Page 705 of Coal Hearts

I gasped as he hauled me to my feet.

Peter tried to keep hold of me, but Victor merely kicked him in the chest and sent him sprawling. “Tell me, Ilyana, did you truly think you could beat me? That you could ruin my life’s work? You speak too freely and trust too blindly. I know every detail of your planned insurrection. I know you used my kitchens as your little meeting room to discuss how to undermine me. I know you’ve been building little bombs. Bombs that have been gathered and destroyed, by the way. I also know Peter would never have gone along with your stupid plan if he wasn’t in love with you himself.”

Sneering at Peter restrained in Larry’s hold, Victor laughed in my face. “I don’t see the allure, I truly don’t. How did you manage to convince Henri—a man born into this life—to turn his back on his true nature? How did you undermine Peter’s obedience to me? What the fuck is so special about you, huh?” He scanned me from head to toe where I stood lock-kneed before him. He shook me, then let me go and wiped his hands on his trousers. “Tell me that, and perhaps I won’t kill you tonight.”

I wanted to spit in his face, but all I could see was Henri as he passed in and out of consciousness. He wasn’t coherent enough to speak, his eyes hazy with confusion.

God, what if they’d kicked him so hard, his mind was broken as well as his body?

I wouldn’t be able to stand it.

To have Henri alive but brain-dead.

To have him exist but not remember me...

Shuddering with terror, I clamped my lips together and refused to speak to Victor.

I had nothing to say.

“Fine.” Victor nodded as if I’d just confirmed everything he thought of me. “You’re the true rot here, Ilyana. And what must happen to rot?” He leaned so close, his wine-rancid breath gushed over my face. “We cut it out.”

I spoke before I even knew what I was doing. “You want to know why I have more power than you?”

He froze.

“It’s because I’m strong enough to love. Wholeheartedly and unconditionally. That’s what makes me special. That’s why you will never win because love beats evil every time. It will always win. It always has. Love is undefeatable.”

“Well, thank you for that helpful lesson, Ilyana.” He smirked. “But I must ask, are you so sure it always wins? That seems like a big word for an emotion that can end as suddenly as it begins.”

I knew he led me into a trap, but I stepped into it anyway. “Always.”

“In that case, let’s test your little theory, shall we?”

My heart stopped as he snapped his fingers and barked at his guards. “Stand him up. If he can’t stand, then drag him.” Stepping away from me, he pointed at the altar. “Bind him in place.”

“Wait, what?” I flushed with ice. “No, don’t. What are you—”

“Time for a teeny experiment.” He grinned as two guards dragged Henri upright.

Henri let out a blood-curdling scream.

Roland gagged. “Eww gross, his shoulder is dislocated.”

“So it is.” Victor marched toward Henri and slapped him on the cheek. “Hold still.” Eyeing up the two guards bracing against Henri’s weight, he spun around to face the Masters. “Ian. You are or, rather, you were a rugby coach before you made it big with your online sports gambling sites. I assume you’ve had to set dislocated joints before on the field?”

Ian stepped forward, his dark skin soaking up the meagre flickering light. “I have.”

“Fix him, then.” Victor waved at Henri, slumped and sweating in the guards’ hold.

“Why?” Ian wrinkled his nose. “Aren’t you just gonna kill him? Who cares if he dies with a dislocation or two?”

“Why do you think you can ask me questions?” Victor bared his teeth. “Do as I say.”

With a huff, Ian stepped toward Henri and grabbed his wrist.

Henri choked on an agony-filled groan.

“Hold him steady,” Ian muttered as he guided Henri’s arm up straight in front of him with no care or kindness.