Page 722 of Coal Hearts

I jerked.

But Henri said nothing.

Victor smirked. “Your role in my home has now changed considerably. I have no desire to kill you because you are far too entertaining, but you’ve disappointed me. You’ve undermined me, mocked me, and tried to kill me. You’ve proven all over again that I can’t trust anyone. Which means I’m going to personally oversee your breaking to prove a point to myself.”

“I don’t care—”

“The point that I don’t need anyone else. I will soon have my heir, and he can cut his teeth on you as well. By the time I’m done with you, you won’t be recognisable. You’ll be my lapdog, my whore, my thing. You will beg to call me Master. You will submit to my every command. You will bend over and—”

“Like fuck I will.” Henri stepped forward so fast the chain holding him in place clanked. “I will never—”

“Yes, you will.” Victor stalked back to the chair and fisted the keys he’d left there. “Because if you don’t, I will take every one of your punishments and give them to Ily. She’s the one who inspired me. A little experiment to see how far you’ll go for love. I know you wouldn’t have gone far if I only threatened you. Sure, you might’ve given me a blowjob to avoid a nasty lashing. You might’ve obeyed me if it meant avoiding another month down here, but you would never go to the lengths you’ll willingly go to without Ilyana.”

Victor grinned with every drop of evil in his blood. “She’s your true leash, dear Henri, and I intend to use her to make you heel.” He laughed. “I’m rather looking forward to it.”

Henri didn’t look at me. “I’ll kill you. I vow to you on my life, one day, I will fucking murder you.”

“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—