A branch snapped behind her; Molly swiftly turned and thrust her weapon into the man’s leg without hesitation. He fell forcefully, yet he was not solitary. “You are a contemptible person!”
The other man possessed claws in place of fingers, a sight more horrifying than any nightmare her mind could conjure. He seized Molly by her hair and pulled her into the centre of the battleground. “Release me!” she shouted. Jayce averted his gaze from his adversary upon hearing her. The other wolf inflicted a severe bite before Jayce broke its neck.
“I possess a theory,” the man declared. Some of the combat subsided at his utterance, yet the remainder persisted. Jayce snarled at the man who grasped Molly as if she were a forsaken doll. “I believe the prince harbours a particular affection for this individual.”
He yanked Molly by her hair, prompting her to scream and grasp the region he seized. Jayce emitted a more intense and wrathful growl of warning, yet the man merely smiled. “Shall we conduct a test?”
He raised one of his claws to her throat. She experienced a slight prick before the warm blood cascaded down her neck. Her vision obscured by tears, she exclaimed, “W-Jayce!”
The man departed before she could complete her scream of his name. Jayce severed the arm that restrained her and subsequently dragged him into the darkness, silencing his screams. Molly unsteadily rose, as one of the guards rushed to conceal her once more, yet they had all already observed her presence.
“Here, accept this,” he stated. She has only recently recognised that it was James. He positioned a small dagger in her hand, which already bore traces of blood. “Target the throat or eyes and act swiftly. They can detect your fear.”
Molly acquiesced in silence. He averted his gaze and re-engaged in combat with a wolf that approached him midway. Molly attempted to tally the number of remaining guards and was astonished to observe that a considerable number persisted. The king must have dispatched his finest guards to endure this prolonged confrontation with a rogue pack.
Jayce emerged from the shadows, leaving behind bloodied footprints. The manner of his gait indicated to her that the blood was not his own, evoking a sense of pity for the next rogue who crossed his path. He inhaled deeply and glanced at her with his penetrating blue eyes before redirecting his focus to the nearest adversary.
A frigid shiver coursed down her spine as the atmosphere became dense. She sensed a warm touch on the nape of her neck. Her fingers gripped the hilt of the dagger firmly as she closed her eyes and silently invoked the moon goddess. As it growled, Molly pivoted and thrust the dagger forcefully into his neck. A wolf, as light as snow, emitted a pained howl before collapsing forcefully to the ground. Molly swiftly distanced herself from him and discovered another tree to conceal herself behind.
It seemed interminable; when would it cease? When one side is entirely lifeless? She loathed the thought and despised herself for being the cause of someone’s death or near demise. Molly gazed at her bloodstained hands, feeling warm, viscous tears stream down her cheeks. She sensed that the echoes of death would haunt her nightmares for weeks, possibly indefinitely, if she survived the night. Her prospects diminished with each passing moment. If she closed her eyes, she could feign being in her warm bed at the palace. Or possibly engaging in late-night gossip with Kylie. Any location was preferable to this one, distant from the bloodshed and mortality.
In the clearing, she observed Jayce effortlessly dispatch another wolf. His ferocity was exceptional and simultaneously instilled a sense of terror in her. She was aware he would not injure her, yet it was terrifying to witness his rapid annihilation of an entire group of rogues.
With his back turned, Molly observed that several other wolves began to encircle him. His guards were preoccupied with survival and failed to observe, but Molly did. They approached him stealthily while he engaged in combat with another wolf, and she was fully aware of their intentions.
Molly exclaimed, “Jayce! Behind you!”
Upon hearing her voice, Jayce turned and discovered himself encircled. She was aware that they intended to kill him, as it was their foremost desire. They likely disregarded the others, focussing solely on him. Her heart raced with trepidation; she desired to assist him.
His guards likely heard her scream. They redirected their focus to their prince and subdued several of the wolves that had encircled him. Molly exhaled with relief.
“It appears we have an attractive individual here,” a man remarked near her ear. Molly attempted to shift, but he encircled her waist with his arm, compelling her to remain pressed against him. “I believe I have discovered the prince’s preference.” She discerned the smirk in his tone, as though she were the most coveted trophy he had ever encountered.
“Release me!” Molly scratched at his arms and struck his legs with all her strength, yet he remained unaffected in the slightest. Indeed, he merely laughed.
“Will—” Molly could not complete her thought before the darkness engulfed her entirely.
Frigid water roused Molly from her most profound nightmares. Her head felt weighted as she finally opened her eyes to an unfamiliar chamber. She attempted to move her hands to dry her face but discovered they were bound behind her. It appeared she was in an antiquated, neglected shack illuminated by a solitary dim light.
