Page 724 of Coal Hearts

I flinched.

That part would never come true. Being together was the reason we hadn’t been destroyed. Even Victor was wise enough to use our bond to prevent us from such destruction. He’d used me as a pawn to keep Henri sane. And used Peter as a pawn to keep me in line. And despite knowing that my presence had only condemned Henri to pain I couldn’t begin to imagine, I was incredibly grateful that in that part of the prophecy, the astrologer was wrong.

God...what’s going to happen next...?

My eyes flicked to the bars again, begging to see something I hadn’t noticed in the thirty-six days we’d been trapped: a forgotten key. An axe to chop our chains. A guard that was on our side, sneaking down here to break us out.

A single tear escaped.

I swiped at it.

Henri sucked in a sharp breath. “God, Ily. Please don’t.”

I nodded and forced an overly bright smile. My voice broke, betraying me. “I’m fine.”

“Fuck, you’re killing me.” He drove both fists into his blanket. “I’d give anything to hug you right now. To hold you. Kiss you.”

“I know.” Sitting taller, I ran my fingers through Peter’s unwashed hair. “Just a weak moment, that’s all.”

Silence fell for the longest time before Henri forced a smile. A sinful, sexy smirk that was far too lighthearted for this sullen place. “You’re still driving me mad, little nightmare. Still filling me full of things I’ve never felt before.”

His old nickname for me could’ve been insensitive...but that was the point. Teasing each other. Trading jokes and stories. Taking the heavy and transforming it into light.

It was how we’d survived this long. Being normal. Being together. Not letting this prison choke us.

“I’m okay.” I gave him a half smile. “Truly. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Did you meditate today? That always helps.”

“I tried, but I can’t seem to calm my mind enough.”

“Me either.” Resting his head against the stone, he sighed. “I just want it over with. The waiting is driving me insane.” He closed his eyes, and silence fell again.

I studied him, searching for signs of fever or regression in his strength.

I longed to check his pulse for myself. To press my ear against his chest and listen to how strong his heartbeat thundered. I needed it to be strong. I needed him to—

“You’re still worrying about me,” he groaned, his eyes still closed. “I can feel it. I told you...stop that.”

I laughed quietly.

It didn’t surprise me that he’d sensed me.

The connection between us no longer shocked or fascinated us.

It was just there.

A link made of love. A bridge between his soul and mine.

I dreaded to think how much that bridge would torment us when Victor’s training began.

Which led me back to my horrors and everything I wanted to say to him but didn’t know how.

Now’s the time.

It might be the only time.

We would never destroy each other, but...watching each other be hurt would definitely achieve it.