Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 80: Disgusting!

Her thoughts were still scattered, her steps automatic as she trailed behind Cain. He walked with an air of unwavering confidence, his broad shoulders square, his long strides steady. He didn’t look back, not even once, to check if she was following.

Not that she had a choice.

Violet’s frown deepened as her mind circled the impossible demand scrawled on that note. Every potential solution she thought of unraveled under Cain’s looming presence. She bit her lip, her heart pounding with anxious urgency.

I could fake being sick... diarrhea maybe? Her face twisted at the ridiculousness of the thought. Even if she could pull it off, Cain wasn’t an ordinary man. He was a werewolf, and his sharp instincts would betray her before she made it halfway to the door.

She was so lost in thought that she didn’t realize Cain had stopped until she smacked into him.

"Ow!" she yelped, stumbling back, her hands flying up to rub her nose.

Cain turned, one brow arched in mild amusement. "What were you thinking of?"

Before she could answer, his fingers closed around her wrist, and he tugged her forward with an ease that reminded her just how much stronger he was. She barely had time to glance at the armed guards flanking the entrance before Cain pulled her into a building she didn’t recall ever entering.

The air inside was cool and carried a faint metallic tang. Violet’s eyes widened as they landed on the walls, lined with rows upon rows of weapons. The room was a shrine to destruction: sleek handguns gleamed under the lights, rifles sat ominously on racks, and the sheer variety of firearms was enough to make her stomach twist.

"For the snipers, we’ll test those outside," Cain said casually, as though discussing dinner plans. "But for now, we’ll stick to handguns."

Violet swallowed hard as he guided her toward the target range. Before she could process what was happening, he was strapping a pair of heavy earmuffs over her head and placing a gun in her hands. Her fingers trembled against the cold metal.

Cain moved behind her, his chest pressing against her back as he adjusted her grip. His hands were large and steady, wrapping around hers to guide her fingers into position. His breath brushed her ear as he murmured instructions, his voice low and authoritative.

"Like this," he said, molding her stance with practiced precision.

Her heart thumped erratically. She tried to focus on his instructions, but the heat radiating from his body made it impossible. She didn’t even realize he’d squeezed the trigger until the gun fired, the sound muffled by her earmuffs but still startling enough to make her jump.

Her wide eyes darted to the target. A perfect hit.

But before she could dwell on it, she felt his hand on her jaw, gently turning her head toward him. His dark eyes locked onto hers, and before she could react, he leaned in, brushing his lips against hers.

The kiss was fleeting, barely more than a whisper of contact, but it sent a jolt through her entire body. Her heart, already racing, seemed to forget how to beat.

She stared at him, stunned, as he pulled back, only to lean in again. This time, his lips pressed against hers more firmly, lingering in a way that made her knees feel weak.

"Your heart is racing harder than usual," he whispered against her lips, his voice tinged with amusement. "Did you like it that much?"

Violet’s mind screamed at her to snap out of it. She forced herself to meet his gaze, masking her turmoil with a carefully neutral expression. "I’d rather focus on learning," she said, her voice steady but cool.

Cain chuckled softly, a sound that vibrated against her back. "As a good teacher, I’ll have to punish you every time you fail," he murmured, his tone laced with a teasing edge that made her shiver.

She swallowed hard, gripping the gun tighter as he stepped back. His presence, however, remained an almost tangible weight, pressing down on her as she raised the weapon.

"Go ahead," he said, his voice soft but commanding.

Violet fired, and the bullet went wide, missing the target entirely. Gritting her teeth, she readjusted her aim and tried again. Another miss. And another.

"The recoil is harder for a newbie to get used to," Cain remarked, moving behind her again. His hands settled over hers once more, adjusting her grip. "That’s why I stood behind you earlier."

"I’m out of bullets," Violet announced hastily, hoping for a reprieve. She tried to step away, but Cain’s arm wrapped around her waist, holding her firmly in place.

"Violet," he said, his tone light but his grip unyielding. "I might need that answer tonight."

Her stomach flipped, and she jerked out of his grasp, spinning to face him with wide eyes. She wanted to tell him no, to push back against his relentless teasing, but the words wouldn’t come. Saying no to Cain felt like inviting disaster.

"Lord Cain," she began in a cute tone, forcing a smile she hoped looked natural. "You brought me here to teach me how to protect myself. I want you to teach me."

Cain’s brow arched, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Fine," he said, moving to reload the weapon. He handed it back to her with a sly grin. "But I’ll get a kiss every time I reload your weapon."

"...Every two times?" Violet asked, her voice soft, almost pleading.

"You want to kiss me twice?" Cain replied, his expression maddeningly serious. "So be it."

Her jaw dropped. She opened her mouth to protest but quickly thought better of it. Instead, she tightened her grip on the gun, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"This is nice," Cain said suddenly, his voice softer. "I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun."

The sincerity in his tone caught her off guard. For a moment, she forgot the tension between them, seeing not the ruthless lord but a man whose every touch and gaze seemed to set her heart ablaze. She knew the stories of his past, the pain and loss he’d endured.

Her heart ached despite herself. Don’t feel sorry for him, she told herself firmly. He’s dangerous.

Cain’s teeth scraped against her ear, sending a jolt through her.

"Shoot!" he ordered and Violet obeyed, shutting her mind down as best as she could, not surprised to miss all her shots like before, her mind unable to think of anything but the next kiss they would share.

*************

Nathan had watched as Violet received the paper he had arranged for someone to deliver to her. From a safe distance, he trailed them, his movements calculated and quiet. His sharp eyes followed as they entered a building he instantly recognized—one he knew he would never be able to infiltrate outright.

Scaling the walls of the building came naturally to him, his assassin’s instincts and blade-enhanced precision making the climb effortless. He reached a window that provided a clear view inside, knowing full well that entering undetected was impossible. Not even a seasoned professional could sneak past Cain unnoticed.

Nathan’s gaze swept over the room below, searching until it landed on Viol. His breath hitched as he saw him turn toward Cain, just in time to catch the kiss. His eyes widened in shock, the scene unfolding before him igniting an instant understanding in his mind.

Oh! I knew it! You seduced him with your body. That’s why he didn’t kill you! The realization burned in his chest, sharp and acrid.

At first, his reasons for wanting Viole dead had been simple: removing him would give him the opportunity to gain Cain’s trust and get closer to him. But as Nathan stood frozen in his hidden vantage point, watching the shameless display below, something shifted.

A subtle but undeniable anger roared to life in his belly.

Disgusting! he thought, his teeth clenching as his hands curled into fists against the windowsill.

His gaze darkened, and his lips pressed into a thin line as he silently seethed. The more he watched, the hotter the fury burned.

Tonight, you’d die by my hands! The thought came with deadly finality, his resolve hardening as he turned around to leave.