Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
“Charming.” Victor licked his lips and looked Henri up and down. “Seeing as your little fantasy will never come true, I suggest you prepare to kneel for my fantasies. Because the girl you love so much? I’ll make her life a fucking misery if you don’t. Oh, and Ily?” Victor pinned his flat blue eyes on me. “The same goes for you. If you misbehave. If you put a toe out of line…Peter will pay your price. What’s that expression? Shit rolls downhill? Just remember that, all of you. Henri’s pain becomes yours, and your pain becomes Peter. As long as no one pisses me off, no one gets hurt. Isn’t that nice?”
Heading toward the barred exit, Victor unlocked it and slipped into the stone corridor. Closing the door, he sighed with contentment. “You know, this all could’ve been avoided if you’d only accepted who you truly are, Henri. But…you turned your back on becoming my equal. You spat in my face at my offer, and I’ve finally accepted your choice. You want to be the good guy? You don’t want to be the monster? Fine. I shall ensure you’re as weak and as worthless as all the others who think they’re better than me just because they follow stupid laws made by wolves ruling a society of sheep. I will make you so far beneath me that you will become dirt beneath my shoe. You will know what it feels like to be truly powerless, and then…then we shall see if you please me enough to live or…”
“Or what?” Henri spat.
“I still have a buyer waiting on a heart, don’t I? I could give him yours instead of Ilyana’s. Hers is safe for now. And Peter is my spare—just in case something unforeseen happens to Ily, and I need another bargaining chip over you. Oh, don’t look at me like that. I’ve seen the friendship blooming between you two.” He tapped his nose. “You forget I am omniscient. You live on my island. You fraternise with my jewels. I know all things. I’m also aware that you wouldn’t go to the same lengths for Peter as you will for Ily, so I warn you not to push me too far. We wouldn’t want her to have an unfortunate accident now would we?”
“Fuck you.” Henri gave him the finger. “You’re a dead man. I don’t know how and I have no idea when, but one day, I will wear your blood.”
“You’re getting repetitive in your old age. But I will accept that you have a vivid imagination. Or is it a hallucination? I can’t tell.”
“It’s neither.” Henri grinned like a madman. “It’s a prophecy.”
“Prophecy?” Victor smiled so wide, so sick, shivers darted down my back. “You know what? I think you might become my favourite, my sweetling. I’m so going to enjoy breaking you.”
Casting his eyes to mine, he bowed. “Ilyana.” He blew a kiss at Peter. “Peter.” His cold, predatory gaze landed on Henri. “Henri.”
With a whistle and a wink, Victor stepped away from the bars. “See you soon, my pets.”
And then, he was gone.
* * * * *
My body believed it was the dead of night.
My mind convinced me the moon was shining, the stars were twinkling, and I ought to be fast asleep like Peter and Henri.
But I couldn’t.
I hadn’t slept well since Victor’s visit a few days ago.
Or at least…I think it’s a few days ago.
I did my best to count down the hours and scratch a mark on the wall, but with the ever-flickering light and the one meal given to us appearing at random times instead of regimented, it was impossible to know for sure.
Peter lay on his side, bundled in his dirty blanket, shivering like we all did. He mumbled in his dreams, his face scrunched up and filthy. Reaching across our touching pillows, I brushed away his hair and rested my equally dirty palm on his temple.
He settled immediately. Just like Krish used to do if he snuck into my room because he couldn’t sleep.
A prickle shot down my spine. The uncanny knowledge of being watched—
Glancing at the bars, I braced myself to see Victor or one of his awful Masters. I had no idea when he was coming for us or what would happen when he did but his promise to see us soon kept echoing in my ears.
But nothing.
The corridor remained as black and as empty as usual. A rat scurried past, its long tail whipping behind it.
Sucking in a breath, I looked across to where Henri slept.
Only…he wasn’t asleep.
His gorgeous grey eyes locked on me, dull and full of pain but brimming with love and affection. “Hey…”
Licking my dry lips, I smiled. “I thought you were asleep.”
“I was.” Swallowing his groan, he shifted to sit upright. “But I felt your stress, and it gave me nightmares.” Leaning back against the frigid rock wall, he scrubbed his face with his hands. His nails were black with dirt and dried blood, his beard thick and hiding half his handsome face. A few threads of silver glittered around his mouth and temples, matching the silver in his eyes.