I marched towards the railings, stopping beside Daniel. I rested my arms against the railing, eyes ahead. I could feel his gaze on my side, but I ignored it.
"Why did you come back, Lam?" Daniel cocked his head back, gazing at the cloudless night sky. "If you recovered your memories, are you here to take revenge on me?"
"Not everything is about you, Wol. You summoned my husband to tighten the security for the mating season. I have no other choice but to return with him."
He clicked his tongue faintly, pulling a dark aura. "Your husband... what are you planning to do with him?"
"I should be the one asking, dear wolf." This time, I turned my head to him. "What are you planning to do with Hugh?"
Daniel and I stared at each other in silence. His eyes were brooding, sizing me up with closed lips.
"If you touch my brother, I will kill you again, Lam."
A dry laugh slipped past my lips. "I said, 'not everything is about you,' dearest wolf. Hugo didn't know about the Lamb and I planned to keep it that way. That's what you want to hear, correct?"
He stayed silent, pivoting his heel so that he was leaning on his side. Daniel looked at me with hostility in his eyes.
"Yes. That's the reason I am here. I need to make sure you are not using my brother to get back at me." His voice was cold, matching the murderous intent in his eyes. "Hugo has nothing to do with these. The second I sensed you mean harm, I don't care if he will hate me. I will end you again and again and again."
"The feeling is mutual." I pushed myself from the railing, staring directly into his eyes. "The only reason Ronmin is still at peace is because of my husband."
I raised my hand, clutching his cravat to pull him down. My eyes were full of contempt, gritting my teeth as all the hatred deep in my heart was resurfacing in his presence.
"I am in pain just at the thought of you, dear wolf. However, I know you are in greater pain to watch your mate bask in another man's..."
I trailed off when he suddenly covered my lips with his palm. "Are you insane, Lam? Are you certain you are saying such a thing right now?" my eyes slightly dilated at the words that naturally escaped my mouth without thinking.
"Do you... really love my brother?" Daniel sported a mocking expression. "Or are you doing this to hurt me in another way? Lam, say it now so we can kill each other right now. Why the hell would I prolong my suffering if your intention to my little brother is not pure? Again?"
My eyes narrowed with hatred, clenching my teeth. I turned my head to release it from his palm and scoffed at him.
"Don't show your face to me. I am losing my mind."
"You think you are not driving me crazy?" Daniel leaned his face over, eyes bearing the same hatred just like mine. "Does your love for my brother transcend your hate towards me? I accepted you already, Lam. I accepted death already. Don't give me a reason again. Stop driving me crazy over and over again. I am just as tired as you."
My jaw tightened as I huffed. "Tired of killing us over and over again?"
"Lam..."
"Then don't send him to his death." My voice shook as my chest moved in and out heavily. We're both panting for air; we were each other's poison. Since we used to be one in mind, heart, and soul, living separately had always been a challenge.
We... sought each other. Willingly? No. The instinct that forced us to reincarnate, the maddening desire to live once again just to end each other... that fact was almost unchangeable.
"Let's live differently this time, Wol. I am just as exhausted as you. If you truly accepted the swift release from the mortal realm, then hold on to it and just die." I uttered through my gritted teeth, eyes still on him. "Don't seek me. Don't hold on to me. Just let us go. Let's not repeat the history, dear wolf."
I paused as I nearly choked. My eyes were burning not because I felt sentimental, but because I was furious.
"You endured the pain until now and didn't seek me in Belcoot. Keep your act till the end if you truly loved your family." I huffed and looked away. "You know full well that between the two of us, my death will hurt him the most. We can't live at the same time anymore. I will also endure being around you, suppress the hatred no matter how hard it is, and live as Rinnie Tempest. Let us suffer silently and die without making a sound."
There was a long silence between us as he took a step back. Daniel propped his arms against the railings, head hung low.
"Leave and never show your face once the mating season ends," he uttered under his breath. "I will stay out of your way, so never seek me as well. If I see you once again, I don't know what I'd do. You know I barely have control over my instinct. You put this upon us, Lam. This is the product of your selfishness."
I exhaled as I also faced ahead. "Our selfishness." My eyes were cold and distant.
"I'm saying... you know you are not and will never be Hugo's mate." He cast me a quick look, sporting an incomprehensible smile. "Once he meets his mate, he will toss you aside. You know very well that the time you spent together will mean nothing. If that happens, give me your word that you will leave him and my family alone. I will also choose to rot in hell than accept you and these maddening desires I had towards you, which I never want in the first place."
"You're such a hypocrite." I let out a dry laugh as I cast him a side-eye. "I'd rather get abandoned than indulge with you again."
"Go to hell." He clicked his tongue.
"Sure. After you." I pushed myself away from the railing and cocked my head at him. "I give you my word. Once Hugo meets his mate, I will leave. Don't sneak into our quarters anymore because the next time you do, I'll eat you."
"That's fine with me." I stopped by the door when he responded.
"You're twisted and a pervert." I looked back at him in dismay before pushing the door back to our room. But just before I closed it, I heard him speak once again.
"I'm just as twisted as you."
When I checked the terrace, Daniel wasn't there anymore. A sigh of relief slipped past my lips as I dragged my feet towards the bed. I collapsed on my back, resting an arm over my forehead, eyes on the ceiling.
"He's right," I whispered while stabilizing my breathing, closing my eyes to rest. "We're both twisted.... let's not seek each other anymore, dear wolf."