Chapter Twenty
………………………….
Henri
WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?
Code?
Commiseration?
Peter couldn’t hide his rebellion even while wearing bandages, and Ily…
Fuck.
Blackness poured over my mind as I glanced at her jog-tripping beside me.
What was she trying to do? Get herself killed?
Her arm was so slight and cool in my pinching fingers. Her body exquisitely beautiful beneath the beige jumper she’d slipped into. The same jumper where the Diamond Kiss chit had waited. The hem kissed her upper thighs as I pulled her faster, the flash of a white G-string visible as I hauled her over the grass.
The minute she’d spoken back after a month of pandering to me.
The second she told me to fuck myself, my entire body roared to life.
The desperation to throw her on the table again and repeat what’d happened the night of the treasure hunt splintered my bones.
It’d been too long. Far, far too long since I’d been inside her.
Despite the misery of the new jewels and the horror that I couldn’t do a damn thing to save them, all I could think about was kissing her. The moment our eyes met, and all her fire tangled with mine—the second her slur burned my blood…all my self-control sizzled into rusty dust.
Only her.
Just her.
No one else had the power to invoke such heat inside me. Such an uncontrollable combustion that seared around my despair, set alight all my blackness, and gave me a reprieve…just for a moment.
And that tear?
Are you fucking kidding me?
I went past blazing and straight to conflagration.
I didn’t stop jogging until we reached the castle’s east corner. Ily slowed beside me as I eyed up the large portico with potted manicured trees flanking yet another door. Unlike the modern sliding doors leading from the ballroom and dining hall, this one looked ancient. The heavy wood pockmarked and chipped as if some long-ago invader tried to hack at it with an axe.
I had no idea where it led, but I wanted privacy.
I needed Ily alone.
Now.
She didn’t say a word as I yanked open the door, and we stumbled into a room.
Vaulted ceilings, swept-back bronze curtains, metallic threaded tapestries, and a giant amethyst geode all glittered in the soft glow of two huge chandeliers.
And the best part…it was empty.
Pulling Ily deeper into the room, the outside door banged shut, wrapping us up in the silence of stone, plush tan leather couches, a huge fireplace with stone foxes, and rugs thick enough to sleep on.
Guiding her to one of the couches, I pushed her down and sat close enough for our knees to touch.
I went to speak, but she tipped up her chin, and her eyes flashed with gold. “Do you know this is the first time you’ve sat me on a chair like a normal person instead of making me sit by your feet like a dog?”
I frowned, ready to argue.
I needed to argue.
Arguing could be the lifeline to pull myself out of the swamp I’d fallen into.
I choked on all the things I wanted to say, but the shackles of shadow slowly came back, trickling through my mind, gifting me yet more memories that I’d blocked out.
I’d accepted her kneeling by my feet—not because Victor expected his jewels to assume such a subservient position but because…I’d been raised that way.
I’d watched my father snap his fingers and witnessed how our mothers would crawl for him. I’d often filled up a dog bowl at his command, cutting up pieces of decadent food that they had to eat face first and ass up.
I groaned and rubbed my eyes.
How could I tell her that those memories were no longer forgotten thanks to trauma-amnesia protecting me? That they were now brightly lit and centre stage in my head? How could I confess that the longer I stayed here, the more my past knitted with my present and made all this so normal for me?
So fucking normal, which only made my grief so much worse.
Because I didn’t want this normal.
I didn’t want Ily on the floor.
I didn’t want her jumping at my every command.
I might want to rule her, but I wanted her to rule me right back. I wanted her to leash the despicable darkness inside me by being stubborn and brave and wonderfully unafraid.
And then I’d do my best to make her cry—
Ah, Jesus Christ.
Dragging my fingers through my hair, I rested my elbows on my knees and looked away.
Had the cufflinks managed to alert my brother yet?
Was he coming, or did I need to throw them farther than just over the wall?
Maybe I should retrieve them and find a way to strap them to the leg of one of the pigeons that roosted on the carved gargoyles outside our bedroom. They could fly above the net of no internet and send an SOS because I couldn’t exist this way much longer.
And I couldn’t die until Ily was safe.
If you’re coming, brother, you need to hurry.
Squeezing my skull, I shook as the urge to crack open my brain and systematically slice out all the pieces of my past became overwhelming.
“Henri…” Ily’s fragile hand landed on my thigh. “Are you…do you have a headache? I can get you something—”
“You’re asking me if I’m unwell?” I dropped my hands and caught her worried stare.
Biting her lip, she pulled her hand back. “Yes, well, you look like death warmed over.”
I flinched at that word.
Was it normal for someone to crave such a thing? To long for death like one longed for a good night’s sleep or a holiday? The peace that would come from being free of this body, this mind, this soul. I just wanted to dissolve into the darkness and be done with it.
A slithery, sinning part of me wrapped around my voice box. I sounded flippant and cruel when every damn molecule begged for help. “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
God, what would I give to just talk to her. To blurt it all out there. Probably sob like a pussy as I recounted why I was the way I was and that there was no cure.
I’d hoped she was my cure.
That the moment I understood what the scratchy, searing mess in my heart meant that I’d be miraculously freed from this black-tinged disease.
But no.
I still wanted to hurt her despite my despair.
I still wanted her blood on my tongue regardless of my nightmares from my father doing the same damn thing to countless screaming, sobbing women.
I wasn’t just fucked up.
There wasn’t a word for what I was.
I needed to be exterminated before it was too late.
Reclining against the settee, I sucked in air. I still tasted the toxic terror from the new jewels. Fresh marks glowing on previously un-scarred skin—faces that couldn’t quite believe what’d happened, quickly shutting down to become empty shells.
An image of Ily breaking that way haunted me.
None of the other jewels made eye contact with me. Not even Rachel or Mollie.
Peter dared look at me, but his stare reeked of judgement and something I couldn’t quite decipher.
“You did come for us. You’re going to free us. I know it—”
Fuck!
Pushing that awful echo out of my mind, I leapt to my feet and paced in front of the fireplace.
Ily stayed on the couch, watching.
The tension between us dragged out until it twanged like a screeching violin string.
“Why did you bring me in here, Henri?” she finally asked.
I stopped dead and balled my hands.
My eyes zeroed in on her dry cheek. “You cried.”
Her shoulders swooped back. “And you figured you’d what? Bring me here and see if you could make me cry harder?”
I groaned at the thought. I hardened at the image.
I’d made the choice to bring her to this hellhole.
I wore the crime of my past.
Yet I couldn’t stop the idiotic boy inside me getting on his knees and pleading with her to fix me. To give me her tears so I might find salvation in this storm. To cry for me and scream at me. To kneel for me and curse me.
Fucking hell.
My stomach clenched.
Familiar sourness tainted my tongue.
Was a bathroom close by because the beer turned rancid in my gut.
I hated that the Masters were back.
I despised that Victor had returned, and instead of feeling fear, I actually felt a smidgen of relief. While he lurked around every corner, I had to keep my wits. Had to remember how to act. Had to actually speak instead of giving every word to my useless manuscript. But the real reason was…while he groomed me and pushed me, I could give myself grace because I wasn’t the worst one in the room anymore.
He was.
The internal double doors leading to yet another dayroom suddenly sprang wide and in he walked, summoned by my thoughts.
“Ah!” Victor opened his arms, a black and silver bag dangling from his left hand and a familiar leather leash in his right. Rachel trailed docilely behind him, her collar clipped to her beaming, well-rested Master. “There you are! Why did you run off, my dear Henri? Was it something I said? You’re missing the canapés and entertainment.”
I flicked a look at Ily.
Her face turned unreadable; eyes narrowed.
I searched her gaze for that spark of fire that always singed me. I wished I could rewind time and actually give her an answer when she asked me to play along with her. I wished I could make her feel anything but hate.
I didn’t want Victor in the same room as her, but I was tired. So motherfucking tired of swimming against this black undertow and it took every effort. All my self-control to swallow down the misery and mayhem and step back into my expected role.
“Vic. Sorry, I…I needed to reprimand Il—”
I cut myself off.
I hadn’t said her name since she’d told me what it meant.
I still couldn’t say it.
Had Victor watched the camera feed while he’d been away? Would he watch them now like some bad daytime soap opera? I wasn’t stupid enough to think he wouldn’t check on me. A month with no chaperone? He’d be curious, and I already knew he’d find me lacking.
“Come. Sit, sit.” He moved to the second settee facing the one Ily sat on.
Narrowing his eyes at her sitting on the couch instead of on the floor, he grinned slyly. “I wasn’t aware you’d had a promotion, Ily sweetling.” He cocked his head. “Tell me, are you still defying your Master, or did he give you permission to perch on my furniture?”
Marching back to her, I sat down, planted my hand on her thigh, and forced a grin. “I sat her there. It’s, eh…easier access.”
“Oh, yes. I see what you mean.” Victor patted the tan leather beside him and smiled at Rachel. “Come here, my little incubator. Henri is right. I’ll be able to touch you better with you beside me, and…I suppose you will require certain concessions, seeing as you’re currently cooking my heir.”
“Yes, Sir V. Thank you.” Rachel shot Ily a look as she sat elegantly beside Victor. Folding her hands primly in her lap, she cupped her lower belly. The see-through white teddy she wore couldn’t hide the faintest shadow of her bump.
Victor undid the button of his blazer and groaned. “Mon dieu, it’s good to be home.” With a yawn, he cupped Rachel’s breast and ran a thumb over her nipple. It pebbled instantly.
He sighed with a happy smirk. “Have you missed me as much as I’ve missed you, my darling?”
Rachel blushed and fluttered her eyelashes, seduction all over her. “Every day has been miserable without you, Sir V. I’m so glad you’ve come home to me.”
With a sharp twist of his fingers, Victor pinched her breast until she flinched. “You’re putting it on a little thick, my pet.” Grabbing her chin, he whispered loud enough for all of us to hear. “I’m aware you have days where you genuinely care for me. Once, I would’ve sworn you loved me, but…you can’t hide the truth in your eyes, and that truth will one day get you killed.”
Keeping her lashes lowered, she licked her lips. “Yes, Sir V. I’m sorry. And…and you’re right that I do have feelings for you. I…I’m grateful you let me live.”
“Yes, well…there’s always tomorrow to change my mind, isn’t there.” He kissed her cheek, then let her go. Kicking out his long legs, he smiled in my direction. “So tell me, Henri. Have you enjoyed having my home all to yourself? Have you been a good boy? Haven’t killed anyone or gone behind my back with yet more secrets?”
My pulse skipped. “Nope.” I reclined against the soft leather. “I’ve been impeccably well behaved.”
“And Ilyana?” Victor looked at her, a glint appearing in his blue eyes. “Have you behaved yourself?”
Without looking at Victor, she shot Rachel a smile and didn’t reply.
She bristled with defiance.
Yearning snarled through my blood.
Merde, I’d missed this part of her.
I’d forgotten how hard her strength made me.
My palm twitched.
The thought of punishing her all while begging her to continue being rebellious…
Fuck, you’re twisted.
Clearing my throat, I said, “She’s not much of a talker these days, I’m afraid.”
“Oh?” His eyes skated to Ily. “Why is that? Have you finally made headway on those obedience trainings? How far along have you gotten with her discipline?”
The urge to lie came thick.
But he’d see the truth on the cameras.
“To be honest, I’ve been rather busy. I’ve been writing a lot, and time tends to slip away when I’m in that zone, you know?”
A pinch appeared between his eyebrows. “You’re saying you chose work over fucking? Oh no, no, Henri, that won’t do at all. All work and no play is not conducive to a happy environment. I myself work hard but still carve out time to play. It’s sacrilegious not to give in to our urges.”
Ily didn’t say a word.
Victor sniffed. “Of course, I’m happy you’ve had a chance to pursue other interests, but it pains me that you haven’t made better progress with our jewel or looked after yourself.”
Our?
I stiffened.
He wouldn’t…would he?
Icy water shot down my back at the thought of him asking for a turn with Ily now that he was home.
When I didn’t—couldn’t—reply, he added, “What happened to the ownership levels we spoke about? Are you ever going to instil good behaviour, or do I have to do it?”
I tried to come up with an answer that would satisfy him.
I couldn’t tell him the thought of her broken scared the living shit out of me.
How was I supposed to discipline and dominate her when I wanted to keep her as vibrant and violent as possible?
You don’t.
It would be an open pass to shatter her.
Glancing at the fading shades of yellow and green on her skin, I muttered, “It took a while for her to heal.” I shrugged. “Her bruises were extensive. My bicep also took a while to knit together, and my ribs still hurt. I figured a small time of abstinence would be a good thing.” Smiling, I squeezed her knee, making her jump. “But now that you’re back, the urge to play is returning quicker than I anticipated.”
I hated that was true.
It’d been a long month of no sex.
And now…my body had a hunger growling deep within it. Heat throbbed between my legs, and my stomach twisted with other sensations, not just sickness.
“That’s because you still don’t trust yourself.” Victor clucked his tongue. “I represent the freedom you’re still not brave enough to take. Come now, Henri. I would’ve expected you to be over that little obstacle of your subconscious.” He sighed almost sadly. “I don’t like the thought of you struggling. I don’t like the idea of you being lonely all on your own. Tell you what. We will spend the evening together, just the four of us. What do you say?” He smiled kindly. “We can catch up, have a few drinks, maybe a few fucks. I’m happy to be home but I’m not in any rush to hang out with those ingrates. I’m still annoyed at them, but you…” He bowed his chin. “You—the brother of my greatest enemy—have somehow become my friend.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Your friend?”
“I know. Shocking to me too.” He chuckled. “While I was away, I had time to think, and…my conclusions took me by surprise. I thought I was beyond the need of a genuine friend. Those with that label surround me. I have many acquaintances all around the world and some in very powerful positions that enable me to live the life I do, but…” He sighed. “Until you came along, I wasn’t aware how empty those relationships were.”
I blinked.
I had nothing to say.
My mind completely shut down, unsure how to play this.
“Here.” Victor snatched the black and silver bag he’d placed by his thigh. “I bought this for you.” He tossed it in my direction.
Catching it, I cocked my head. “Been shopping while hunting, Vic?” Catching his eyes and ignoring Ily beside me, I forced myself to ask, “Where have you been? Where did you find your new jewels?”
He shrugged with a secretive smile. “I will admit business has been good. And not just in my safari for new gems. It’s been a good month all round.”
“Care to share?”
He chuckled. “Always so curious.”
I did my best to remember how to play this game. I forced a chuckle. “I think you mean nosy.”
He laughed louder. “Yes, your nose is definitely rather large.”
“It seems your guests missed you.” I forced more small talk. “I overheard them taking bets last night on how many jewels you’d return with.”
“Oh? And what figure did you wager on?”
“I didn’t.”
“Shame.” He swiped a finger over his bottom lip. “You say my guests missed me, but did you?”
“Like one misses a root canal,” Ily quipped under her breath.
She flinched as if she hadn’t meant to say anything.
Rachel made a strangled noise.
Ily’s shock coupled with my brittle mood made a half grunt, half chuckle escape my lips.
Not funny, you idiot.
Fuck.
Ily shot me a look.
Something blistering, burning passed between us.
Victor sniffed. “If you missed me that much, Ilyana, perhaps I should reward your affection with a ride, hmm?”
She sucked in a breath.
My heart stopped.
Victor didn’t move, but his smile turned sharp. “I think you both got a tad too comfortable in my absence. All work and no play equals unruly, naughty jewels.”
Balling my hands, I growled with far too much truth. “She’s exactly how I want her.”
Ily threw me a bewildered look before dropping her gaze to her knees.
Victor scowled. “I see your argumentative self is still flourishing, mon ami. You’re like two peas in a pod.”
That damn sickness rushed up my gullet. “Sorry, Vic. I just mean she’s—”
“As spicy as ever.” Victor shrugged away whatever he’d been thinking. “No matter. I’ve grown rather used to her audacity. It’ll be a sad day when you finally whip that flagrant rudeness out of her. I admit…I do enjoy her spirit.”
Once again, my voice deserted me.
“Go on, Henri.” He arched his chin at the forgotten bag in my hands. “Open it. It’s merely a trifle for my favourites.”
“Favourites?”
“Of course. You and your little nightmare make this place highly entertaining.” Shifting his smile to Rachel, he commanded softly. “You may kneel now, my pet.”
“Yes, Sir V.” Rachel instantly folded off the couch, her breasts bouncing a little beneath her teddy. She was a stunning woman, but everything about her subservience turned me off.
I hated that Ily had adopted such traits.
That she’d thought the way to seduce me was to be like them when the opposite was true. If she’d slapped me instead of kneeled for me? Kicked me instead of ‘accidentally’ dropped her towel? Fuck, the past month would’ve been a very different story.
Ily and Rachel shared another look, and without a word, Ily dropped elegantly to the carpet and bowed her chin. She went without my command. She went because Rachel did.
The urge to drag her onto the couch was unbearable.
The desire to slap her awake from whatever submission she thought I wanted had my teeth clenching and cock twitching in my jeans.
I wished I could reverse time and never hug her the night she was high. Never kiss her. Never meet her at the club because every day I spent in her company, I died a little more. I died because I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe because she’d stolen everything.
Victor eyed Ily kneeling demurely, her slouchy jumper puddling around her thighs. He huffed. “For a woman as beautiful as you, you’re always so determined to hide. Pity.”
I needed his attention off her, but Ily continued to dig her own grave. “For a man as sick as you, you somehow remain alive. Pity.”
Rachel coughed.
Victor scowled.
And lightning bolts of savage lust shot right between my legs.
There she was again.
The girl who blazed.
The jewel who burned me alive.
Fuck, she was otherworldly when she let her temper free.
I felt so connected to her—dragged into her scalding energy as it tattooed embers on my heart.
“I see your tongue has not been tamed in my absence.” Victor sighed as a staff member entered, carrying a tray with two beers, two waters, and a big bowl of french fries. Doling out the beer to me and Victor and the water to Rachel and Ily, the guy placed the fries on the coffee table and slipped out the door again, leaving us to a tense silence.
Ily broke it with a sneer. “And like I said, I see you’re still breathing…unfortunately.”
Victor snickered around a mouthful of fries. Chasing it with some beer, he smirked. “Oh, Ilyana…are you so sure you wish to spar with me?” His pupils dilated in interest.
I made the mistake of sipping the cold, crisp IPA.
I choked.
Fuck.
This was exactly what I’d hoped to avoid.
Out of all the moments I wanted her to be submissive, this was it.
With trembling hands, I placed the beer on the table and ripped open the bag. Anything to change the subject or stop his intrigue. “I wasn’t expecting a gift, Vic.”
Almost reluctantly, Victor shifted his stare to me. His posture softened, and he sipped his beer again. “Like I said, it’s merely a trifle. I keep suggesting we have a session in the snuffbox, and now that I’m home, we’ll make it happen. How about tomorrow? You can use your new friend.”
“New friend?”
“Open it.”
Rachel suddenly looked up and caught my stare. Her icy-blue eyes blazed, narrowing with things I couldn’t unravel. Her gaze slipped from mine to Ily. The two girls shared a glance before they stared at the carpet.
What the hell was that?
What was I missing because I was sure as hell missing something.
Whatever it was, Peter was in on it too.
The way he thumped his fist over his heart had to be some sort of acknowledgement.
What the fuck are they up to?
Ily stayed stiff on her knees as I fisted the bag and looked inside.
Instinct made me jerk away.
Snake.
Peering closer, I rolled my eyes at my stupidity.
No, not a snake.
A whip.
Holding my breath, I reached in and wrapped my fingers around the leather braided handle. So soft. So smooth. The perfect width and length for my hand as if Victor took measurements of my palm and had this especially made for me.
Pulling it out, the tight coil stayed in a neat circle thanks to the black ribbon knotted around its length. The dark brown tannins released an oaky, earthy scent. It filled my nose with a thousand urges to swing it and hear it sing.
Stroking the tip where it ended in a nasty forked lash, I hefted the weight and despised that, once again, Victor had seen a weakness and toyed with it. “Thank you.” I cleared my throat. “It’s stunning.”
“And it will deliver stunning results too.” He smiled at Ily. “Now you. Reach into the bag and take out your gift.”
I tensed for her to say something derogatory in return, but she merely soared higher on her knees, dove her hand into the bag on my lap, and pulled out a box with a glass lid and two items nestled in black velvet.
Her eyes narrowed on the present before shooting hate at Victor. “Yet again, you’ve found a way to take something I love and ruin it.”
“I admit…it’s a talent.” Victor chuckled.
“May I?” I quirked an eyebrow, reaching for the box.
She offered it up to me. “Why even bother asking? It’s meant for you more than me.”
“On the contrary.” Victor grinned. “It’s for both of you.”
Opening the glass lid, I ran my fingertips over two long, thick crystals. Carved into the shapes of veiny phalluses, both of them were garishly obscene.
“Rose quartz and obsidian,” Victor said. “I suggest you use the smaller one in her ass to stretch her, mon ami.” He threw me a conspiratorial look. “Preparation is key, yes?”
Images of pinning Ily down and taking her in that way exploded in my mind.
Once I thought it, fuck me, I wanted it.
Badly.
“Why two?” I swallowed hard.
“To stretch both holes at once, of course. Fuck her with both or fuck her with one. The choice is, as always, yours.”
Standing suddenly, Victor grabbed another handful of fries. “Right, that’s enough of chit-chat. I’m going to shower away my travels, have a quick massage by my lovely Rachel, and then…I’ll send my butler to find you. I’m tired but horny so we’ll share a private dinner in my personal chambers before I retire.” He huffed happily. “I never let anyone up there, so I hope you appreciate the invitation. If I’m honest, I’m feeling all round very content. My business went well. The energy in my home is balanced. And I have a true friend who needs some fatherly guidance.” Tugging Rachel’s leash, he smiled. “I look forward to tonight, Henri. We both need a good fuck so tomorrow we can play all day in the snuffbox.”
“See you soon.” I gave him the best smile I could as he left with Rachel in tow.
The moment the door closed behind him, Ily let out a breath.
Our eyes met.
And the dark depression grabbed me all over again.