Page 82 of Coal Hearts

She no longer looked tortured by electrocution but baptised by it. Flickers of electricity ran in her veins, arcing out and punishing me.

The crackle of awareness between us chose that moment to ignite.

The steady heat and hexing connection.

The sickness drawing me to her.

I felt things.

I felt far too fucking much.

I’d never felt the things she conjured before.

Not for anyone or anything.

I’d spent my lifetime void of emotion.

I supposed loneliness did that to a person.

It nullified hopes, eroded dreams, and smothered life until your heart was dead and empty. However, the way it hurled itself against my ribs the longer I looked at her said it was no longer dead and definitely not empty. The damn thing fucking overflowed.

Victor shifted in his chair. Sunshine bounced off his sunglasses. “She’s clean. And she’s been dosed with contraceptive, like all my jewels. You’re free to partake in any of them that you wish.”

“Great.” I went to stand. “In that case, I’m taking this jewel to my room. I’ll bring her back once I’ve had my fill—”

Victor burst out laughing.

Slapping the table with his palm, he shook his head with another loud snicker. “Oh no, no, no, my naïve friend. New jewels are for everyone to enjoy.”

“But I thought you said—”

“You can have first fuck. You can do whatever you want to her, but you’re not hiding her away behind closed doors. You want to fuck her? You will do it publicly. You will take her until she is sufficiently broken in. Only once she’s surrendered can you enjoy a more private playtime. It’s for your safety as well as hers, you understand.” He grinned. “Besides, part of the fun of breaking them is to watch the breaking. She’s to be displayed so everyone can watch while you do it. Why else do you think I spend such meticulous attention on finding the rarest, prettiest jewels possible? Men and women with degrees and accolades? Girls and boys with blinding bright futures? They glitter the brightest. They glimmer with a certain kind of fire. The moment that fire snuffs out and survival twists into utmost obedience is one of the best moments imaginable.”

His words sank into my gut, corroding with the knowledge that no matter how hard I held on to my humanity.

No matter how quickly Q found us.

No matter what I did to try to protect Ily from myself and these men...

...I would fail.

Spectacularly.

There’d be no way to fake this.

No privacy blankets to spread over us while I pretended to fuck her.

No corners where cameras couldn’t reach where I could pantomime her serving me.

I would have to touch her.

I would have to use her.

Because if I didn’t...another would.

And as fucked up as it was, I was responsible for her.

I’d noticed her.