Page 397 of Coal Hearts

The awful knowledge that I was the cause of Peter’s pain stopped me dead.

Letting Rachel go, Victor stepped into me and grabbed a fistful of my hair. “The things I would do to you. The breaking you require.” He pressed a smacking kiss right over my lips. “Fuck, it would be my absolute pleasure to shatter you.”

Henri snapped a leash to my collar and reeled me back into him with a steady pull. I choked and stumbled to his side. Hugging me with an arm that offered comfort as well as damnation, he said, “She’s mine to teach, Vic. I thought we’d agreed on that.”

“Oui, oui.” Victor exhaled. “You are in charge of her education, but you haven’t been teaching her, and I’m sick of her fucking attitude. I’ve had it with her disruption. You will get her in line, Mercer. Today.”

“I will.” Henri nodded. “You have my word.”

“Oh, I don’t need your word.” Victor smirked. “I’ll see for myself. Now, Rachel darling, please take Ily to get prepared. You’re both running behind.”

“Yes, Sir V.” She bowed with a wince.

Victor unclipped the leash from her collar and stepped back. “By the way, what do you say to Master H?”

Turning to Henri, Rachel bowed even deeper. “Thank you for showing my Master that I wasn’t trying to trick him into anything. I-It just happened. And...and I’m incredibly grateful to be carrying my Master’s child. If that...if that’s what he wants.” She swallowed hard. “It’s an honour to be the mother of his heir.”

“Yes, yes, away with you now.” Victor rolled his eyes. “We shall see if you’re still pregnant by the end of the day. Then I suppose we’ll have yet another chat. All I seem to be doing lately is conversing with people. I’m getting rather bored.”

“Yes, Sir V.”

“Henri, unhook your jewel. She’s leaving.”

With flared nostrils, Henri obeyed and reluctantly untethered me.

The horrible sensation of no longer being connected to him, even if it was by a stupid piece of leather, cast me adrift.

My stomach churned.

My heart flurried.

And I held his haunted stare as Rachel took my hand and led me away.

Chapter Eighteen

...............................

Henri

NEITHER VICTOR NOR I SPOKE UNTIL Ily and Rachel vanished into the castle.

The moment I couldn’t see her anymore, the icy gale in my chest increased until I swore a blizzard lived inside me.

I’d been bad the past few days.

Positively OCD with my need to keep her close and safe.

I hadn’t been able to touch her.

Talk to her.

I’d reverted to my childhood self that checked out of life and found salvation in the pages of someone else’s troubles.

Books.

Fuck, what would I do without books?

“Right.” Victor clapped his hands and gave me a wink. “Now they’re gone, let’s tell the others what’s on today’s agenda, shall we? They’re going to be oh so pleased.”