Page 8 of Monsters we Crave

There wasn’t much left to do now that the drinks were prepared. I wanted to distance myself and seek refuge in the back room. Yet, their presence, especially Aidoneus's, felt like an anchor grounding me in place. His gaze was unrelenting. It felt like he was mapping every curve, every inch of me from the top of my head, along the line of my throat, past my waist, and down to my ankle-booted feet.

Boldly, I met his stare, a flash of defiance igniting within me. But as our eyes locked, an unexpected warmth spread through me, causing an uncharacteristic flush to rise in my cheeks. I cursed internally. What the hell? Why was I blushing? There was something in his gaze, something that seemed to reach into the very core of my being, stirring emotions I couldn’t quite understand.

“You’re a pretty little thing, but that color in your cheeks makes you look so much more captivating.” I could hear the faint hint of amusement in his voice.

How did one even respond to something like that? I almost thanked him out of habit, feeling absurdly off-kilter. Swallowing the knot of embarrassment in my throat, I started to turn away.

“That boy you see—Ezra. How is he?”

I paused, taken aback by his knowledge. How could he possibly know about Ezra? More pressingly, why would he care? Wait, had Ezra done something to draw the Triad’s attention? God, I hoped not. But that would explain why he was here and Riven’s sudden interest.

"Ezra’s not a little boy. And he’s fine. Why do you ask?" I retorted, attempting to keep my voice steady, even as my heart thudded wildly in my chest. The natural defensive tone in my reply seemed to amuse him further.

He leaned back, taking a sip of his drink, his gaze never wavering. “Just curious about the boy you've been seeing.”

His repeated emphasizing made it clear he found Ezra inferior. He looked away from me and scanned the interior of the café , eyes lingering on the familiar items that had become a part of my daily routine.

“A talented, vibrant woman like you wasting her days in a coffee café . It's almost tragic.”

"I like my job," I countered, trying to sound confident and wondering what talent he was referring to. Slinging lattes and cappuccinos wasn’t exactly rocket science.

He tilted his head slightly, a smirk forming on his lips. “Liking your job and deserving better are two very different things, Korinna.”

He spoke my name with such familiarity that it disarmed me. All those years, all the people he would have met since then, and he recalled a brief, seemingly insignificant encounter with a teenage girl?

“You remember me?” I cursed myself the second I asked. His knowing anything about me at all could simply be due to the vast amount of information he had access to.

It would make the issue of identity a simple one to resolve. He fixed me with a gaze that was both penetrating and chilling.

“I don’t kill for just anyone, but I killed for you,” he stated, his tone devoid of emotion, making the fact even more unsettling. “How could I ever forget that?”

I tried to process his words, my mind racing, but he cut through my thoughts once more. “And a face like yours...even then, it was one to remember.”

“I…” A whirlwind of emotions battled inside me. I'd never thought of our past encounter in that light. While the memory always came with fear and confusion, it never truly hit me that he had acted to protect me. Another memory, quick and sharp, flashed through my mind. The intricately crafted dragon pendant. Was that the reason he was here? The necklace had vanished some time ago, and I couldn’t ask anyone about it without revealing its significance and inviting a barrage of questions about what I had kept hidden.

Even as that thought struck me, I knew there was something deeper in his motivations than a necklace. I cleared my throat, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the swirling chaos inside.

"Why are you really here?" I asked, holding his gaze.

“I wanted to drink a good cup of coffee. Isn't that what people do at places like this? Drink and savor the ambiance?”

I didn’t reply, fearing if I did it would reveal just how uneasy I felt. I cursed inwardly, thinking of Tyler, who'd left me alone. Not that he would've been much help—in all honesty, I had a sneaking suspicion I could probably defend myself better than he could. Thea was here, but the idea of putting her in harm's way was unthinkable. I needed them to leave.

“Is there anything else you need?”

He leaned back, considering me with a look that made me feel like I was the only person in the room. His demeanor was casual, but his eyes were like a predator assessing its prey.

“You're too good for this, Korinna. And far too good for him. You should aim higher.”

“I'm happy where I'm at,” I countered, my voice betraying a hint of defensiveness.

He chuckled, the sound deep and resonant. Jae-Hee's scoff was barely audible over the pounding in my ears.

“That happiness is a lie," Aidoneus stated, his eyes, a mesmerizing blend of red and gold, searching mine as if trying to make me see some hidden truth.

I swallowed hard, wanting to defend myself, but I knew there would be no point. Every word he spoke felt like a calculated move, and despite my better judgment, there was a maddening pull of attraction towards him. It made no sense. He was gorgeous, of course, with his towering presence, dark, almost black hair neatly styled, and eyes that seemed to pierce through me. But I wasn’t the type of woman swayed by appearances. Jae-Hee was just as stunning.

Intricate tattoos peeked out from beneath his suit. His hair, a striking silver, framed his chiseled features, giving him an otherworldly presence.

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