And then—
It’s not too late to go back. Surely, you can just follow Goya’s pull and find the feline clan again. You’d have to be careful traveling by yourself back through the woods, but—
Not going back, Sin finally interjected in a slumbery murmur.
Can find them any time.
Stay with you.
The Hunter tensed next to him and stayed silent for a long time.
But Sin could practically hear him warring within himself. He had many things pushed deep down inside fighting to get said.
At last, all he asked was:
Why?
It was really the only question that mattered.
Because I want to,Sin replied simply. Honestly.
More silence.
And then,We don’t belong… together.
How do you know?
The Hunter huffed with disbelief.
A Hunter and a Beast? You don’t see the impossibility of that?
Sin let a shrug ripple through him.
A warrior and a warrior. A Dark One and a Beast with a Dark base. We are more alike than different. And we’ve proved quite thoroughly that we’re compatible in the most basic ways.
He opened one eye to peer sleepily at Zai, who sat facing forward, not looking at him, only his moonlit profile in Sin’s view.
I would enthusiastically prove it again if a reminder is needed,he purred.
And again and again and again.
A shiver trembled across the Hunter’s broad back, but his face remained stoic.
That was just—
If you say scratching an itch and simply release one more time I won’t be responsible for my actions,Sin growled loud enough to make Ben stir from a dozen feet away.
Zai had the sense to bite his tongue, even though Sin knew he wanted to say it.
What he said instead, after a long, tense pause was:
I am responsible for what happened to you. For the suffering of your Kind. It is an immutable fact.
And even if you could somehow…excuse it…forgive…you will never forget.
One day, when this…novelty wears off, you will hate me. You might even hate yourself for…
Wasting time with me.