Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 130048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Pushing Henri ahead, Victor spun to face me.
I remained kneeling. Peter didn’t take his hand off my shoulder, defiant or perhaps just using me as a crutch.
Victor ran his eyes over both of us, sly and wicked. “Ily, my precious gem, that t-shirt does nothing for you. Please stand, remove it, and follow your Master. Peter…” He scratched his jaw. “Actually, you can come too. I might need your services.”
“Yes, Sir V.” Peter bent in a low bow, almost crashing into the wall as his head swam.
I shot to my feet, ripped off my borrowed t-shirt, then wrapped an arm around him.
His skin burned hot. Sticky with sweat even in the cold castle.
Victor didn’t tell me to release him, and Henri wisely kept his mouth shut.
“Well, this evening just took an interesting twist. Here I was doing some last-minute paperwork and end up with a new game to play.” With a pleased little chuckle, Victor clapped his hands and announced, “Follow me please.” Striding off into the barely-illuminated dark, he didn’t turn to see if we followed.
With an unreadable look in my direction, Henri exhaled heavily and strode to match Victor’s pace while Peter limped forward, pulling me with him.
“Lean on me,” I whispered, hugging him closer. He might be taller than me, but with how lean he was, he probably didn’t weigh much more. I would gladly carry him if that was what it took to get him to safety.
Just hold on, Peter.
Tomorrow…hopefully tomorrow you’ll be free.
Giving me a weary smile, he slung his arm over my shoulder and allowed me to brace him. He winced as his cut skin stuck to mine through my negligee, no doubt stinging like hell.
I wanted to ask him if he was okay, but really, what a useless question.
I already knew the answer and couldn’t do anything about it.
I squeezed his waist instead.
He sighed.
Up ahead, Victor laughed at something Henri must’ve said. His French accent oozed like sickening maple syrup. “You know what I think you need?”
“What do I need?” Henri asked dryly.
“You need to play a little game I like to call Ruby Tears.”
Peter instantly stiffened beside me.
“And what exactly is Ruby Tears?” Henri sniffed.
“You’ll see.” Victor smiled. “By the time dawn crests, I’ll know, once and for all, if this is truly where you belong or if you’ve been playing me for a fool all along.”
“Can’t wait,” Henri muttered.
Victor chuckled and led us deeper into the dark.
Every step, Peter breathed a little harder, hugged me a little closer. The stress pouring off him seemed to be focused on me, not himself.
By the time a doorway appeared up ahead, he fumbled in his trouser pocket and jerked me to a stop. “Wait.”
My eyes shot to his as he fisted something. “What is it? Are you okay?”
Crowding me against the wall, he winced. “This is for your own good.”
“What—” I gasped as his hand slammed over my mouth. Yet another man to gag me, but unlike Henri who kept me silent, Peter forced something smooth and oblong onto my tongue.
My eyes bugged as sourness exploded.
I thrashed under his hold.
I tried to spit out the pill.
“Ily, please.” Pinching my nose and clamping even harder over my lips, he pressed his mouth to my ear. “Swallow it. Do it. Do it now.”
I gagged and gasped.
I struggled.
But he was too strong.
It only took a few seconds for wobbly fog to creep over my mind. For my system to screech for air. For every instinct to go into survival mode.
My lungs burned.
My eyes watered.
“Please, Ily,” he choked. “Swallow it. I beg you.”
Air.
I need air!
My nervous system overrode me.
I swallowed automatically.
The moment he saw my throat contract, Peter let me go.
Just in time as Victor turned to look at us and Henri narrowed his eyes.
Tension whipped down the corridor.
Coughing on betrayal and swiping at tears, I couldn’t look at anyone.
With predatory calculation, Henri sniffed the air as if he could sense something had just happened. He glowered at me, then Peter, but he didn’t ask. Didn’t suspect that Peter had just drugged me against my will.
Breathing hard, hating the tablet lodged in my gullet, I kept my eyes down.
“Everything okay, pets?” Victor finally asked. “Did you fall?”
“I’m fine, Sir V.” Peter bowed his head. “A little trip, that’s all.”
Henri snorted as if he didn’t believe him.
Victor cocked his head, his greying blond hair almost silver in the night. “Do try to be careful.” With an elegant spin that sent his dressing gown twirling around his legs, Victor placed his hand on a brass handle and opened a door thick enough to be the entrance to a vault.
“After you, Ward.” He bowed gallantly and waited for Henri to stop glaring at me. Reluctantly, Henri turned and stepped over the threshold.
Victor followed, both of them disappearing.
For a single heartbeat, Peter and I were alone in the corridor.