Page 675 of Coal Hearts

Fury blazed in his gaze before he covered it up with a look of respect and gratitude. “Merci, Vic. I’m...honoured.”

“No, no, my friend, it’s me who is honoured. I’m aware you haven’t given me your answer but I’m making it for you. Congrats on being my son’s godfather. He couldn’t have a better one. Now, drink.” Clinking his glass to Henri’s, he didn’t take his eyes off him as Henri shot it back and cleared his throat.

“Fabuleux!” Tossing his empty glass at Rachel, Victor spread his arms. “And now, gentlemen. If you’ll leave your jewels behind and all follow me. The final part of tonight is ready.” He strode off the stage, his cape wafting like the night as he swooped toward me and Peter.

He reached us before the crowd.

He sucked us into his evil the second he arrived.

Dropping the gentile persona and revealing his true murderous colours, he fisted my wrist and pressed his mouth to my ear. “Did you honestly think I didn’t know, Ilyana? Did you truly think you could get something as ridiculous as escape past me?” He pulled back, clucking his tongue. “And you, Peter.” His eyes snaked to Paavak. “You’ve disappointed me. You’ve gutted me. This is the loyalty you show me after everything I have done for you?” He shrugged and yanked me into him. “So be it. So fucking be it, you two ungrateful little shits. Just remember you’re the ones who forced my hand. You did this. You are responsible for tonight.” His lips pulled back, his voice low and trembling. “You two fucking sicken me. Running around like mice in the dark. Visiting my kitchens. Turning my jewels against me. You must be suicidal to believe you could hide your little games from me. The cleaners? The chemicals? Ha!” He laughed and looked over his shoulder as Henri came toward us.

Keeping his voice too low for Henri to hear, he hissed, “I’m done letting you cause rot in my home. You and your little whispers and rebellions. It was pointless. Useless. You’ve lost and I’ll punish all those you dragged into this fatal little scheme. You want freedom so badly? Well then, you shall fucking have it.”

The guards broke their wall in front of us as Victor stalked forward, dragging me beside him.

Peter let me go.

He fell back.

But Victor said politely, “Guards, please ensure Peter joins us. He’s a guest of honour tonight.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Seamlessly, two black-suited men slipped into place, stepping into line behind me and Victor, blocking Peter between us and preventing Henri from getting too close. Victor grinned over his shoulder. “Are you ready, mon ami?”

Henri vibrated with energy.

His lifeforce didn’t fit inside his suit anymore, his lines blurring with rage.

But he still managed to follow our script.

Managed to act and simper and lie. “Of course, Vic. Looking forward to it. Whatever it is.”

I choked on a sob.

I opened my mouth to scream for him to run.

But two more guards slipped behind Henri before a procession of guests fell behind them.

We were trapped.

Corralled.

Livestock heading to the slaughter.

He didn’t know.

Didn’t hear what Victor had said.

Didn’t hear Victor’s low chuckle as he dragged me through his castle. Or his whisper as cold as snow. “Time to die, little diamond. Let’s go set you free.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

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Henri

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