She looked at Mira's pleading face again, really looking this time. The desperation in her eyes wasn't just embarrassment—it was fear.

'Did he use some ability on her?' Kaida thought, her grip on her anger tightening into cold focus. 'Is he controlling her mind? Or maybe he has a way to kill Toby instantly if she steps out of line?'

She took a deep breath, forcing her shoulders to relax.

If Mira was signaling her, then the situation was more volatile than it looked. Attacking now might get them all killed.

"Fine," Kaida grunted, though her eyes remained fixed on Viktor with lethal intent.

She turned, marching over to where Helena was still tied up.

With a swift motion, she cut the ropes binding the maid, ignoring Helena's tearful whimpers as she scrambled away.

"Get up," Kaida ordered, not unkindly. Then she looked back at the couple.

"Inside," she commanded, jerking her head toward the manor.

"You're going to tell me everything. And if I hear one lie..." She let the threat hang in the air, heavy and suffocating.

She turned on her heel and stomped toward the back entrance, her boots crunching heavily on the gravel.

Viktor watched her go, a small, amused smile playing on his lips.

He hadn't missed the wink.

He looked at Mira, who was watching Kaida's retreating back with a mix of relief and anxiety.

"Really, wife?" he drawled, his voice low and teasing.

Mira jumped, turning to him with wide eyes. She shrugged one shoulder, the cloak slipping slightly to reveal the creamy slope of her neck.

"Did you see how she looks?" she whispered, a conspiratorial glint in her eye that matched his own.

She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head toward Kaida.

Mira knew Kaida would die one day due to all of her work. Most probably, the best thing would be for her to settle down and have a family, which would be far better than dying. What Mira was going to do would ensure that Kaida lived with her here.

Viktor blinked, surprised. Then he looked.

Really looked.

Kaida was walking away, her stride powerful and confident.

Without the cloak, her attire was... stimulating.

She wore tight leather breeches that molded to her strong thighs and a firm, round ass that moved with hypnotic rhythm.

Her upper body was covered in a fitted sleeveless tunic that showed off toned, muscular arms scarred from countless battles.

She was petite but packed with power. A compact package of violence and unexpected sex appeal.

The scars—one on her shoulder, another fading white line down her tricep—didn't make her ugly.

They made her look... used.

Experienced. Rough.

His dick, which had been half-asleep, gave a sudden, interested twitch.

'A tight pussy...' the thought drifted unbidden into his mind as he recalled Mira's words yesterday about someone she knew. 'A warrior's tight, muscular pussy that could probably clamp down hard enough to snap a finger.'

He chuckled, slapping his own cheek lightly to clear the haze of lust.

"You really..." he muttered, shaking his head as he watched Mira hurry after her friend.

Did she just... sell out her savior?

Mira glanced back at him, checking to see if he was following. When she saw him staring at Kaida's ass, a knowing smirk touched her lips before she turned back around.

Viktor laughed, a genuine sound of delight.

"Unbelievable," he whispered to himself, strolling naked toward the manor, not caring who saw him.

Mira was becoming more interesting by the second.

Not only was she a fantastic fuck, but she was cunning.

She knew exactly what kind of man he was, and instead of being repulsed... she was feeding him.

As if taming him in a way that only a wife can, but again... he can't act like a trash can, can he?

"Well then," he mused, his eyes locked on the swaying hips of the redhead ahead before as she vanished alongside Mira, he looked at the stuffed tied Helena, who had tears brimming in her eyes, clearly terrified but seeing her like that, his eyes softened as he sprinted.

"Helena!" Viktor's voice came out rough as he dropped to his knees beside her.

His hands immediately went to the cloth stuffed in her mouth, pulling it free with a wet sound. The fabric was soaked with her saliva, and the moment it left her lips, she gasped—a horrible, rattling sound like someone drowning finally breaking the surface.

"Haah—haaah—young master—!"

Her voice cracked, breaking apart as tears poured down her face. Not delicate tears, but ugly, desperate ones that made her whole body shake.

Snot ran from her nose, mixing with the tears, and she looked at him with eyes so wide and terrified it was like staring into the face of a cornered animal.

"I-I thought—" She hiccupped, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe through the sobs. "I thought she was going to—to kill you!"

Viktor froze, his hands hovering over the ropes binding her wrists.

"She came out of nowhere," Helena continued, the words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "I was just—just returning after feeding toby like you asked, and then—then she was there—"

Another sob tore through her.

"She tied me up so fast, I couldn't even scream, and I—I thought—"

Her voice broke completely.

"I thought Lady Elena sent her to kill you!"

The name hit Viktor like cold water.

'Lady Elena.'

His mind, which had been clouded with lust and amusement at Mira's scheming, suddenly sharpened.

He looked at Helena—really looked at her. At the way her entire body trembled, at the rope burns on her wrists, at the terror still stamped across her face.

She'd been tied up. Gagged. Held hostage by a woman who moved faster than the eye could see and who'd nearly cut his throat.

And he'd been... what? Admiring Kaida's ass?

Something twisted in his gut. Guilt? Anger? He wasn't sure, but it felt hot and uncomfortable.

His eyes snapped toward the manor entrance where Mira and Kaida had disappeared, and his expression darkened.

His jaw clenched, and for a moment, raw fury flashed across his face.

'That fucking woman...'

But then he looked back at Helena, saw her watching him with those wide, terrified eyes, and the anger drained out of him.

She hadn't been afraid for herself. She'd been afraid for 'him'.

Viktor exhaled slowly, forcing his shoulders to relax. He reached out, his fingers gentle as they brushed the tears from her cheeks.

"Hey," he said softly. "I'm fine. See? Not a scratch."

Helena shook her head violently. "But she was so fast—and her eyes—they were so angry—"

"I know." He cupped her face with both hands, thumbs stroking her wet cheeks. "But Mira stopped her. And I'm here now."

Helena's lip quivered. "I was so scared..."

Viktor leaned forward, pressing his lips to her forehead in a long, lingering kiss. Her skin was warm and damp with sweat, and he could feel her pulse hammering beneath his touch.

"I'm sorry," he murmured against her skin. "I should've come to you first."

He pulled back, meeting her eyes.

He paused in his work, looking at her seriously.

"Can you forgive her?" he asked quietly. "I promise I'll make her apologize to you properly. On her knees if I have to."

Helena stared at him, her eyes searching his face. She looked conflicted—scared, hurt, but also... trusting.

Finally, she nodded, the motion small and uncertain. "If... if you promise she won't hurt you..."

"She won't." Viktor's voice was firm. "I guarantee it."

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