Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 148397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 742(@200wpm)___ 594(@250wpm)___ 495(@300wpm)
I’d prepared to leave Ily alone—now that we weren’t forced to fuck in front of the man who pulled our strings, we didn’t have to put on a show.
But the first night Victor was gone, Ily broke into a run after dinner.
She darted into the gardens.
I’d caught her in the maze.
She’d cursed me.
I’d forced her to her knees.
She screamed as I fingered her.
And begged as I fucked her.
With no one watching our performance, we didn’t have to be so reckless or so feral.
We could’ve been sweet. Soft. Gentle.
But…Ily was right.
The longer we played these twisted games, the sicker we became.
We were lost.
Well and truly corrupted.
And I had no idea what would become of us if we kept doing this.
* * * * *
THE CURSE OF BLOOD & DARKNESS
by
Henri Mercer
I truly am my father’s son.
The things I’ve done to my jewel.
The things I want to do to my jewel.
I’ve drawn her blood, marked her, whipped her, flogged her, fucked her, and last night…I completely consumed her.
One rose quartz dildo in her ass.
One obsidian phallus in her pussy.
My hard cock in her mouth.
She looked fucking spectacular.
Skewered in three ways.
Teary eyed, body pleading, whimpering, and quivering.
The blackness doesn’t just welcome me anymore, it has become me.
I’m polluted by it.
Defiled by it.
I no longer fear the black because I am the black.
And she is my—
“Oh, I’m so happy to hear you used the gifts I gave you.” Victor reached around the back of the wingback where I sat in the library. His hands landed on my shoulders, giving me a quick massage.
Slamming the laptop closed, I spun in the chair and dislodged his hold. “Do you fucking mind?”
He smirked. “Still not ready to share your manuscript, mon ami?”
“I’ll share when and if I’m ever ready, Vic.”
“Fine. Fine.” He held up his hands and strolled around the library. The soaring shelves of literature wrapped us in paper motes and history. “I’ll let you keep writing your secrets. Just, I’m curious. Tell me, Henri. Tell me what she is…”
“What she is?”
“You said you’ve become the darkness. Which makes me so incredibly happy to hear. I admit you seem far more content these days. But…how do you see her? ‘And she is my…’?” He raised an eyebrow. “What were you going to write before I stupidly interrupted?”
Placing the laptop onto the side table complete with a figurine of a hedgehog, I shrugged. “Guess you’ll never know. That’s the price you pay for reading over my shoulder.”
“Spoilsport.” He chuckled and ran his fingers along one of the dust-free shelves.
My heart kicked as I flicked a look at a section of books where I’d planted one of Rachel’s and Mollie’s presents in the limited-edition shadows last month.
I hadn’t wanted to do it.
Frankly, I thought they were still wasting their time and playing with fire (literally), but…I was all in on our war, and if they wanted me to help plant useless bottles with homemade wicks and dodgy chemistry, I wouldn’t argue.
As long as I kept distracting Victor and gave him no reason to look at the security feed, they would go unnoticed. Even if the bombs didn’t go off, we could use the substances to splash over the carpets and curtains, adding fuel to the fires I intended to set on D-day.
“Do you celebrate Halloween, Henri?” Victor finally stopped pacing and faced me.
“Never. Why?”
“I’m hosting a soiree that night. Only intimate, of course. Nothing too grand. A few of my favourite guests is all. Luckily, events off my island detain many of my friends with their own families, and each year I host a special ceremony for the trusted few I actually like.”
“Sounds fun.” I smirked, ignoring the warning prickles down my spine.
“Oh, it is. Most enjoyable.” He smiled. “However, I’m undecided on a theme. Past years I’ve dabbled with witches and warlocks. The trope of vampire and maiden has been done far too often. As has the devil and his sacrifice. I want to do something different this year. Do you have any suggestions?”
Climbing to my feet, I snagged the laptop and tucked it under my arm. “None, sorry. I don’t really have the imagination for party events.”
“You have plenty of imagination, my friend.” Victor snickered. “I’ve only read a few paragraphs of your book, but I must say, I’m very intrigued to read more.”
I drifted toward the door.
I needed Ily.
Being in the library with Vic reminded me of our very first day here. The hope in her eyes as she asked if I was a cop. The heat in her skin as I spanked her with a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo.
My cock swelled.
I subtly rearranged it.
I’d intended to leave her in the jewel quarters for the afternoon, but fuck it.
I couldn’t relax unless she was near.
Victor followed me as I strode in black flip flops, jeans, and a grey cable-knit jumper through the archway and into the chilly stone corridor. “No suggestions at all? Come now. You’re far better at this than I am.”