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)
Smoothing back my longer hair, I sucked in a deep breath and prepared to go back out there. To apologise. To do my best to explain the unexplainable shit inside me.
Only…
A heavy drone.
The telltale growl of an aircraft engine coming in to land.
No…
Bursting out of the bathroom, I spied Ily by the window.
Her face gilded in metallic pigments of red and gold from the setting sun, her eyes never straying from Victor’s private plane as it touched down beyond the wall.
I moved to her side, but we didn’t say a word as the plane came back into view as it taxied on thick grass, its engines screaming in the dusk.
Sighing heavily, Ily hugged her beige knit jumper. Her skin broke out in goosebumps beneath her skimpy black dress. I didn’t think the early autumn chill caused her to shiver but the arrival of monsters.
Masters had returned to indulge in sin and sadism—leaving behind naïve spouses and transforming into animals the moment they arrived.
I shuddered as the drawbridge slowly clanked open, forming a pathway over the moat.
The final spiels of sunset shone through, welcoming the men to step inside and undergo their metamorphosis of evil.
“They’re a few days early,” Ily whispered, her golden eyes full of worry. Flicking me a glance, she forgot the month-long silence between us and murmured, “Do you think Victor will summon you tonight?”
I backed up.
Another clutch of panic fisted my heart.
I couldn’t answer her.
If he requested my presence, I didn’t know if I’d have the strength to perform like last time.
He’d see right through me.
See me breaking…
She sighed and turned to follow me. Gathering her jumper tighter against her, she whispered, “Henri, I…there’s something I need to ask you—”
A soft plop on the carpet by her feet.
Something dull and plasticy, shaped just like the gems from that godawful treasure hunt.
It rolled to a stop by her foot.
Glancing down, she frowned, blinked, then gasped in absolute horror.
“Oh no…God, no.” Dropping to her knees, she tossed her jumper away and snatched the cloudy gem. “Please don’t be what I think this is.” Her hands shook as she cracked open the faceted container as if it was a grenade.
My heart pounded as if she’d pulled out its pin and it would explode at any moment.
“Wh-Where did you get this?” She ripped out the piece of paper inside. “Did you hide it? Do you know what it says? Why didn’t you say anything?”
I frowned, my ears ringing.
In all honesty, I’d forgotten about it.
A maid must’ve placed it in the wardrobe because I didn’t recall what I did with it once I’d carried Ily into the shower and touched her all over, ensuring she was intact after what those bastards had done to her.
When I didn’t reply, she unfurled the chit, staggered to her feet, and tripped sideways.
I caught her elbow on instinct, keeping her standing.
She didn’t even notice me touching her.
Her face shock-white, entire body trembling.
Reading over her, I scanned the small scroll.
This entitles one of Victor’s illustrious guests a rare and exclusive right to a Diamond Kiss. (Terms and conditions to be discussed on what jewel is chosen and time of kiss given.)
With a sharp cry, she grabbed it with both hands and went to tear—
I clamped my fingers around her cuffed wrist, stopping her. “What are you doing?”
Her gaze landed on my lips as if shocked I’d spoken.
She struggled in my grasp. “I have to destroy this. He can’t know you have it.”
“Victor?”
“Yes!” Fighting me, she cried out as I snatched the piece of paper out of her hand. “Henri…don’t. You can’t. You have to get rid of it. Right now.”
“Why?”
Why had this tiny thing sent her into such a tailspin?
Her panic interrupted mine for once, giving me a quick reprieve from the deep, dark depression I couldn’t shed.
“It’s the prize Peter was trying to find in the storm,” she whisper-hissed as if the cameras hadn’t already heard. “If Victor finds out you have this…” She shook her head, flicking a look at the always recording red dot.
Too late…
Her shoulders slouched as she came to the same conclusion. Tears glossed her golden stare. “Is that why you kept it?” She swayed. “Do you…do you plan on using it…with me?”
My heart kicked at her fear, her hatred. “I literally have no idea what you’re talking about.” Rubbing my mouth, I shrugged. “I’ve heard Victor mention a Diamond Kiss before but don’t know what twisted game it involves.”
“It’s murder, you fool,” she hissed, snatching back the chit and trying to hide it. “A Diamond Kiss is murder.”
“Murder?” I tripped back.
A hot tear ran down her cheek.
The inhuman urge to drink it down crippled me.
I stepped toward her without control, my tongue desperate to lick.
Her eyes widened. Her tears stopped. She went to dash past me, but I grabbed her around the middle, pressed my lips to her soft cheek, and captured that salty droplet.