Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 89: Weak

"Viole!" Cain’s voice snapped her waning attention back to where he rested against the tree, still bleeding. "You keep looking at the walls like you’re planning to run!" A trace of anger laced his tone, fury flashing in his eyes as he spoke.

Violet stiffened, unable to say a word as she struggled to hold his gaze. Her eyes darted toward his shoulder as she spoke, desperate to change the topic.

"You’re still wounded... you need to get inside. Do you know why you’re not healing as fast as you should?" she asked, only to get no response. Cain continued to stare at her, his piercing gaze unrelenting, even as she fixed her own firmly on the ground.

A few moments of tense silence passed before Violet managed to speak again. "I can get a guard to—"

"I’m weak right now! All it takes is one werewolf to kill me!" Cain responded, his voice low and somber. Violet nodded, though her eyes strayed again and again to the gate.

This was her chance—her only chance to escape. She was never going to get another opportunity to see Cain this weak.

The wound on her arm had healed, but the one on her side still bled. Just kneeling in front of Cain made her feel dizzy, and he looked even worse. Blood loss from his shoulder had slowed, but his face was ashen, and he slumped against the tree, too weak to even lift an arm.

The sight of him like this terrified her. If someone hostile found him now, killing them both would be the easiest thing in the world.

"Can you rest on me? I’ll take you back to your room," Violet promised, deciding to do one last good deed as thanks for Cain sparing her life when he could have killed her.

...After I drop him safely inside... I’ll leave! she decided, scanning her surroundings. To her relief, the mansion grounds remained mostly deserted. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Cain nodded weakly, struggling to get to his feet. He groaned in pain as he rose, and Violet’s expression betrayed her worry.

"I’ve removed the bullet... why are you still weak?" she whispered as he leaned on her. She was relieved he could mostly stand and didn’t have to put his full weight on her.

Slowly, they began their walk back to the mansion in silence. Violet, unsure of what to say, was startled when Cain spoke.

"I thought I warned you not to leave the room," he said, his voice low as they walked side by side, his arm draped over her shoulder.

"I expected you to listen," he continued, his gaze sliding across her face before lingering on her stomach. Violet knew her side was still bleeding. Worse, it might be an internal wound.

"I’m leaving," she suddenly blurted out, the words surprising even herself. Cain froze mid-step, fixing his gaze entirely on her, a small frown tugging at his lips.

"...I—I was scared, and all I wanted was to see my family. I miss them!" Violet continued, mixing lies with the truth. She quickened their pace, hurrying up the stairs toward Cain’s room.

As they neared his chambers, Violet avoided looking toward the first room, her heart pounding with trepidation at what she might find there. Cain sensed her unease and broke the silence.

"...Who was it? The person that stabbed you?" he asked.

Violet vigorously shook her head, trying to quicken their pace. But Cain’s large, sturdy frame dictated the speed, leaving her attempts in vain.

"Who was it?" he repeated, his tone harsher and more demanding. It was clear he wouldn’t accept silence for an answer, but Violet wasn’t willing to speak.

As far as she knew, Nathan was dead. The last thing she wanted to think about was the werewolf guard who had likely perished.

"You reek of blood... yours and another’s—belonging to a werewolf," Cain stated, his voice cool and matter-of-fact.

Violet shoved open the doors to his room, carefully lowering Cain onto the bed. Relief washed over her as she saw him finally pull on a long robe.

Her instincts told her to stay and help, but her body itched to flee. Yet, almost as if reading her thoughts, Cain grabbed her arm. She froze, startled by his strength—she had been convinced he couldn’t move a muscle.

A trace of fear ran through her as she glared at him.

"Let go! It doesn’t matter!" she snapped, struggling to pull away. She thought his weakness would prevent him from restraining her, but her eyes widened in shock as he suddenly rose to his feet with ease, rolling his shoulders as though he’d never been injured.

Violet shook her head, the realization hitting her like a blow to the chest. The words stumbled out of her mouth as she glared at Cain, her voice trembling with betrayal.

"You were pretending! You aren’t weak!" she gasped, shaking her head as if trying to make sense of his deceit.

"I was... at first," Cain admitted, his gaze locked on hers. His grip on her hand tightened, making Violet flinch. The pain stopped her squirming as he spoke again.

"You were going to leave."

"I’m a servant, not your slave! I have every right to!" Violet screamed, her voice laced with fear as Cain’s intense gaze bore into her. He ignored her protests, pulling her closer despite her struggles.

His fingers brushed lightly against her face, but Violet slapped his hand away, turning her head as though his touch repulsed her.

"Let go of my hand!" she whispered, half-pleading, half-demanding. She watched as pain flickered through Cain’s eyes—a raw, vulnerable emotion that made her breath hitch.

"This afternoon, you still leaned into my touch. Was that...? Suddenly you want to leave?" he asked, his voice soft and filled with a yearning that made Violet’s chest ache.

Are you stupid? she thought, biting back tears. Even if I was just a normal girl and not a backstabbing spy who would have been responsible for the deaths of your men if I had opened the side doors... You’re a Lord, and I’m nothing!

"If I’ve been high-handed with you, I can change," Cain continued, his voice gentle. "I enjoyed our time together. I can learn—"

"I just wanted to survive!" Violet cut in sharply, her voice trembling as she enunciated each word. "I hated every single time you laid your hands on me!"

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, and for a moment, everything was still.

Cain flinched, his eyes darkening as her words sank in. The pain in his expression was almost unbearable, but Violet didn’t waver. She held his gaze, unrelenting, her body trembling as she fought to keep herself together.

I need to run! I need to run away from you! the only thing she could think about as she stamped down the urge to take the words she said back.