Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 85: Toying with Food

The pain was dull at first, a sharp sting that barely registered until her side began to throb. Then, it hit her like a wave as the wound ignited into searing agony. Violet gasped, clutching at her abdomen just as Nathan yanked the small knife from her side, the blade slick with her blood. Her legs buckled slightly, and she stumbled back, horrified as she watched the pristine white of her shirt bloom crimson.

Nathan tilted his head, the faintest look of amusement playing on his face. "A few more stabs should be enough to get the job done," he said nonchalantly, already planning his next move. His eyes flicked toward the guard still sprawled on the floor, bound and bleeding, before locking back onto her. His lips curved into a twisted grin.

Violet’s heart pounded furiously in her chest. She couldn’t die here—not like this. Summoning every ounce of resolve, she tightened her grip on the dagger and rushed forward, her steps uneven but her intent clear. Nathan smirked, clearly expecting her feeble attack. He shifted his weight, ready to counter.

But Violet didn’t aim for him. Instead, she darted to the side, dropping to her knees beside the injured guard. Her hands shook as she slashed at the bindings restraining him, freeing his arms and legs.

The man coughed violently, the sound wet and raw as blood spattered from his lips. He writhed on the floor, clawing at the silver knife embedded in his chest, desperate to remove it so his body could begin to heal.

Nathan’s smirk vanished, replaced by a dark scowl. "Tch," he muttered, clearly irritated. His perfect plan was unraveling, and it infuriated him. "What do you think you’re doing, Violet?" he asked coldly, taking a deliberate step toward her. "You’re only making this harder for yourself."

Violet didn’t respond. Her gaze darted toward the door, a fleeting thought of escape crossing her mind. She could leave the guard to fend for himself—save her own life. But then her jaw clenched, and she shook her head, biting her lip so hard it nearly bled.

"I don’t use people," she muttered under her breath, her resolve hardening. "That’s not who I am."

She stepped in front of the wounded man, her trembling hands raising the dagger as she faced Nathan head-on. Her knees felt weak, and every breath burned in her lungs, but she held her ground. "If you come closer, you might stab me," she said, her voice quivering yet determined, "but I swear you won’t leave unscathed!"

Nathan chuckled darkly, a hollow sound that sent chills down her spine. "I doubt that," he said simply before lunging forward.

Violet’s heart leapt into her throat as he closed the distance in a heartbeat. She swung the dagger wildly, the blade slicing through empty air as Nathan sidestepped effortlessly. His movements were precise, almost graceful, as he dodged her attack and struck back.

The small knife sank into her right arm with sickening ease. A cry of pain tore from her lips as the dagger clattered to the floor, her grip failing under the shock. Her arm throbbed, blood dripping steadily onto the cold floorboards.

Nathan’s grin widened as he watched her stagger back, savoring her desperation. But his satisfaction was short-lived. Violet, gritting her teeth against the pain, spun around and grabbed the silver knife protruding from the guard’s chest. With a burst of strength, she yanked it free in one swift motion.

The guard gasped as the knife left his body, and Nathan’s eyes narrowed. His fury erupted in a brutal punch, his fist slamming into the side of Violet’s face with bone-jarring force. She crumpled to the ground, her vision swimming as stars danced in her eyes. Blood oozed from her arm and mouth, pain wracking her entire body.

"Nathan," she whimpered, her voice barely audible.

He scoffed, shaking his head in mock pity. "You just don’t know when to quit, do you?"

Turning his attention back to the guard, Nathan loomed over him, knife in hand. He raised it high before slashing it across the man’s chest, the blade tearing through flesh with sickening ease. Blood sprayed across the room, speckling Violet’s face as she watched in horror.

The guard convulsed weakly, his strength fading with every passing second.

Nathan glanced at his handiwork with a satisfied expression. "We need to make it look like there was a fight," he said casually, his tone eerily cheerful. "I can’t make it look too professional, though. That’d be suspicious."

He slashed again, and again, the blade carving mercilessly into the guard’s flesh.

Violet’s stomach churned. Her hands clenched into fists as a mix of fear and anger surged through her. She couldn’t let this continue. She wouldn’t. Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away, her gaze darting toward the door. She had one chance.

Her breath hitched as she waited for the right moment, counting silently under her breath. Nathan paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, muttering something under his breath.

That was it. Violet pushed herself to her feet and bolted.

She barely registered Nathan’s shout of rage behind her as she yanked the door open and darted into the corridor. Her eyes locked onto the next room, her sanctuary. She could make it—she just had to—

She froze.

A figure loomed in the hallway, barely five feet away. A woman with blazing red eyes and an unnervingly serene smile. Her nostrils flared as she sniffed the air, her lips curling into a predatory grin. "Blood," the Red murmured, her voice soft but dripping with menace.

Violet’s blood ran cold. She turned to flee, her heart hammering in her chest, but she barely took a step before she felt a gust of wind behind her. She screamed, certain the Red was upon her, when Nathan’s voice cut through the air.

"Viole!" He screamed, a flicker of a smile flashing across Viole’s face as she continued to run without hearing the sound of the Red chasing after her which only meant one thing.

The Red had chosen Nathan.

Violet bolted, her breath coming in gasps but she didn’t care, as she tore her sleeves with her teeth doing her best to wrap up her bleeding arm. The wound in her stomach was one she couldn’t deal with even as she glanced at it surprised by how slowly but consistently her blood continued to flow.

"Fuck!" She swore under her breath as she stood at the junction of two corridors. One led to the side door where she had seen the battle happen and the other led to where she had seen the dead bodies in the servant hall. Her decision was obvious as she picked the one with the possibility that the fight would have been over.

’I’m leaving!’ She decided making the decision and swearing by her life just to make sure that she saw it through. Even if the attack ended, she was seriously wounded, getting seen by a doctor or anyone in the mansion was like declaring her gender to Cain who owned the

Mansion.

Her hands sliding under her shirt to where the wound was. It was deep but not deep enough that it left a trail of blood on the ground as she moved.

’I just need to get out of here and find a doctor!’ She thought to herself as she began running again, pausing by the corridor to make sure she was alone just before she ran towards the side door the second she saw no traces of anyone close to her.

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

"Fuck!" Nathan screamed at the top of his lungs staring at his left arm which had been completely ripped off and the Red who stood in front of him licking her lips in anticipation.

"I don’t like to play with my food but right now, I’m a little full!"