“Negative, yet they made an attempt.”
Jayce extended his fingers and rotated his neck. Molly bit her lip as she observed his anger intensify. Did he desire to kill them once more? “Who was responsible for your abduction?”
“Colton asserted that he addressed the matter.”
“Who?” Jayce enquired more forcefully, causing Molly to flinch and intensifying her compulsion to comply with his request.
“Their names were Alex and Micah.”
“Was it one of them who left the mark on your neck?” He growled, as his possessive instincts began to dominate his thoughts, leaving him unable to behave otherwise. Molly acquiesced with a nod. She had genuinely overlooked the mark on her neck, which was opposite to the one left by Jayce. She believed the claw marks may have penetrated it, but evidently, they did not. He likely observed them during her illness but refrained from mentioning it until her recovery. It is not surprising that he desired her to take a walk so promptly.
Jayce seized her hand and drew her behind him as he trudged through the snow. “Where are we headed?” Molly enquired, making an effort to avoid stumbling while maintaining pace with him.
He remained silent. Jayce guided her to the stables where his black horse was tethered and instructed her to stand beside it. “Remain here.”
Molly observed his departure and surveyed the other horses, perplexed. What was he doing?
After approximately twenty minutes of standing in the frigid stable, Jayce returned while donning black leather gloves. He appeared resolute and… Attractive. She despised herself for entertaining such thoughts, as they would inevitably return her to a dream she had no reason to recall.
“What are we doing here? Perhaps I should return to bed and rest further.”
“I located their position.” He seized her waist and hoisted her onto the horse’s rear before she could protest, then ascended in front of her.
“What? Jayce—” He seized the reins as Molly swiftly encircled her arms around his waist before he urged the horse into the night. In that moment, she had never felt more appreciative of wearing trousers. He was utterly irrational for undertaking this; she desired no involvement.
The horses’ hooves struck the ground forcefully as he rode towards the men who had abducted Molly. That was their intended destination, correct?
Was he going to decapitate them as he did with the other two?
The sounds of galloping were too loud for her to enquire; she had no option but to cling on as he rode as swiftly as possible through the night. She tightly shut her eyes when the wind intensified. Having never ridden a horse, the prospect of enjoying this experience caused her stomach to churn. This was far from enjoyable.
How could he persuade her to undertake this? She recently emerged from her deathbed just a few hours ago. Although it was pleasurable to be awake and outside, this was not her intention. This was the antithesis of her desires. His insistence suggests he has spent days seething in anger, contemplating whether he has apprehended the individuals who harmed her. What motivated his excessive concern? She was his servant, not his companion. Those who disrespected her had never appeared to concern him previously.
The horse came to a sudden stop. Molly opened her eyes to behold the cabin, and flashes of her torment invaded her thoughts. All the imprints they left on her. The manner in which they tugged at her garments and approached the violation of her innocence-
Jayce dismounted the horse and extended his arms towards her. Molly paused before permitting him to assist her descent. “Jayce, this is preposterous. I am unwell; we ought to return.”
“They merit all that I am about to do,” Jayce stated before turning away from her. She tugged at his arm, but he forcefully pushed her away and kicked open the cabin’s front door without any hesitation. He emanated murderous rage, and she felt compelled to scream at him to cease. She had witnessed sufficient suffering; she desired to witness no more.
“Greetings!” two men exclaimed. Jayce entered without hesitation, while Molly remained in place, attempting to suppress her trembling hands. “What the hell!” one screamed, while Molly covered her ears to muffle the nauseating sounds of bones fracturing. Molly recoiled when Jayce emerged moments later, pulling both men by their hair as though they were weightless.
The men were diminutive in relation to him, yet still considerably larger than Molly. Their faces were entirely obscured by blood, and their noses were misaligned. They grasped Jayce’s hands as he pulled them out. A trail of blood accompanied their passage.
Jayce discarded them at her feet and knelt to compel them to gaze upward at her. “Are these the ones that caused you pain?” he enquired serenely, perhaps excessively composed given the circumstances.
Molly cast a brief glance before nodding. “Jayce-”
“I did not make contact with her!” Micah shouted. Jayce struck him forcefully in the face.
“If you fail to apologise for your actions towards her, I will gouge out your eyes and disembowel you right here,” Jayce threatened, compelling him to meet Molly’s gaze. “You go first.”
