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)
Moving to stand behind Peter, he placed his disgusting hands on Peter’s shoulders.
Peter choked on a sob, bowing his head.
“Tonight, gentlemen, Peter will perform his final duty as our cleaner. He has disappointed me and lost my trust. The other jewels will be punished for their role in their futile little war, but I have no doubt the unrest stems from these two. And so…if any man present would like to give him a Diamond Kiss later this evening, you are more than welcome to bid once he has cleaned up what will be left of Ilyana.”
Reaching over Peter’s shoulder, Victor kissed him softly on the cheek. “I’m being kind to you, Paavak. I could keep you alive after this. I could make you live a long, long life haunted by the memories of the girl you love. The girl you watched be turned into a jewel. The girl whose intestines slithered through your hands as you tossed them into the sea.”
He sighed and let Peter go. “What do you say, my pet? Come now, don’t be shy.”
With tears dripping down his cheeks, Peter raised his chin and tore off his crystal mask. Throwing it onto the floor, he hissed, “Fuck you to motherfucking hell.”
Victor nodded. “I expected you were holding that in for a while.” He chuckled and patted his cheek. “Doesn’t that feel better?”
“I fucking hate you. I hope you fucking rot.”
“Not before you, I’m afraid.”
My own tears spilled.
I looked back at Henri.
He hadn’t moved.
Gaunt and blinking at the knife in his shaking hands.
Victor returned to him.
He slung his arm around Henri’s waist. “Come now, my friend. You won this. I saw you find the chit and also saw you tear it up. That was the moment I knew you had to do this. Not because I wish to cause you pain but because this is the only way you can be free of her.”
Grabbing Henri around the nape, he said kindly, “I know this is hard. Believe me, I loved once too. And you know what cured me of that nasty affliction? Death. The moment I drove a dagger into her heart, I felt such relief, mon ami. No more humanity holding me back. No more doubt. No more fear. I stepped into my power. And now…it’s time for you to step into yours.”
Taking Henri’s wrist, he dragged him toward me.
He pushed and directed until Henri stood over the altar, his shoulder brushing Peter’s.
I couldn’t look away from him.
I couldn’t read him, hear him, feel him.
He’d checked out. Burned out. Gone.
Please be okay.
Please don’t let this break you.
No response.
Not a single blink.
“It’s time, mon ami.” Victor guided Henri’s hand and the knife to my belly. “Allow me to tell you how this will go. With that knife, once you’ve faceted and transformed her, you will cut right here.” He drew a line with his finger over the softest part of my belly.
I gasped.
Twitched.
Bit my bottom lip until I tasted blood.
“You will slice through her stomach and reach up through her ribcage. While she is still alive, you will grab her beating heart and tear it from her. As she dies in your hand, you will kiss those beautiful lips and let her go. And then…” Pulling a huge diamond from his pocket, Victor held it up. “You will insert this into her empty cavity. A heart for a heart. Meat traded for a gemstone. She’ll become priceless, and you? You will finally be free.”
With a wicked smile, he backed up and bowed. “She’s ready for you, my dear friend. Make the first cut. Let’s begin.”