Page 71 of Remi's War (Four Dark Horsemen 2)

Gripping my knife by the handle, I aimed it at him, screaming, “Shut up!” And he backed away, his eyes widening while another arm managed to block me, knocking the knife out of my hand before it could pierce the man’s stomach.

The man shook his head and started running away, while I blinked in rage several times, making Jonathan’s image disappear.

Then I shifted my attention to the one who came to the rescue and didn’t let me kill an innocent man.

Lachlan.

He took out his handkerchief, wrapped it around my bleeding hand while Arson stood several feet away, studying me intently.

Fear and disappointment replaced my earlier rage, hating myself for succumbing to the darkness instead of building a new life.

And now the man who gave me a chance to live free witnessed my horrible nature.

However, his words snapped me out of my stupor and confused me, although relief filled every pore. “You will learn to control it, Amalia. Darkness has its beauty, but it should always have boundaries. For what has no boundaries always brings the most devastating consequences.”

Swallowing past the bile forming in my throat, I asked, “What if I can’t?”

His face stayed unreadable, but the energy swirling around us transformed to heavy and scary, sending coldness through me, as his voice held a note of warning when he replied, “If you lose your head and start killing the innocent, you won’t live long enough to indulge in your cravings.”

I understood then what he meant and strangely welcomed it.

I’d be considered a monster to society regardless, but at least no innocent people would suffer from my madness.

That’s why this is my last entry.

Because instead of growing stronger from my experiences and learning to live with my past and finding happiness… I can’t resist the darkness. My desire to inflict similar torture and agony on those who deserve it is too tempting to ever ignore.

People experience worse shit than I did and still manage to find peace and love, because love trumps all in their heart. That’s how it should be. The past shouldn’t dictate the present and future.

However, that’s not my story, and I will learn to accept it.

Once upon a time, I wished to find my twin.

Now?

I pray we won’t ever cross paths.

Because an angel doesn’t belong in hell among the monsters.

Penelope

“Just a little bit more color here, and we’ll be done,” the makeup artist, Erica, says as she applies one more layer of red lipstick to my lips before stepping back and grinning at me. “You’re gorgeous.” She puts the lipstick back in her bag and searches for something else in it. “Here.” She slips an eye pencil into my small purse. “This will do wonders for your sapphire eyes.” She wiggles her nose in distaste at the glasses lying on the table. They forced me to wear contact lenses for the first time in my life, and I even got a whole-ass tutorial on it too. “And I’d lose these particular glasses, because that frame wouldn’t look flattering on anyone.”

“Kelly said you are not planning a honeymoon anytime soon. I can make a note for her to order a broad selection of new frames so you can try them on,” Aly says, making me look at her as she types something on her tablet. “They should arrive along with your clothes.”

“My clothes?”

She nods, smiling at me. “Remi requested a new wardrobe for you, so we’ve been preparing that. It should be ready in a couple of days, but we’ve already stocked the closet with a few of the latest designer pieces.” I hear a few more clicks from the tablet. “They are a bit different from your usual style, but Remi assured us you’d like them.”

Internally screaming in frustration, and outwardly staying calm, I reply, “Oh. Thank you.”

What else is there to say?

Santiago’s assistant has been glued to my side ever since I arrived at this hotel room, ready to prepare for the charade, or what everyone else calls a wedding.

Apparently, the Four Dark Horsemen objected to me getting ready at Lachlan’s mansion, so they chose neutral territory in some fancy-ass hotel and sent their own assistants, who brought an entire army just so they could work their magic on me.

Countless people pampered me while I sipped coffee and tried to understand how the hell I ended up preparing to marry a monster, and my twin hates me so much it seeps from her every breath.

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