"Sir… Larkin," Mantis gasped, his voice trembling with pain. "It hurts… please… pull the blade out."
Damian's eyes remained cold as he watched the man struggle. After a moment, he slowly withdrew the blade from Mantis's side.
Mantis groaned, his body jerking forward from the sudden movement.
Before he could attempt anything else, Maurice stepped in quickly and forced Mantis's hands behind his back, securing them with a pair of iron cuffs.
Damian leaned closer. With a firm grip, he seized Mantis's face, his fingers digging into the man's cheeks and forcing his mouth open. The pressure made Mantis wince.
"Now listen carefully," Damian said in a low, dangerous voice. "You are going to tell the carriage driver to change the route."
Mantis's eyes widened.
"You will give him the exact direction I tell you," Damian continued, his grip tightening.
Mantis nodded frantically, fear overtaking the pain in his body.
Damian then quietly told him the route they wanted the carriage to take.
