Chapter 35: Chapter 35

DARAN

"How desperate. You don't care if she dies or gets resurrected, right?"

"She will not die and has no intention of dying. Because I bought her expensively."

The hybrid squinted at me. He seemed to resent my answer about my decision to keep Jonea by my side.

"You're just a lowly creature who can never return to being a full-fledged lycan or return to being a spirit and end your endless life in this world. Do you think buying humans is justifiable?"

I clucked at him. "What do you know about Jonea? Human, you say? You don't seem to like auctions, do you? Then why are you still following me to the Blue Sapphire? Have you run out of work at Blackstone yet? Or maybe… Do you also want to get Jonea? So, who is the cunning and haughty here?"

There was the sound of approaching footsteps. I just took a quick glance back. I'm currently on the page. Some time ago, I felt a strange presence after leaving Jonea in her room. When I checked the courtyard, apparently, these hybrids were still following me.

"Come on, let's get out of here, Arabel. Our business is done." The hybrid I know named L pulled the arm of the female hybrid that was his partner.

"L, we have to bring the girl. She will only be taken advantage of by this damn lycan king!"

"How rude," I muttered.

"Our business is finished, Arabel."

Just as Jonea came and stood behind me, the two hybrids disappeared into the darkness of the courtyard.

"Daran? What are you doing here?"

"Are you awake, Jonea? Morning is still far away. You'd better go back to sleep."

"You have not answered my question."

"I'm checking my plants."

"Not that! I mean about the hybrids. Who are they? Are they your acquaintances, or are they a danger to us?"

"Hybrid is a cross between the werewolf and human races."

I don't think Jonea was surprised by my brief explanation. She looked like she wanted to say something but closed her mouth tightly again.

"Why Jonea? Do you know them?"

"No!" answered the girl nervously. "Are these hybrids dangerous for us, Daran?"

"It all depends on who the hybrids side with. So far, the pure werewolf race has always looked down upon hybrids. They are also barely accepted by the human race. They are in the middle and isolated."

I could tell Jonea had something on her mind. I feel like she's so far away from me right now. We were only a few days apart; she was so different.

I'm really sorry for letting her away from me. It seemed that the appearance of these hybrids was also bothering her even more.

"Daran?"

“Hmm…”

"When will I die?"

I was shocked and silent momentarily while looking into Jonea's eyes. She looks so sad and gloomy.

"So you haven't forgotten about it, have you? Does it unsettle you? I've thought of countermeasures."

I held her with both hands. Jonea didn't resist, nor did she try to escape. It seemed that she had completely given up at this point. Or maybe her mind wasn't with her body. I brought her into the house.

"Daran, who are you exactly?"

My steps stopped. I see her in my arms. She bent down in my arms.

"I'm just an imperfect being, Jonea. I'm a monster. That's what they call me."

"Tell me! I want to hear it."

"I'm not entirely a lycan, but I'm not fully human either, and certainly not entirely a wizard. I've lived long and met countless humans and other shadow creatures. But I never understand them. That's why I bought you, Jonea. Because I want to learn about you more closely. Because you have nothing, and it would be impossible to leave a non-human being like me."

I was surprised because suddenly, Jonea reached out and touched my cheek so gently. She touched the skin of my face and slipped her hands behind the mask I was wearing. I lowered my face, and I looked at her. She also really looked at me, full of warmth.

"Don't worry, Daran. Because I'm not leaving you until you don't need me anymore. I will be by your side."

She kissed me!

More precisely, she kissed the mask I was wearing. The feeling of the vibration flowed strongly as if she touched my face and kissed my cheek. Then she fell asleep in my arms again.

"Getting recognition from the female. Apparently, you're a great stud too. You impress me, Uncle!"

I suddenly became nervous. I had no idea Owen was secretly watching us. I turned to him with a sharp gaze.

"She touched me for the first time."

Owen was leaning against the wall with one leg bent back and his hands tucked in his trouser pockets. He looked away from me.

"After a long journey, you finally get what you've sought. However, I won't stay silent if you squander her like last time. I will definitely snatch it from your hands, Your Highness."

Owen got up and walked back to his room.

"Is that a challenge, Owen?"

Owen paused. He glanced my way. "You're still hiding something, right?" Then he walked away from me and didn't look back.

"Yes, there is still something I have kept, and it is not the time for me to reveal it. I didn't think that little brat had become an adult. He even has feelings for the opposite sex. But, unfortunately, I'm not going to give up my bride so easily even if you whine and ask for it, Owen."

I speak alone because Owen definitely isn't listening.

I looked back at Jonea, who was fast asleep in my arms. I took her back to her room.

"Her pulse and breathing are stable. There were no significant physical injuries. Apparently, your shell is much stronger than I thought."

***

L

Punch!

This monster punched me in the pit of the stomach. I groaned and swayed to the corner of the room. I coughed and spat out some blood.

I clenched my fists tightly. Blood from my mouth dripped out through the mask I was wearing.

The man walked towards me with heavy steps. I know he won't let me go.

I could see the toe of his boots, which looked dirty, dusty and full of dried blood stains. I don't know how many werewolves he had slaughtered today in exile.

"I told you to bring that girl to me! Why did you let her go on purpose?"

His kick flew back and now hit my chest. I'm really in pain. My breath feels so tight. I think my ribs are broken.

"Can't you carry out such an easy task?"

He screamed in my face and grabbed my neck. He pulled me up straight.

I was suffocating and couldn't breathe. I felt excruciating pain all over my body.

Slowly my feet lifted off the floor. He pinned me against the wall and pushed my neck up high. I… feel like I'm going to die.

"Well, never mind if you are not good at cleaning up this trivial task."

I glanced the other way, following his gaze. He saw Arabel sitting like a used sack in the middle of the floor. Her body was covered in wounds and blood dripping.

"Fuck!" I hissed between increasingly suffocating breaths. "Never touch Arabel!"

"That's the consequence if you don't carry out the orders I give, L! I gave you life not because I am kind. Because there are things, you have to do to replace me out there."

He smiled so sickly. That smile contained poison and hatred. He threw my body as easily as he threw a lump of paper. I fell over.

I coughed really hard. I took a deep breath to restore my deflated lungs. It hurts to even breathe. It looks like my ribs are indeed broken.

I crawled closer to Arabel.

"Get up, Arabel!" I shook her.

The girl moaned and whimpered in pain. I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you're still alive."

"I'm sorry, L. If it weren't for protecting me, you wouldn't end up here."

"Stop your nonsense! Somehow the time will come for us to fight."

"But why did you deliberately let that girl go? Even though I'm sure you can bring her here with your abilities, and we can be free."

I was angry to hear Arabel's question. I quickly stood up and turned my face away from her.

"Stop your stupid words! Do you think we can survive at the expense of others? Be patient; I will find a way to free us without hurting others and involving her in this matter."

I ran back to the stables, where I usually cool off and seclude myself. I huddled on a pile of dry hay in an empty stable.

"She still keeps the dragon tear pendant. I guess that's enough for now."