“Perhaps you can provide an answer to this. How many guards accompanied the prince?” Alex enquired, twirling the clippers in his hand as if to provoke her.
“I believe there are more than twelve,” Molly murmured. The question was innocuous. Molly recognised that it must be significantly more than that; they might underestimate him if they chose to pursue him again. He was a formidable presence, capable of effortlessly dismantling both of these men if he were present.
However… He was absent. He was not arriving to rescue her and dismantle these men. He was already far removed, and she was unable to rescue herself while bound to this ineffectual chair. Molly fervently scoured the room for an item to assist her. If one of them relinquished their blade, she could utilise it to extricate herself.
“Well done, that is commendable. Increased verbalisation… it is beneficial for you. It prolongs your existence by a few minutes!” Alex smiled at her as though she were a dog that had successfully performed a trick. “What is the prince’s destination?”
“I am uncertain-“
Alex plunged his knife into her shoulder, eliciting a scream of agony from Molly. “That is not what I enquired. When I pose questions, I prefer responses.” He seized her ear and pulled her towards him. “Final opportunity…” He positioned the clippers before her visage. Molly experienced a rapid recollection of her life. Was he intending to stab her or sever her fingers?
In her silence, he seized the clippers and severed the upper portion of her ear. Molly vociferated with maximum intensity. He subdued her and covered her mouth with his hands. “Silence. Behave appropriately…”
Molly’s vision was obscured by tears as he applied greater pressure to her mouth when she attempted to scream once more. She began to suffocate from her anguish and recognised her inability to breathe. He was suffocating her.
Molly’s eyes widened as she gazed at the man above her. He appeared unhinged and exhilarated by her distress. To witness her fight for survival. She sensed a rigid object pressing against her leg as he constrained her breath while rubbing against her. His groans were nauseating; she would have preferred him to stab her a hundred times rather than endure those sounds emanating from his mouth.
“Alex, we cannot eliminate her at this moment!” Micah whispered. Alex maintained his hold for an additional moment before releasing her and withdrawing.
“I doubt we will elicit a response from her.” Alex readjusted his trousers while Molly struggled to breathe. She experienced nausea upon realising what had been pressing against her leg. She recognised the rogues were dreadful, yet this was intolerable. They were entirely primal, and no words or actions from her could assist her at this juncture.
“Allow me to attempt,” Micah bent down to examine her. She was apprehensive about touching her ear, uncertain of the extent of the alteration, yet aware that it would likely appear unappealing. The pain was excruciating, and each breath exacerbated her discomfort.
Micah grasped her chin and rotated her face to the side. “Despite the blood, you remain attractive. It is unsurprising that the prince desired your company.” He smirked and leaned in to inhale her scent. “I can still faintly detect his scent on you. Did he engage with you prior to our interruption?” Micah enquired with a chuckle before forcefully slamming her head against the unforgiving floor.
Molly perceived the room revolving; she attempted to inhale sharply, but he merely tightened his grip on her head and forcefully slammed it down with greater intensity than before. The darkness engulfed her entirely.
Molly perceived their voices prior to opening her eyes. What was the duration of her absence this time?
“What actions should we take regarding her?” Alex enquired in a subdued tone. “She is clearly unwilling to provide any information, and we are expending excessive time on her.”
Micah enquired, “Do you know when Lord Colton will return?” She perceived a chair creak as though they were upright.
“I heard he will be absent for at least a few days. We should be fine before then,” Alex responded, settling back into the chair.
“We must prevent him from discovering this; you are aware of his potential actions if he learns we abducted a girl.”
“She was a member of the royal entourage-“
“He would not be concerned about that, Alex! Recall the previous instance when a pack member had taken a girl? We-“
“We discovered him suspended by his entrails from a tree, yes, I am aware,” Alex remarked, seemingly irritated. “This situation is distinct. The royals are our adversaries, and she is complicit in that.”
“Colton will be indifferent, I assure you. He disapproves of the mistreatment of women, and if he witnesses our actions towards her—”
“We will dispose of her body before he returns; do not be concerned,” Alex stated softly. Molly experienced a surge of fear coursing through her veins upon hearing his words. Every part of her ached, and she likely appeared as a gruesome sight; however, a diminutive, pitiable fragment of her believed she would survive. That aspect was obliterated the instant he uttered that statement.
