CHAPTER 131: OUR SURVIVAL

Reddrick’s back was drenched completely in sweat, even as his fingers shook, balling them into fists to try and hide it. Howie wasn’t any different as he walked, though his mind still remained on the scene they had just witnessed—the ease with which Cain took out four highly-ranked people, one of whom would have been strong enough to kill him.

What made it more frightening was watching him do so in his human form.

The two of them walked together back into the mansion, but their eyes, unlike before, held traces of fear. They both knew that if they had been any later than they were, they would already be dead.

Together, they headed to the guard hall, where breakfast and food were served depending on what they wanted to eat. Neither of them was hungry, but at the same time, they needed a quiet place to talk.

With soft steps, they entered the door and walked straight to an empty table, around which they both sat down. But Howie had barely taken his seat when his phone vibrated. He immediately pulled it out, frowning as he read the message he had just received.

{Reveal the lover’s body and let Cain find it! That should make him settle down!}

Howie frowned deeply, his hands shaking ever so slightly as he turned the screen toward Reddrick for him to read the message.

Reddrick’s own frown was sharper, his expression laced with anger as he strained to lower his voice to a complete whisper, content to let the other voices in the hall drown out his own.

"He’s doing this without evidence of his lover being dead! What do you think he’ll do when he finds out the truth?" Reddrick hissed in anger, even as Howie nodded grimly.

"There are 24 guards in total...and 6 were on duty, including us. By evening, he’ll kill us!" Howie stated, as though it was inevitable, something they could do nothing to prevent.

Reddrick looked even angrier than before as he clenched his fist, about to pound the table, only to catch himself in time.

"I care about my family, but I care about myself even more!" he whispered through gritted teeth. He would miss them, but he could always fall in love again and start a new family. His eyes pulsed with anger.

"I refuse to die here!" he spat, waiting impatiently for Howie’s conclusion, ready to decide whether he would have to go against him as well.

It was only the two of them in charge of the lover, but Reddrick was confident that if the other four guards found out, they would immediately tell Cain, desperate for any chance to avoid death.

"If we don’t kill her, she knows our faces!" Howie pointed out, his face deep in thought.

"If we wait any longer and don’t kill her, then he’ll kill us!" Howie continued, and Reddrick nodded vigorously, adding, "...And she can’t help us!" His expression was laced with concern as he indirectly referenced Fiona in a way only the two of them would understand.

Moreover, they had never been afraid of Fiona; it was Eldric, her father, who terrified them.

"What’s the plan?" Reddrick asked, his frown deepening as Howie looked at him without speaking, almost as if he were out of ideas.

Reddrick let out a frustrated huff, leaned in close enough for anyone watching to think they were about to share an intimate secret, and whispered:

"How about this...we keep her alive but remove her eyes and tongue!" Reddrick said, satisfied to see Howie’s gaze snap to him, fixing firmly on his face.

Howie looked alarmed for a few seconds before shaking his head strongly. "There are healing potions...he’ll heal her and—"

"...But by then, we’ll be gone!" Reddrick interjected, the grin on his face widening as he continued to speak with a proud expression, as if he’d just struck gold.

"More importantly, we know who she is—something I’m sure no one else does!" he pointed out, referencing how Cain kept referring to her as his male lover in front of everyone.

Reddrick wasn’t surprised when Howie slowly smiled, a grin spreading across his face as he nodded, finally understanding.

Still beaming, Reddrick felt a swell of pride for coming up with such a grand idea—one Howie couldn’t help but agree to.

"True...once she’s found breathing, he’ll focus more on healing her and taking care of her. The last thing he’ll care about is the lockdown or the guards!" Howie thought to himself, keeping the thought unspoken as he nodded.

"They could even wait until Cain himself invited outsiders to care for her, depending on how badly she was injured. We can’t kill her, though," he concluded, folding his hands and nodding to himself.

Reddrick, still beaming, stood up with a spring in his step, his eyes fixed on the food counter.

"Well! What are you waiting for?" he asked, excitement shining in his eyes as his body radiated anticipation.

’Of course! He would hurt her and have his way with her until he was fully satisfied!’ Reddrick decided as he gestured for Howie to get up, pointing toward the food section of the hall.

"We have work to do, but before then, the best thing we can do is get some food in us!" he said cheerfully, already turning around and walking with steady steps toward the food counter. Howie followed at a slower pace, his mind still preoccupied.

While Reddrick seemed impatient, Howie couldn’t stop turning the plan over in his mind, searching for flaws or potential disasters. Yet no matter how deeply he thought, he couldn’t come up with a better alternative.

Moreover, his lingering need for revenge on the girl who had dared to spit on him burned in his chest. Worse still, they didn’t have the luxury of time to think of anything else that would keep them alive.

’Honestly, she won’t die, but she’ll wish she had!’ Howie thought darkly, a glint of malice in his eyes as he hastened his steps. He chose to focus on filling his stomach and readying his body for the work ahead.