Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 77: Are you a man?

Unwilling to prolong her retreat to the safety of her room, Violet quickly washed her hands, her mind replaying the earlier encounter with Cain in vivid, burning detail. Her heart thudded dully in her chest as she stepped back into the main room, expecting his usual predatory smirk or some sly comment. But the sight that greeted her made her pause.

Cain was no longer sprawled on the bed, waiting for her return with his disconcerting patience. Instead, he leaned casually against his desk, his robe tied loosely around his waist, exposing his chest. A servant worked efficiently by the bedside, stripping away the soiled sheets and replacing them with fresh ones. The soft shuffle of fabric was the only sound in the room, and for a moment, Cain’s gaze flickered to her, his expression unreadable.

Violet fought the urge to reach for the band tied securely around her neck, knowing it was the only thing hiding her secret. A flash of something crossed his face when their eyes met—surprise, intrigue—but he didn’t speak. Instead, he turned his attention back to the servant, issuing quiet instructions.

The air between them felt heavier than before. She stood stiffly near the doorway, unsure whether to speak or retreat. It wasn’t until the servant finished his task and slipped out, closing the door behind him, that Cain finally addressed her.

"I figured you’d stay holed up in your room," he said, his voice smooth, almost amused, as he began to close the distance between them. Each step he took was deliberate, his presence overwhelming despite his relaxed demeanor.

Violet forced herself to hold her ground, her spine stiffening as he approached. "There was no reason to," she replied, relieved when the masculine voice from the band came through clearly. But her relief was short-lived. Cain’s gaze flicked to the band around her neck, lingering there a moment too long, his lips curling into a sly, knowing smile that made her blood run cold.

"The silent treatment is over, I see," he mused, his tone low, his amusement palpable. "Pity. I was beginning to enjoy it." He stepped closer still, until the faint heat of his skin brushed against hers, his towering frame making her feel cornered.

Her instincts screamed at her to back away, but before she could act, his hand shot out, gripping her waist firmly. The touch sent a jolt through her, and to her frustration, her annoyance bled through her carefully crafted mask. freewebnσvel.cøm

"You’re getting more expressive," Cain remarked, his voice tinged with amusement as his thumb pressed lightly against her side. "I don’t mind. Especially now that things between us have... changed." His words were heavy with implication, but before Violet could muster a response, he released her abruptly, leaving her both flustered and wary.

"What do you mean by that?" she wanted to ask, but Cain had already turned away, dismissing the moment as if it were insignificant. "Get the medicine," he said, his tone brisk, businesslike. "Tell Ravon I want his entire stash."

The shift in his demeanor left her momentarily disoriented, but she nodded, her feet carrying her toward the door. Her hand had just gripped the handle when his voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Viole," he called softly, his tone almost playful. She glanced back at him, her pulse quickening when she saw the look in his eyes—a glint of mischief and something darker. "Don’t take too long. I’d like to go to bed early tonight."

Heat rushed to her face, memories of their earlier encounter crashing down on her with the weight of a storm. Cain’s smirk widened as if he could see the vivid images playing out in her mind. Flustered, Violet yanked the door open and slammed it shut behind her, her breaths coming in uneven gasps as she leaned against the cool wood.

Her steps down the hall were slow and measured, but her mind raced. I have to distance myself from him. The thought repeated like a mantra, but no matter how much she wanted to, she knew Cain would never let her slip away now. He was like a predator that had tasted blood.

As she descended the staircase, the uneasy feeling grew. Passing servants who once ignored her presence now threw wary glances her way. Their gazes darted toward her and quickly shifted away, their steps quickening as they moved to avoid her. Even the higher-level workers, who normally wouldn’t spare her a glance, seemed on edge, their whispers trailing in her wake.

What the... Violet’s brows furrowed as unease curled in her stomach. She forced herself to ignore them, her focus set on reaching Ravon’s office. Still, the lingering looks left her skin crawling, and by the time she arrived at the heavy wooden door, her hands were clammy with sweat.

Knocking softly, she waited for the deep, authoritative voice granting her permission to enter. As soon as it came, she stepped inside, steeling herself for whatever mood Ravon would be in today. But nothing could have prepared her for the sudden shift in his demeanor.

Ravon’s piercing gaze locked onto her face, his expression hardening with each step she took closer to his desk. His cruel smirk faltered, replaced by confusion, then unbridled fury. Violet barely had time to process the change before he erupted.

"ARE YOU A MAN OR A WHORE!" he bellowed, slamming his fist onto the desk with enough force to make her flinch. The venom in his voice was palpable, his eyes blazing with hate. "I beat you once and to prove a point you march in here reeking of him after fucking Lord Cain?"

Her breath hitched, her shock rendering her momentarily speechless. "I-I would never—" she began, her voice trembling, but Ravon cut her off before she could explain.

"DON’T LIE TO ME!" he roared, his face contorting in rage. "Do you think my nose is merely skin? You stink of him! I can smell him all over you!" His words dripped with disdain, and the tension in the room was suffocating.

He advanced on her, his steps heavy with fury. "How long has this been going on?" he demanded, raising his hand as if to strike her. Violet froze, her body rigid, but the blow never came. His hand fell to his side, trembling as if he was barely holding himself back.

"HOW LONG?" he screamed again. If Eldric was to find out that Cain had taken on a lover and he wasn’t aware of it, he would immediately hurt him for failing to inform him considering that was the main reason Eldric had put him there.

Terror froze Violet in place. Her mind screamed at her to say something—anything—that would appease him. "T-Today," she managed to choke out, lowering her gaze to the ground. She felt sick at the admission, even if it wasn’t entirely true.

For a moment, Ravon seemed to calm, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. He stepped back, his anger still simmering but no longer at a boil.

"Cain asked for the red medicine," Violet blurted out quickly, eager to leave. "All the bottles you have." She gestured toward the box on the desk, grateful when Ravon merely nodded and pointed to it.

As she reached for the box, Ravon’s voice stopped her cold.

"From now on, you report to me," he ordered, his tone sharp and unyielding. "The relationship won’t last long, but while it does, I want every detail. Is that clear?"

Violet nodded stiffly, clutching the box like a lifeline. "I understand."

Without another word, she turned and fled the office, her heart hammering in her chest. Once outside the door, she exhaled shakily, her fear morphing into anger. Fucking bastard, there was no reason to ask for such details even if such things were happening between her and Cain. Something that would never happen.

But Ravon’s words echoed in her head, mingling with the strange looks she had received from the servants earlier.

"’You reek of him.’" The phrase gnawed at her. She sniffed at her clothes, but there was nothing—no scent that she could detect. How had Ravon known? Was is the servant that had handled the sheets? The thought plagued her as she climbed the stairs, sniffing her clothes nervously.

You reek of him, Ravon had said, but try as she might, she couldn’t smell a thing.