Her quivering, tearful voice caused both men to be captivated. To them, she was such a rare find.

Her voice was so appealing that they hesitated to silence her again.

The mere thought of her screaming excited them.

Pleased, Silas caressed Raegan's pale face with a lewd smile, saying, “Don't worry. If you comply, you won't suffer much. We'll be very gentle..."

As he spoke, his hand trailed down from Raegan's cheek to her neck, then creeping further...

His rough touch felt Like venomous scorpions skittering across her skin.

Raegan shuddered, her skin crawling.

Her voice quivered as she pleaded, "Sir, can we not do here?"

Silas cast a wary look at Raegan. Raegan complained, still trembling, "The ground is littered with stones. It's unbearably uncomfortable."

Silas surveyed Raegan and noticed her feet were bleeding, leading him to surmise she must have stumbled earlier.

Moreover, the ground was indeed strewn with rough, uneven rocks.

Neal, growing increasingly impatient, gripped Raegan by the collar, exclaiming with annoyance, “You're exasperating. I'll begin first."

With that, he hauled Raegan toward a smoother area.

Raegan's tears flowed as she implored in a hushed tone, “Neal, please, ease up. Don't pull me. The ground is scattered with stones. I can walk on my own."

Her gentle voice caused Neal to lose his composure.

There was something about being called by name by a lovely, melodious voice that everyone found endearing.

Neal ceased dragging Raegan and instead gestured toward a clearing, instructing tersely, "Lie down quickly. The cold is biting."

He took off his pants, and the mountain's drastic shifts in temperature from day to night had him shivering.

Obediently, Raegan nodded and advanced, keeping her hand struggling against the grip of the rope.

The binding Silas had secured earlier wasn't too tight, and her wrists were slender, allowing her to loosen most of it already.