Page 854 of Coal Hearts

Pick up.

Feel me.

Hear me.

Come back.

Another night fell and Rachel helped me to the dining room where we sat down to dinner with my parents and brother along with a fluffy rabbit called Tiger. I forced myself to eat even though I tasted none of it. I tolerated the doctors checking me over and said goodnight as everyone went to bed.

And I stayed up all night, ringing.

* * * * *

Three a.m.

I lay beneath comfy silver blankets alone.

The novelty of being utterly by myself after six months of being surrounded by Masters and jewels left me oddly uncomfortable.

My skin prickled every time I heard a creak or a crack.

I couldn’t stop staring at the door, just waiting for Victor or one of the guards to come barrelling in.

Rachel told me what happened to Victor. How the jewels had left him in pieces, each sharing a role in his demise, but...I couldn’t quite trust that he was gone.

Just like I couldn’t believe Peter was dead.

It didn’t feel right.

He’d survived so much for so long. He’d seemed almost immortal to me.

And yet...whenever I asked Rachel if she was positive Peter died protecting me, she’d burst into tears and could only nod.

I glared at the useless phone in my hands. The brightness of the screen made my eyes ache. All the tears I couldn’t shed sat like a swamp in my chest. I wanted to grieve, but...I couldn’t let myself fall. Not while Henri was still out there. I didn’t think I’d survive mourning for Peter and all the others only to have to mourn him too.

I need you to come back.

Sniffing back the wet pressure within me, my fingers flew over the keyboard for the millionth time. I might not be at full strength yet, but I had enough energy to run to wherever he was in the world if only he told me where.

I texted him.

Adding to the long, one-sided conversation I’d already sent.

Please, Henri. If you get this...I’m okay. It’s Ily. I’m the one trying to ring you. I know you saw my heart stop, but I’m okay. Truly. Please pick up. Please come back. Don’t get yourself killed. I’ll be incredibly mad if you do.

Sighing, I clicked off the screen and tried to sleep.

* * * * *

Five a.m.

I couldn’t turn my mind off.

Climbing out of bed, I went to the window and looked at the pretty countryside blanketed in the dark. Stars twinkled. The same stars we’d looked at when Henri and I took our nightly strolls around the citadel’s gardens.

Are you looking at those same stars, Henri?

Sitting in the chair, I curled my legs up and texted him again.