Come Closer

Violet couldn't get out of Ravon's office fast enough, her heart hammering as his desperate, murderous glint burned into her mind. Hastening her steps, she avoided eye contact with anyone, her head down and her grip tightening on the vial in her hand. The fear of seeing the beast again—the one she'd encountered before—kept her moving quickly.

She reached the stairs, nearly at the first step, when a familiar voice broke through the air behind her.

"Viole!"

Her stomach clenched at the sound. Violet stopped, forcing a stiff smile onto her face as she turned. Rane's wide grin was anything but comforting. His eyes flicked to the vial, lingering with a curious gleam.

"You're heading to see Lord Cain," he said with mock innocence. Violet nodded, her smile tightening further as her gaze shifted to the two men standing just behind him.

"That's good!" he continued. "We should meet up soon. My friends are curious about you, but… I'd rather keep you all to myself." His tone dripped with innuendo, his eyes flashing with the same greedy intent she'd seen countless times before.

"Of course, Rane," Violet said quickly, her voice strained. She didn't wait for a response, turning on her heel and ascending the stairs with renewed urgency.

The frustration she'd been suppressing bubbled dangerously close to the surface. Cain's relentless assignments had distracted her from Rane's threats, but he'd just reminded her of the ever-present danger.

He's going to blackmail me until there's nothing left to take. Rane's selfish, leering gaze burned in her memory, fueling the anger swirling in her chest. As she climbed, another thought surfaced, dark and unbidden.

I could get him killed, couldn't I?

The callousness of the idea made her stomach twist, but it refused to leave her mind. The mansion was a dangerous place—one where even the smallest mistake could lead to death. It would be simple to accuse Rane of something unforgivable: breaking the vial, attacking her… something that would warrant Cain's wrath.

But doubt quickly crept in. What if he's questioned first? The probability was low, but not impossible. She bit her lip, shaking her head as she reached the top of the stairs.

If I don't do something, it's only going to get worse.

With a deep breath, Violet pushed the thought aside and entered Cain's room. The sight that greeted her froze her in place.

Cain lay on the bed, wearing nothing but a robe. His golden hair was tousled, sweat slicked across his chiseled chest and arms. His face was pale, his eyes slightly unfocused as he raked a hand through his damp hair.

Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to move, stepping forward with the vial outstretched. Relief flooded her at the sight of his human form, but her mind raced.

Take it. Hurry. The last thing I need is to lose an arm.

But Cain's hoarse voice stopped her short. "Put it on the table."

Violet blinked in confusion. "But… you need it! You're clearly in pain!"

Cain sighed deeply, his gaze lifting to hers. "Come closer," he rasped, motioning weakly with his hand.

She hesitated, her feet rooted to the floor. His labored breathing and the tension in his clenched jaw were unnerving, but when she saw him bite his lip hard enough to draw blood, she reluctantly stepped forward.

"Just take the—"

Before she could finish, Cain's hand shot out, grabbing her arm and pulling her forward. The vial slipped from her grasp, shattering on the floor with a sharp crack.

Violet gasped, her heart leaping into her throat. She tried to pull away, but Cain's grip was unyielding. In an instant, he flipped her onto the bed, pinning her beneath him.

Her breath hitched as she stared up at him, one of his eyes gleaming an unnatural red—the same as the beast she'd seen before. Panic surged through her veins.

"P-Please don't—" she stammered, her voice trembling.

To her surprise, Cain didn't strike or harm her. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and burying his face against her back. His breathing was ragged, but as the seconds passed, it began to steady.

Violet froze, her mind racing. She braced herself for the inevitable—the snap of bones, the guttural growls, the transformation. But none of it came.

Cain's arms tightened slightly, his weight pressing into her as he clung to her. His face nuzzled against her back, sending involuntary shivers down her spine.

She stayed rigid, too terrified to move. Every nerve in her body was stretched thin, her breaths shallow and uneven. But as the minutes ticked by, her panic began to ebb, replaced by confusion.

What is he doing?

The longer Cain remained still, the harder it became for Violet to maintain her tension. Her own exhaustion crept in, and despite her fear, her body began to relax. She lay motionless, waiting for him to release her, but his hold remained firm.

An hour passed, and Violet's eyes were heavy with drowsiness when she felt a shift. Something heavy pressed against her legs, jolting her awake. She blinked, her breath catching as she realized Cain had moved.

His muscular thighs were now draped over hers, one leg entwined with her own.

"L-Lord Cain," she whispered, her voice shaking. She tried to squirm away, but his hold tightened slightly, his even breathing confirming he was asleep.

Her cheeks burned as she became acutely aware of a new discomfort pressing against her back.

This can't be happening, she thought desperately, her body stiffening. But no matter how much she wanted to escape, the last thing she wanted was to wake him.

If I have to choose between this and the beast, the answer's obvious, she reasoned, though the thought did little to ease her nerves.

She couldn't understand why Cain had refused the medicine—or why he was holding her so desperately. All she could do was wait, praying that she would survive the night and nothing unexpected would happen.