Page 291 of Coal Hearts

Peter blinked as if he’d never heard such an offer. “Eh, are you sure?”

“Are you questioning my command?”

“No, Sir V. Never.” Climbing to his feet, Peter kept his eyes downcast. “W-What should I do?”

“Whatever you like.” Victor shrugged. “You’re free from service until tonight. Go sleep. Go sunbathe. Go for a fucking swim for all I care. All I ask is you relive the mess you caused and strive to do better.” Patting his cheek, Victor sighed dramatically. “Actually, you know what? The air in here is a little too serious for my taste. I think we all deserve a little fun.”

Ily sucked in a breath, sensing the underlying monstrosity of his tone.

“I think a treasure hunt is in order, don’t you?”

Peter couldn’t hide his cringe. “Y-Yes, Sir V.”

“I’m putting you in charge of arranging it. You know the typical rewards. Gather up as many prizes as you see fit and scatter them around the estate. You know what I expect.” Grabbing Peter’s collar, his gentille persona vanished. “And don’t think you can just include prizes that benefit you and yours. Include prizes for my guests too, please. Otherwise, we’ll have to have another discussion.”

Peter shuddered. “Yes, Sir V.”

Letting him go, Victor wiped his hand on his trousers. “By the way, were you in any way responsible for Ily’s strange condition last night?”

The question was phrased so gently but a quiver of daggers rested inside.

Peter glanced at Ily. He opened his mouth—

“I let fear override my common sense,” Ily snapped. “He didn’t do a damn thing.”

Victor grinned. “You know, loyalty toward a friend over loyalty toward a Master often leads to the worst pain of all.”

Her nostrils flared.

Looking back at Peter, Victor said suavely, “You know I’m aware of your illicit apothecary, correct?” He chuckled as Peter stiffened into concrete. “Relax. I’m not going to punish you for it or even take away the pills you hide in your pillowcases. I tolerate Dr Belford’s substance smuggling because when one of you self-medicates, my guests always comment what a good fuck you were.”

Rearranging his cock, Victor shrugged. “I even partook in one myself when Rachel came to me a few nights ago. It was...fun.”

“I...” Peter scrambled for something to say, lost for words. “I, eh...” Flicking Ily a look, he finally found courage and blurted, “I drugged Ily without her permission. That’s why she reacted so strangely.”

Wait, what?

I studied her closely.

So that was why she fought?

Why we both snapped?

I snickered at the serendipity.

Victor got me drunk, and Peter got Ily high.

It seemed those two ingredients granted me the perfect panacea to be free.

Have to try it again sometime.

“I thought you did.” Victor nodded sagely, then turned to Ily. “What did he give you, sweetling? And why did you react so badly? Only for my records of course. I have a vested interest in your mental and physical health.” He sighed as if it truly dismayed him. “Tina kept things from me once, and it turned out she had a rare type of aggressive cancer. If only she’d told me sooner, I might have been able to treat her.”

“Perhaps she took the sickness as her ticket to freedom?” Ily hissed. “There are far worse things than dying.”

Peter shot her a warning look.

“Yes, there are.” Victor nodded. “So I suggest you keep that in mind when I’m being so cordial and forgiving. I know you’re still new, and that fire of yours will most likely reemerge now that you’ve seen the truth of Henri’s lies, but I suggest you think long and hard about being argumentative.”