46

SIN

I drew in a deep breath and let it out. My thoughts were still muddled despite that.

I stiffened as I felt Artemisia's hand on my shoulder.

"What is going on?"

I heard the concern in her voice and I didn't need to turn to know how the expression on her face would be. She tended to crease her brows, chew her button lips whenever she was worried.

How should I explain it to her and where was I going to start from? I mused.

Perhaps, I needed to clear my thoughts first to make her understand what was going on with me because explaining some things to her could be quite difficult sometimes- before and after telling her about my situation, she was going to bombard me with questions, I need to be prepared for that.

Yet, it doesn't matter if I told her later or not. I was certain she would get to know and it might be a bit too late.

"Why would anyone want you dead? I mean, Laurent is your brother, he should not say things like that." She mumbled, caressing my back.

So naive, just like how my áss of a brother had said.

He would f**king win-the throne and Artemisia.

He was going to have them all!

I was certain he wouldn't wait for my demise to jump on her. The thoughts of him with her on our bed together made me want to find him and wriggle his neck until he was gone.

At least, if he was dead as well, Artemisia would be with no one.

That's selfish, Ager murmured. At least, your brother would continue the family's lineage.

I glared, gripping the window sill. I'd rather be selfish than let that happen, I answered back.

"Sin!"

I jerked as Artemisia gripped me. Swirling, my eyes bored into hers.

"What is going on? You are beginning to frighten me!" She furrowed her brows, staring back at me.

"I'm dying."

"Stop saying that. You are not dying!" She said firmly.

"I am." I retorted.

"Why do you think so? What are you hiding from me?!"

I drew in a staggering breath as I stared at her. For a brief second, I forgot about what was happening as I looked into her eyes. Even though I couldn't see the mesmerizing turquoise blue eyes I usually got lost in, I imagined it swirling with different emotions.

Her scent brought me back to sanity and I felt the familiar tingle of the mate bond within me.

She looked ravishing in the floor-length dress she donned. The neckline was low and it showed a bit of cleavage. Earlier, I had seen the swell of her creamy flesh and also noticed how Laurent had been staring at them as well.

That perverted b*st*rt!

"Well, never mind. I can see the hesitation in your eyes." Artemisia mumbled.

She attempted to walk away from me but I clasped her hand.

"I thought this is a marriage where we could share thoughts and help each other out. B-b-but you have been so secretive!"

"I'm not," I grunted.

"Of course, you are!" She snapped. "Whatever happened to you on that trip you went on because you have been acting weird since then!"

She attempted to yank her hand away from mine but I didn't let go. I believe she had the right to be mad at me because I was truly keeping a secret away from her.

Yet, I doubt she would be able to do anything even if I let her know what was going on.

"You don't just assume I'm not capable of handling a huge matter. Do you think me not being a werewolf made me less able?"

Of course, I did. She was human and fragile. Those were the two words that described them perfectly.

"Let go Sin." She said, gritting her teeth. "If you can't trust me, I wonder who will."

"I do trust you." I sighed, leading her towards the enormous bed. I tugged the swivel chair in front of the vanity and sat in it as she settled in the bed.

"Then, why are you reluctant to tell me anything?" She inquired, tilting her head. "What are you keeping from me?"

"I was born with a curse." I began, averting my gaze from her.

"A curse?!"

I nodded, sighing, then continued.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about all the things the prophecy said. So, my mate was supposed to bring out my innermost desire, else I turned into a bloody monster."

"But," I added. "A deadline was given, if my mate couldn't help bringing out the desire, after turning to a bloodsucker, I'd go into a rage and extract my heart out myself."

It sounded absurd thinking about it now. But, I had seen how nuts the prophecy could make someone go.

I had a temper, a really awful one that could bring out the freaking monster in me, that was the reason I didn't doubt the prophecy when it said I would do such.

Artemisia's eyes grew wider as I finished.

The incredulous look on her face right now was the same that had appeared on Adrina's face when I told her.

Yet, she had stayed with me. Maybe because she wasn't a regular human. Also, she had tried her best to repress it with some magical spell. Although the relief was only for a while until I went into bloodlust. At least, it didn't turn me into a bloody monster.

I waited for a few more seconds to hear the words which often spill out after the initial shock, yet none came.

Instead, she looked angry and it felt like she was about to slap me.

Her hands lifted almost immediately, but I gripped it as if I was expecting the blow.

"Why did you keep such a thing from me?!"

"You hate me, don't you?!" Artemisia bristled.

"Gosh!" She exclaimed. She paced around the room whilst muttering more angry words.

"I don't hate you."

"You do Sin!" She smacked my chest. "If you don't, you'd have told me about everything. What would happen to me if the prophecy came to pass?!"

"I don't know," I mumbled truthfully.

Even though an annoying voice at the back of my mind knew what her fate would be, I refused to think about it.

"Oh, I do!" She yelled. "The lecher you have as a brother would have me. Isn't that what you said earlier?"

"As long as I'm still alive, it won't happen," I grunted, taking her into my arms.

"For how long would you stay alive?"

Although it sounded a bit cruel, it was the perfect question. How long was I going to live?

"There should be a way out," Artemisia mumbled after a while. She didn't look so angry anymore.

"Not that I know of."

"Oh Sin!" She sighed, wrapping my arm around my neck.

I clutched her tighter. It was as if letting go would make me lose her. It was the first time I was hugging her and it felt nice. I inhaled deeply as her sweet fragrance wafted into my nostrils.

"Everything will be okay." She assured me.

I nodded. Even though I had doubts, it was better to remain positive than be laden with negative thoughts.