Total pages in book: 207
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
Crystal’s fingers moved like scissors snapping a thread.
“Just like that, and...” She gripped Soleil’s hair and used it to yank Soleil’s head back.
In Soleil’s bedroom, her body experienced the same thing, and her sisters cried out.
“And now, it’s time for my revenge,” Crystal whispered. “The wraiths told me a secret, and it’s made me realize that death is too good for you.”
A knife appeared in front of Soleil, hanging in the air.
Crystal sang out, “Can you hear me, milord?”
Ilie stiffened at the sound of the disembodied voice that came out of nowhere. He didn’t hesitate, snarling in a low voice, “Tell me what you fucking want, and I’ll do it.” His heartkeeper’s soulless scent had told him what he needed to know, and that was that he was at this person’s mercy, whoever she was.
“Do you see, Soleil?” Crystal’s tone was admiring. “That is how you do it. You go straight to the point and don’t bother about the whys or hows. As expected, from a selfish demon.”
Soleil started to shake her head but stopped when the knife pressed closer to her throat.
“You’re crazy,” she gritted out.
“No.” Crystal’s tone turned kind. “I am not. I simply do not feel, but I have never been more sane.”
The knife began to slit Soleil’s throat.
The marquis’ face whitened when he saw a line of blood appear on Soleil’s neck.
“If you speak,” Crystal cautioned, “you will only quicken your death. You may be his heartkeeper, but the process hasn’t been completed yet. You can still die. It will only take longer than usual.”
Tears ran down on both faces of Soleil.
Crystal called out to the marquis, “Now, milord, I actually do not have to do this if I trusted you to tell the truth. But I don’t. And so it has to be this way.”
Ilie had his hand pressed against Soleil’s throat in a futile attempt to keep it from bleeding. “What do you want?” he asked savagely. “Whatever it is, it’s yours.”
“Just answers,” Crystal answered sweetly. “And you must tell the truth. I shall know if you do not speak of the truth, and when that happens—-”
The knife moved another inch, and the line of blood grew longer.
Ilie’s fist clenched. “Yes,” he bit out. “I will speak nothing but the truth.”
“Then...have you ever lied to Soleil?”
What the hell? Ilie knew it was a trap, but he also knew he had no other recourse except to play along. He snapped, “Yes.”
“Was it about heartkeeping?”
His face hardened. “Yes.”
What could Ilie have lied to her about? Soleil tried to make sense of Ilie’s answers even as her vision started to waver. She did her best to keep still, to not breathe too much or do anything that would cause the knife to cut deeper.
Crystal’s gaze locked with hers.
Listen closely, those crazy eyes whispered playfully. And then out loud, she asked the marquis, “What is the lie about, milord?”
Ilie’s lips compressed.
“Don’t dare me—-”
He said tightly, “That I have met another heartkeeper before her.”
Soleil jerked in her seat.
The knife slid sharply to the right.
Pain exploded inside of her.
The marquis roared, “No!”
“Oh, dear. That wasn’t even me.” But Crystal’s eyes were alight with joy as she watched Soleil’s blood gush out. “I apologize for the pain, but we are not yet finished.”
“Then what else do you want?” Ilie demanded. “Tell me, just stop hurting her—-”
Raising her voice, Crystal asked, “Was it not Georgina – the woman also promised to the demon duke – who is your heartkeeper?”
“Yes, damn you!” As he spoke, he watched tears start to streak down Soleil’s sleeping face. His chest constricted. “Soleil—-”
But his heartkeeper’s attacker was already asking him another question.
“Did you not continue to love that woman even when you had already met your second heartkeeper?”
“Yes!” More tears fell, and Ilie felt like each tear burned him alive. “I’m sorry, Soleil, but yes. It’s true.” He gazed down at his heartkeeper’s lifeless body. “So fucking let her go if that’s all you want to hear—-”
Crystal whispered to Soleil’s ear, “And there you have it. Live with that knowledge, and enjoy your happy ever after with your demon.”
Soleil closed her eyes.
When she opened them, she was back in her bedroom, and the marquis was staring at her throat.
Her lip trembled at the effort it took not to cry out loud. She touched her throat and didn’t feel any pain or laceration. The only thing that hurt right now was her heart.
“Soleil?”
The hurt worsened. How could it be that hearing her name on his lips hurt more than a stab in the heart?
Ilie reached for her, but she jerked away from his touch.
When he stiffened in shock, she had an even greater urge to cry. “I’m s-sorry,” Soleil whispered. “I know I owe you my life. I know I have no right...but just...”
“No, ma lisse—-”
And that...that hurt even more.