stared outthe window.
The kitchen light shone on her black hair andporcelain skin. She’d showered before him, and her hair was stilldamp as it tumbled down her back in thick curls. He recalled thescent of those curls while he ran them through his fingers.
He couldn’t lose her.
When her head turned toward him, the blackbruise marring her face sent a fresh jolt of fury through him. Hisnostrils flared, and the clawing need to maim tore at his chestlike a caged wolverine. He considered retreating until he gothimself under control again, but the more time he spent away fromher, the worse it would get.
Aida smiled and stepped toward him beforecatching herself and looking confused. He suspected some of herfeelings for him were starting to break through the barrier hebuilt in her mind, but she didn’t understand them, which only addedto her dread.
“Can I know what is going on now?” sheasked.
“Yes,” he said.
He ran a hand through his damp hair andtugged on it until it stood on end. He made himself stop by fistinghis hands and pushing them into his thighs. Kyle and Cassidy rosefrom the couch.
“We think it’s best if it’s only the two ofyou. Are you okay with that?” Cassidy asked Aida.
