Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 39: Pick one!

His guffawed screams tore through his throat, echoing through the entire cell, but Cain, deaf to his cries, held him down and sliced off the other ear with precise cruelty.

Violet couldn’t hold back any longer. Her throat wrenched painfully, and she doubled over, emptying her stomach onto the cold, unforgiving floor. Tears streamed down her face as she collapsed a few steps away from her own vomit, sitting on the ground with her head bowed. She didn’t care about the mess or the filth—she just couldn’t bear to watch any more of Rane’s body being mutilated.

Her mind swirled with panic, nausea, and horror, but before she could sink further into despair, Cain appeared in front of her. His golden-brown eyes fixed on her with a pitiful gaze that seemed almost misplaced on someone so monstrous.

"You look terrible. We should finish this quickly then," he said, his voice calm as if discussing something mundane. He glanced back at Rane, forcing Violet’s attention back to the bloodied figure. Rane’s blood dripped steadily from where his ears used to be, staining the floor beneath him. Cain’s voice cut through the suffocating tension.

"Pick one. His eyes or the thing dangling between his legs," Cain demanded, his tone devoid of mercy.

Violet’s heart stopped. Her lips trembled as she tried to form words, but all she could manage was a whispered, broken plea. "Please... I can’t!" She spoke so quietly, her voice was almost lost amid the sound of Rane’s groans.

Desperation clawed at her chest, and she was just about to beg in earnest when a strong force yanked her upright. Cain’s hand gripped her face, tilting it upward until she had no choice but to meet his eyes. His expression was soft, his lips curled into a gentle smile that contrasted sharply with the madness of his actions.

"Fine. But watch me," he ordered, his tone firm. He wasn’t giving her a choice—she didn’t have to decide, but she wasn’t allowed to look away either.

Terror surged through Violet’s veins as she watched him turn back to Rane. Cain picked up a longer, gleaming blade, letting the bloodied one fall to the floor with a dull clatter. He strode toward Rane, who knelt trembling on the ground, his body convulsing with pain.

Rane’s tear-streaked face twisted in horror as he stared at the blade in Cain’s hand. Violet wanted to close her eyes, to block out the scene unfolding before her, but fear rooted her in place. Cain glanced over his shoulder, his sharp gaze ensuring she was still watching. frёewebnoѵēl.com

"Look at him. You wanted him dead, didn’t you?" Cain asked, his voice mocking.

Violet shook her head violently, tears spilling over as her vision blurred. I just wanted him to stop taking advantage of me! she screamed internally, guilt and regret stabbing at her like knives.

Cain’s smile widened, a cruel satisfaction glinting in his eyes as he grabbed Rane by the hair, yanking his head back.

"Please! Don’t!" Violet gasped, her voice barely audible as her legs trembled uncontrollably. She felt as though she was about to collapse under the weight of her dread.

"Please!" she begged, her body trembling from head to toe, but Cain ignored her entirely. He pressed the blade against Rane’s trembling body as guttural noises escaped the man’s throat—horrific sounds made worse by his lack of a tongue.

There was no more time for pleading. Violet’s breath caught in her chest as Cain delivered the final blow, ending Rane’s life with brutal efficiency. Blood splattered across the cell floor, the stark red staining her vision as her knees buckled. Her body hit the ground with a thud, and the last thing she saw was Cain turning toward her, a glint of blood still on his hands.

Her consciousness wavered, the edges of her vision growing dark. She vaguely felt herself being lifted, strong arms cradling her as her head fell against a broad chest. For a fleeting moment, the warmth tempted her to burrow deeper, but the faint, metallic scent of blood jolted her memory, and darkness swallowed her whole.

When Violet opened her eyes again, she was buried under warm sheets, the scent of lavender soothing her senses. For a moment, she forgot where she was. Her body sank into the plush pillow, her fingers clutching the soft fabric as she sighed.

But the moment of peace shattered as she felt a firm grip around her waist. Her body tensed, and she leaned back slightly, her stomach twisting as she recognized the familiar, dreaded touch. She turned her head, and there he was—Cain, bare from the waist up, his arms wrapped possessively around her.

His blonde hair was tousled, his face relaxed in sleep, and his golden-brown eyes remained closed. For a fleeting moment, Violet stared at him, her gaze lingering on his soft lips and the subtle strength in his features.

But the warmth that pooled in her stomach turned cold as the memories from the night before came flooding back. The blood. The screams. The knife.

Violet gasped, jerking herself free from his hold with all the strength she could muster. She scrambled back, her breathing ragged, her eyes wide with horror. The sudden movement stirred Cain awake, his golden eyes snapping open, his lips curling into a slow, amused smile.

"You’re awake," he said casually, propping himself up on one elbow. His muscles rippled under his skin, and Violet’s heart raced—not from attraction, but from pure, unfiltered fear.

"We—we shouldn’t—" she stammered, her voice shaking. "We shouldn’t be sleeping in the same bed. I’m a man and I’m just a servant, and—"

Before she could finish, Cain shifted. With a predatory grace, he crawled toward her on all fours, his smirk deepening.

"You’re my servant," he interrupted, his voice low and commanding, "and you’ll do as I please."

Violet froze, every fiber of her being screaming at her to run, but she couldn’t move. Cain straightened, stepping off the bed with an unhurried elegance. He picked up a robe, tying it loosely around his body.

Violet didn’t spend any more time on the bed either as she hurriedly turned to walk back to the door that led to her small room when she heard Cain say words she would have never expected to hear.