Chapter 32.2

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THE BLACK car opened at the back seat. A tall man with a hunched shoulders walk out. A small frown painted on his face. He sighed visibly. The sunlight covering his sickly stature like a halo. After three steps, the man stopped and look from left to right. It was as though he can feel him. He can sense him near.

He lick his dry lips. Smiling softly as the picture of the man stayed in his mind, forever immortal in his thought.

The haughty voice asked, "Is that him?"

"Yes, sir." The man beside him answered.

The tracking device inside his arm beeped. Julien made no noise and continued to stare hungrily. The pain in his chest more pronounced than ever.

His treasure went here. Inside this small building. What is he going to do here? Is he going go see someone?

As if on cue, the man next to him mentioned in passing.

"He's meeting Cedric Mallory." He huff. "If he died here, Idrik will take the blame for it. As far as I know, this is not approved by the elders."

"He's getting more bold everyday, don't you think?"

"Blame his dog blood. They hardly know how to get in my good graces."

Julien didn't bother listening anymore. The man pushed him towards the building. Sniffing softly, his mask of indifference fell when he scented the lingering air.

That man and him smelled the same. He found it comforting.

They were both dying.

"Julien, I'll give you one hour to get your stomach full. Be sure not to waste it."

"He's with Cedric Mallory, so we can't get close to him without that dog scenting us. He doesn't know you, so make sure you use your time well."

He smiled, but the frozen facial muscles could only twitch incessantly.

Julien was shoved into the back door of the building. His mind serene but excited. The pulse at the back of his mind burned but his breathing didn't change. It was still... barely there.

He tried to drag his feet. To give that man a chance to talk to that Cedric longer. When he can no longer hear a murmur inside the gloomy area, he grinned and push the double doors.

Two pairs of black eyes stared at him.

He pointed at the tracking device inside his arm and the small earring tightly clasped on his ears. The man beside his mate nodded in understanding after a pause while his mate remained clueless.

He stopped on his tracks and motioned for him to come closer.

Owell.

Right. He finally knew now who owned that name.

"Why are you..." he whispered. The sound tickled his chest.

Julien tried to offer the same. "I..." He swallowed with difficulty. "Miss..."

Speaking hurts his throat. He practiced these days about what to say for the last time but he couldn't do it. Emotions make his mouth clogged up.

"I understand." Tears wet Owell's eyes. His eyes roaming around his body. "You suffered a lot."

"Hmn." He grunted. Motioning for Cedric to come close, he fished something out of his pocket. A brooch with his name on it. He threw it on the ground before advancing to his mate's side.

The hug was bone crushing, but he welcomed the pain. His treasure missed him.

The lifeless eyes of his started to lighten up. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" Owell laughed with brittle sound. "It's fine."

Julien flickered a glance towards Cedric. He nodded lightly before staring at his mate's eyes for one last time.

He lowered his head towards his neck and took a bite. The scent of home calmed his nerves. Making him determined once more. Julien couldn't almost hold back and longed to drain him. It was a year. If it wasn't for his self control that he didn't come to him directly whenever he attempted escaping... they would have caught Owell already. Drag him back to that wretched place and there would be two of them, chained to the wall.

He forcefully pulled himself away, and pointed to his neck. Owell didn't shy away and put a mark of his own. His was a shallow bite and a scratch of his claw on his wrist. Just like the first time.

Julien let a lone tear slip by his eyes. At the very least he can say that he had made him his for two times. He whispered in a barely audible voice, "We will meet again. In that life, I will protect you."

He raised his hands, carefully not looking at the stars in Owell's eyes. Then swiftly snapping his head.

The sound was crisp. Julien will remember it more than his own name.

The happy expression on Owell's face didn't erase. His eyes went blank... and his breathing stopped for life.

Julien's mouth trembled. His hands shook when he realized it was over. A red light glinted in his irises. He can feel the rage and hurt inside him bubbling. It won't be too long and he will go through insanity. "A sudden death, please." He croaked, "We've suffered enough."

He refused to look down at his lover's body. He's afraid he will lose it and sped up the psychosis in him.

Cedric Mallory's shock didn't last. He swallowed hard. His voice solemn and unhurried. "You did the wrong thing."

"I... know." Julien blinked.

The other man pulled a gun and pointed it on his forehead. Julien didn't close his eyes and waited.

The bullet went in.

Julien still thought it was worth it.

He died beside his lover. Thinking about how irresponsible mate was he. He can only afford the cheapest way of freeing themselves.

Maybe he's too much of a coward.

But it's just that, he had live for almost six hundred years in a coffin. He hardly saw the world. Most of the time he was outside, he spent it jailed in a dark room while random people draw blood from him everyday. He's afraid of going on a rampage. He's afraid of hurting someone. He was never informed that death can come from the people we treasured the most.

It was too late when he found out.

The first time he successfully escaped for a month, he met Owell. His mate. He thought he's rather lucky to meet him in this life.

He once believed in revenge and learned to hope because of him. And until the very last moments, he realized there are no gods and power that can help him.

He trusted Owell's soul to heal him. To guide him and maybe, just maybe, the man will still continue to love him in their next life even if he failed to protect him.