Predatory Marriage

Chapter 221. Suspense (1)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan

She felt as if she had jumped from a cliff. She didn’t even know how long the fall would be. Maybe it would be an abyss with no bottom. But she wasn’t afraid. She knew this man would catch her.

It was a completely illogical choice, but she had no regrets. Her love for Blain had burned to ashes in the fire consuming her heart, and though it was still trying to hold onto her, she knew that she would be able to get rid of all of it, in time.

I love this man.

She didn’t understand why. She was so attracted to him, it was almost upsetting. She was already in his arms, and she still wanted to be closer.

Ishakan was silent. He seemed almost paralyzed by the request, and she stroked his cheek, pleading.

“Will you take me with you?”

This man considered her his wife. If all the affection he had shown her so far was true, then it should not be such an unreasonable request. But for a long time, Ishakan said nothing, and finally he set her down and lifted up her hand to the level of her face.

Leah bit her lip nervously. What if this had all just been some deception that she had been stupid enough to believe? But suddenly her eyes fixed on the ring on her finger, gleaming subtly in the dark, and she pulled her hand away.

Even with that ring on her finger, she wanted to flee with this man. If she had been in Ishakan’s position, she wouldn’t have believed her, either. Hadn’t she told him over and over how much she loved Blain? Even though she had made her decisions after long thought, her words probably seemed empty, from Ishakan’s perspective. Just as she doubted him, so he must doubt her.

And she couldn’t explain or justify herself. There was no logical reason behind what she was doing. Her excitement bled away, and Leah lowered her head. If he refused her, there was nothing she could do.

After a small eternity, Ishakan finally spoke.

“Leah…”

She had been staring at her feet as if awaiting the pronouncement of her death sentence. Slowly, she lifted her head.

“…I’ll do anything you want.” His eyes were filled with affection, and he took her left hand and lifted it to his lips. “You want to run? Then we’ll just run.”

Determinedly, he kissed her ring finger. He kissed the ring. Then he wrapped his other hand around her waist.

“I don’t care if you love someone else. I don’t care if you say you love that guy for the rest of your life…” His voice was filled with suffering. “I just can’t see you like this anymore, Leah…”

The impact of his emotions was so strong, it shook her heart. Automatically she reached out to him, wanted to comfort him, to hug him for showing her his hurt. But just as she was about to embrace him, a sharp pain stabbed through her belly.

“OW…!”

Gasping, she clutched her belly. She felt this pain every night, but this was different. It felt as if something was slicing at her insides with a knife.

“Leah!” Ishakan grabbed her as she staggered, trying and failing to recover. She wanted to say she was all right, but the pain was so intense she couldn’t speak. Suddenly, she felt something push out from inside her, slipping between her thighs and running down her ankles. When she looked down, it was red.

It can’t be…

There was a wave of desperation, and then nothing.

***

Her eyes gleamed. Nimbly, she scrambled up into a tree as she pursued her fleeing prey. Leaping through the branches, she advanced, passing overhead and leaping to land right in front of her panicking victim. He screamed in terror.

“Ahh…!”

Mura grinned, baring her teeth. One leg shot out, hammering into the target with the wet thud like a watermelon being smashed.

Kurkans found it more natural to attack directly with hands and feet, rather than using weapons. When there were many people watching, they would use swords and bows, but if there were no witnesses, they revealed their true nature.

Mura was indulging her Kurkan self fully. Standing over the corpse with its pulped head, she looked back proudly.

“Did you see that, Haban?”

“Yes! It was perfect!”