Page 570 of Coal Hearts

I saw him.

My twin soul.

Twin flame.

Everything the Vedic astrologer told me that fateful day collided with a heart-shattering implosion.

We would one day destroy each other.

But that day was not today.

Today, we were one, and I could survive this as long as he was near.

He could survive this as long as I was near.

Him with Rachel.

Me with Victor.

Both unwanted but...they didn’t matter.

The only thing that mattered was this. Our connection. Our bond that’d grown like weeds through concrete, tenacious and insidious.

And that? God, that was blisteringly profound.

It’s okay. I half smiled.

I won’t watch. I arched my chin.

It’ll be over soon...

I didn’t know if he could catch my silent words, but he staggered to the side and groaned.

The silence of our stare screeched to a stop, and the world rushed back in.

Victor’s aftershave of musk and tart citrus.

Rachel’s soft presence on the floor.

And the sickening fear in my veins.

“Y-You know what, Vic...” Henri stuttered. “I’m not in the mood to fuck, so Rachel can have a night off.” Squeezing his eyes shut, he opened them again and raked a shaking hand through his hair. “I accept I can’t stop you from claiming Ily. We made a bargain and...fuck. I’m not gonna lie and say I’m okay with it, but...” Wiping his mouth, he sat heavily on the couch. “Just fucking get it over with.”

His eyes met mine.

They glimmered sterling as if he was moments away from tears.

The memory of my vow came back to haunt me.

The day I’d given him a blowjob by the pond, I’d promised to make him weep. To sob.

Was this the catalyst that would break him?

He can’t.

If Victor knew I’d somehow become Henri’s ultimate weakness...

He’ll make him use that Diamond Kiss chit—