“I apologise for our actions towards you,” Jayce struck him again.
“I referred to your actions,” he growled.
Micah had sanguine tears cascading down his visage. “I apologise for my actions towards you. I implore you to forgive me; I will never behave in that manner with another woman again.”
Jayce released him and approached Alex. He struck him in the side and then knelt to compel him to gaze at Molly. “It is your turn.”
“I sincerely apologise for my actions. You did not deserve any of my behaviour, and I assure you that I will not make such mistakes again.”
“Would you care to perform the honours?” Jayce enquired through clenched teeth while looking up at Molly. He bore their blood on his visage and appeared unhinged.
“Please, we apologize—” Jayce interrupted Alex. He stood and forcefully brought his foot down onto his head, crushing his skull with his boot. Molly recoiled as blood splattered onto her face. She inhaled sharply and staggered backward.
“Oh my-”
“Assistance required!” Micah shouted.
“Do you wish to exact retribution on your assailant, Molly?” Jayce enquired once more. Molly swiftly shook her head in negation and extended her hands as if to halt him. Jayce seized Micah and drew him into the obscurity. Molly once more covered her ears as Micah began to scream loudly enough to disturb the slumbering birds in the trees. Subsequently… Quietude.
The atmosphere became motionless; she averted her gaze from the corpse before her, yet the blood accumulated around the vicinity faster than it could seep into the snow. Fragments of her nightmare resurfaced in her consciousness… What actions had he undertaken?
When Jayce emerged, his face was so heavily smeared with blood that she nearly failed to recognise him. He halted before her and elevated her chin to meet his gaze.
“Only I am permitted to touch you.”
The journey back to the palace was nearly intolerable. The frigid wind swept her hair away as he galloped vigorously towards the camp. He may have sought to distance himself as much as she did from that scene. He could not escape the consequences of his actions.
Whenever she shut her eyes, she envisioned blood. In her innermost thoughts, she harboured no remorse for the men. They inflicted torment upon her for amusement and appeared to relish each moment. One seemed to derive pleasure from it, possibly both did in a profoundly perverse manner.
Convinced of her imminent demise at their hands, she pondered the number of other women they had slain prior to her. Did they undertake it for amusement? She would not be surprised if someone discovered all the bodies concealed six feet beneath their cabin. She could not possibly be their initial victim. They appeared excessively acquainted with it, overly confident in their ability to evade consequences. They nearly accomplished it.
Nevertheless, she lamented having to witness their demise. It would torment her thoughts for months; she doubted she would ever experience peaceful sleep again after all she had witnessed. She yearned for the period when the most distressing sight she had encountered was an unkempt bathroom that had not been cleaned for months.
Upon their return to the camp, the sun was elevated and radiating brightly in the sky. The village was fully alert, attending to their tasks without a single glance at the prince. It may have been beneficial, despite their intention of disrespect. Molly was uncertain about the quantity of blood that persisted on his skin despite his attempts to remove it. Molly felt as though her entire body was saturated with it. Could it be discerned on her visage? Was it present on her hands and in her hair? Or was she merely imagining everything?
Indeed, she did not touch them; he is the one who dismembered them and scattered the body parts throughout the clearing.
Colton was conversing with a contingent of palace guards. Upon seeing them on the horse, he became immobilised before striding purposefully through the snow towards them. His guards trailed closely behind, suggesting he had not informed them of his intention to take a midnight stroll.
“What transpired?” Colton enquired. He elevated his arms to assist Molly, but Jayce descended in front of him and provided assistance instead. Colton retreated, yet his gaze continued to search for any signs of injury on her.
“I visited the individuals who abducted Molly,” Jayce stated plainly as he placed her on the ground. He still had a trace of blood smeared on his chin. She restrained herself from removing it from him—Colton had evidently already observed it.
Colton squared his shoulders and surveyed the assembled crowd. Whispers commenced prior to Molly’s awareness of the unfolding events. They regarded Jayce as though he were a monster menacing their town. Beckham crossed his arms over his chest while scrutinising Jayce. She contemplated whether he was the one who informed him about the identities of the men, or if he merely felt disheartened by his exclusion.
“May I speak with you privately, Prince?” Colton enquired, devoid of any semblance of kindness.
