Chapter 25
Damien’s POV
The burn of whiskey did little to dull the tension in my body. I sat in my chamber, chugging down my drink so I could forget what happened in the bathroom this morning until the doors swung open.
My brothers entered, their presence immediately filling the room.
Daniel was the first to speak. “Why did you call us, again?”
Damon leaned against the wall, his sharp gaze locked on me. “More importantly… why did I feel arousal around you earlier?”
I scowled. “Enough.”
But all three of them were staring at me now, looking amused.
“Nothing happened,” I muttered.
Damon’s smirk widened. “He says ‘nothing‘ happened. He must think we’re stupid.”
Declan guffawed while Daniel stiffened, his eyes glazed over for a moment. Then he suddenly shouted, “What?”
Declan and Damon straightened.
“What did you read?” they demanded in unison.
I clenched my jaw, glaring at Daniel. “Don’t tell me you read my memory.”
Daniel winced. “Sorry, brother.” He lowered his head slightly. “As our leader, 1 will accept whatever punishment you have for me.”
Then he lifted his gaze, eyes glinting with mischief.
“But Bethany bathed you.”
The room went completely silent.
“What?!” Declan and Damon yelled.
Damon narrowed his eyes. “You told us not to have sex with her because of the curse.”
I gritted my teeth. “Bathing isn’t sex.”
But goddess, her hands on me had felt divine.
Damon let out a low chuckle. “No… but you wanted her to touch you.” He leaned in slightly. “Don’t lie to me, Damien.”
I remained silent.
Damon’s grin turned triumphant. “You have been fusting after her just like we have–but you make us feel like we’re the only ones.”
The weight of their stares pressed down on me
I exhaled sharply when they wouldn’t stop looking at me. “Fine.” My voice was low, almost reluctant. “I’m lusting after her.“”
Damon’s smile was pure sin. “Then let’s just have sex with her. Just once. We’ll all be satisfied, and this will be over.“.
Declan and Daniel exchanged looks before nodding in agreement.
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Chapter 25
Yes. Declan said “Please, Dansien. Just once.
“No,” said firmly, staring at my brother “We’re not doing this.”
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Damon scoffed. “Come on, Damien. One time. That’s all lask. After that, we can move on, and you can stop acting like you’re the only one with self. control”
I clenched my jaw, shaking my head. “I didn’t summon you here for this.”
Damon’s amusement faded. Daniel and Declan, too, stood straighter as I continued.
“We need to find a way to bring the engineers to the pack. The Moonlight Eclipse is only a few weeks away, and we need the renovations done before then. We don’t know what that night will bring, but we have to be prepared for the worst.”
Daniel exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You’re making it sound like we won’t be coming back.”
“Because we might not.” My voice was quiet. “Even if we survive, there’s a chance we’ll lose the pack’s loyalty. If too much damage is done, they’ll see us as monsters. They’ll fear us.”
Damon narrowed his eyes. “You’re still considering Orion taking over?”
I leaned back in my chair, gripping my glass of whiskey. “He’s the only one who can lead after us.”
Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken thoughts.
Finally, I broke it, “Dedan, Damon–you’re going to the Crimson Crescent pack. They have two engineers we need. You will bring them here.”
Declan frowned. “Minister Cassius couldn’t bring them. How do you expect us to, when we’re not even allowed to use our powers?”
Damon let out a low chuckle, leaning closer. “Oh, I believe in us.”
I shot him a glare. “I want them to come on their own will.”
Damon groaned. “Goddess, I need to feed Lust right now just so he won’t drive me crazy over finding someone to fuck.”
I smirked, taking a slow sip of my drink. “Let Lust deal with it. We don’t have time.”
Damon cursed under his breath, but eventually, both he and Declan nodded, standing to leave.
“Daniel,” I said, stopping him before he could follow them. “Stay.”
After the doors shut behind our brothers, Daniel sat across from me, his expression shifting slightly as if he were struggling to focus.
Then, his brows furrowed. “Wait… where did Declan and Damon go? I thought you summoned us all together.”
My fingers tightened around my glass. Daniel’s memory loss was getting worse.
I let out a slow breath, watching him carefully. “Is it happening more frequently now?”
Daniel frowned. “What?”
“You usually don’t forget things this fast. It takes at least two days before… but now…”
Daniel’s expression darkened, realization sinking in. “It’s nothing. I just forgot to take the medicine today.”
I set my drink down, frustrated. “You know damn well the medicine doesn’t stop the curse. It doesn’t change the fact that reading memories is making you lose your own.”
Daniel stiffened.
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Chapter 25
བབས་ དགས་
The ability to read others‘ thoughts and memories came at a price–his mind was slipping away, piece by piece.
I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. “This is why I told you to stop using it.”
Daniel let out a dry chuckle. “And make myself even more vulnerable?” He shook his head. “You forget, Damien. If I don’t use my ability, it weakens us.”
He wasn’t wrong.
I hated that he wasn’t wrong.
A heavy silence settled between us.
Then, I muttered, “Maybe we should call the Seer.”
“When it comes to our curse, she can do nothing.”
I looked away, jaw clenched.
Daniel leaned back in his chair, watching me. Then, in a softer voice, he said, “Stop beating yourself up about this. I’m fine. It’s not like this is the first
time.”
I exhaled, shaking my head. “Still.”
Daniel hesitated before speaking again. “I only have one request.”
I looked at him, cautious. “What is it?”
His eyes met mine, dark with something unspoken. “Before I forget our mate completely… let me have her.”
I went still.
Daniel smirked, but there was something empty in it. “I know how it feels, Damien. The women I’ve wanted in my bed… I don’t even remember their names now. But Bethany? She’s more than that. And before I forget her entirely, I want to have her.”
My fingers twitched.
“Is that your request?” I asked, my voice low.
Daniel leaned forward slightly. “Yes. You already admitted you’re lusting after her. So let me have her.”
A war raged in my chest. I knew this was a bad idea.
Having intimacy with the dark–energy woman would only make our curses worse. But Daniel…
Hlet out a slow breath, then nodded.
“You can have her.”
Daniel’s eyes flashed with something unreadable. “Are you sure?”
I gritted my teeth. “If you’re going to lose the memory of her one day, then at least… at least have something to hold onto before then.”
Daniel’s smirk returned, but this time, there was something almost grateful in it.
“Good.” Then he stood, stretching. “Well, I won’t waste time, then. Since you’ve approved, I’m going to go see her now.”
As the door shut behind him, I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples.
This was a bad decision.
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