"I need to get back, get back, get back," Jiang Lang repeated silently, trying to ignore the pain and the growing urge for violence. The woman, Xu Ling, jostled on his shoulder, a constant reminder that he was close to losing control and harming everything around him, especially her.
You desired to lose yourself in a woman, the dark voice within him mocked. Here's your chance. Drown her in blood.
His fists clenched. He needed to think clearly, but the pain made it impossible. She had mentioned some kind of ability and asked for his help, hadn't she? Some of her words were lost in the chaos in his mind. All he knew for sure was that he should have left her in the forest as he had originally intended.
But he had heard her cry out, a sound of pure agony, the kind of desperate groan Jiang Lang himself often felt like releasing. Something deep inside him had responded, and he had been overcome by a need to help her, a desire to touch her soft skin just once more. This need had somehow been stronger than Kuang Bao, an astonishing and unbelievable occurrence.
And so he had returned to her, even though he knew she was in greater danger with him than alone in the forest. Even though he suspected she had been sent to distract him and help the Hunters gain access to their fortress.
Fool, he thought. Now she was draped over him, her scent filling his nostrils, her soft form against his.
Or cut her open, the demon urged.
She possessed a haunting beauty, making it easy to understand why the Hunters had sent her. Who would want to harm such delicate femininity? Who would reject such obvious allure? Apparently, not him.
Fool, he cursed himself again. Hunters! They were indeed in this place, their markings were a grim reminder of those dark days in the past. Clearly, they were after blood once more, as the four men following Xu Ling had all carried weapons with silencers. For mortals, they had fought with deadly skill.
Jiang Lang had been victorious in the bloody confrontation, but he had not escaped unharmed. His lower leg had been cut, and one of his ribs was likely broken.
Time, it seemed, had only sharpened the Hunters' abilities.
He wondered how Xu Ling would react when she realized they were gone. Would she weep? Scream? Rage? Would she attack him in her grief?
Were there others waiting in the town?
At that moment, he didn't seem to care. Holding Xu Ling in his arms, he felt a strange detachment, the hell of his existence momentarily receding, leaving only… something he couldn't quite name. Desire, perhaps? No. He dismissed the word instantly. It didn't capture the intensity of the feeling, the heat.
Perhaps it was an immediate obsession.
Whatever it was, he didn't like it. It felt more powerful than anything he had experienced before, threatening to control him. Jiang Lang didn't need another force trying to manipulate him.
She was simply so… lovely. So lovely it almost hurt to look at her. Her skin appeared smooth and soft, like a delicate spice mixed with sweet honey. Her eyes held that same honey color and were so filled with pain that his chest ached. He had never seen a mortal look so tormented and felt a strange connection to her.
As strands of her long, silky hair, the color of honey with hints of copper, brushed against her delicate face, he felt a deep longing. He wanted to touch, to taste, to consume. But he didn't want to hurt her. The realization still amazed him.
Xu Ling… Her name echoed in his mind, as fragile as the woman herself. Taking her to the fortress was against their rules, a threat to their most guarded secrets. He should be ashamed for carrying her towards it instead of away, and she should be terrified.
Apparently, "should" meant nothing to either of them.
Why wasn't she crying? More importantly, why hadn't she cried? When he had first attacked her, covered in the blood of her companions, a strange smile had appeared on her face, her lips revealing perfect white teeth.
Remembering that smile, Jiang Lang felt a sudden surge of arousal. Beneath it, however, confusion lingered. Though it had been a long time since he had dealt with bait, he couldn't recall the Hunters' decoys ever being so openly satisfied.
Not even the bait who had helped bring down the keeper of Distrust. That one had played the abused, frightened soul perfectly. Seeing her, the keeper had acted without suspicion for the first time since his demon had taken hold. Or perhaps not. Jiang Lang had always wondered if the man had wanted to die. If so, his wish had been granted. He had been stabbed in the throat moments after opening himself to the bait, who then allowed armed Hunters inside.
Most likely, the stabbing alone wouldn't have killed him. The Hunters, however, had then decapitated him. He hadn't stood a chance. Not even an immortal could recover from that.
He had been a good man, a fine warrior, and hadn't deserved such a bloody end. Jiang Lang, however…
My death would be justified.
The bait before that one had seduced Feng Yue. Not that it required much effort. During their encounter, Hunters had crept into the woman's room and stabbed the warrior in the back, trying to weaken him before going for his head.
Feng Yue, though, was strengthened by such acts. Even injured, he had managed to fight his way free and kill everyone around him.
Jiang Lang couldn't imagine the woman in his arms being cowardly enough to strike from behind. She had faced him and hadn't retreated, even when the spirit inside him clamored for release. Perhaps Xu Ling was innocent. He hadn't found any devices on the trees where she had been. Perhaps—
"Perhaps you are more foolish than you realize," he muttered.
"What?" she asked.
He ignored her, knowing it was safer that way. Her voice was soft and gentle, a subtle mockery that stirred the spirit within him. It was best to keep her silent.
Finally, he saw the dark, crumbling stone walls of the fortress. Not a moment too soon. An agonizing pain ripped through his stomach, almost causing him to collapse.
Violence surged through his veins, a dark shimmer in his blood. Kill. Harm. Maim.
"No."
Kill, harm, maim.
"No!"
Killharmmaim.
"Jiang Lang?"
The spirit roared, desperate for release. Fight it, he commanded himself. Remain calm. He inhaled deeply, held his breath, and slowly exhaled. Killharmmaim, killharmmaim. "I will resist. I am not a monster."
We shall see…
His nails lengthened, itching with the overwhelming urge to strike. If he didn't regain control, he would soon attack anything and everything within reach. He would kill without mercy or hesitation. He would destroy this home stone by stone, clawing and raging. He would destroy everyone inside it. And he would rather burn in the deepest hell for eternity than do such a thing.
"Jiang Lang?" Xu Ling said again. Her sweet voice reached his ears, a plea that was both soothing and dangerously alluring. "What's—"
"Silence." He shifted her off his shoulder, still holding her tightly, and burst through the front gate, nearly tearing it from its hinges. Angry voices greeted him. Lin Fan, Luo Chen, and Bai Long stood in the courtyard, arguing.
"You should never have let him go," Luo Chen said. "He becomes a beast, Lin Fan, destroying—"
"Stop!" Jiang Lang shouted. "Help!"
All three men turned to face him.
"What's happening?" Bai Long demanded. Seeing Xu Ling, his jaw dropped. Shock registered on his face. "Why have you brought a woman into the fortress?"
Hearing the commotion, Feng Yue and Yan Lie rushed into the courtyard, their expressions tense. When they saw Jiang Lang, they relaxed slightly. "Finally," Feng Yue said, clearly relieved. But then he, too, saw Xu Ling. He grinned. "Sweet! A gift? For me?"
Jiang Lang bared his teeth. Kill them, Kuang Bao urged, a seductive whisper. Kill them.
"You shouldn't be here." The words tore from his throat. "Take her and leave. Before it's too late."
"Look at him," Feng Yue said, his relief and amusement gone. "Look at his face."
"The transformation has already begun," Luo Chen said.
His words spurred Jiang Lang to action. Though he found he didn't want to release Xu Ling, even in his madness, he tossed her towards the group. Luo Chen caught her easily. The moment her weight settled on her feet, she winced. Must have injured her ankle on the hill, Jiang Lang realized, concern briefly overriding his bloodlust.
"Be careful of her foot," he commanded.
Luo Chen released her to look at her ankle, but Xu Ling stumbled away from him and limped back into Jiang Lang's arms. His concern deepened as his arms tightened around her. She was trembling. But a moment later, he stopped caring. A dark haze clouded his mind, brutality erasing every other emotion.
"Release me," he growled, pushing her away.
The woman clung to him. "What's wrong?"
Luo Chen grabbed her, pulling her back and holding her in a firm grip. Had she touched Jiang Lang for another second, he might have torn her apart. As it was, he slammed his hands into the nearest stone wall.
"Jiang Lang," she said, her voice trembling.
"Do not harm her." The words were as much for himself as for the others. "You," he grated, pointing to Bai Long with a blood-stained finger. "Bedroom. Now." He didn't wait for a response but stormed up the stairs.