Chapter Twenty-One #4
“I know you don’t see it yet, but I’m doing this for your own good.
” Kissing Henri on the cheek, Victor whispered, “This is happening. There is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. You need a gentle little push, and I’m more than happy to push you.
In fact, if the next words out of your mouth are something along the lines of not being able to get it up for anyone other than Ilyana, then I will force a little blue pill down your throat and prove to you that you can and will fuck other people, despite your broken little conscience telling you that you can’t. ”
Henri grabbed Victor’s wrists, ready to yank his hold away, but Victor dug his fingernails into his cheekbones.
“Don’t make me summon my guards, Mercer.
You’re going to do this. You’re going to fuck another all so you can break out of this self-imposed prison, or...
I’ll get my guards to beat you to a pulp.
A good thrashing would do you the world of good. It might even help you snap.”
Trembling with rage, Henri snarled, “I’m telling you as the winner of that stupid game, I’ll claim the girl I shot the most. Il...fuck...” He swallowed hard and spat, “Ily. I shot Ily. You saw how many bruises she wore. She’s the one I want. The one I’m owed.”
Letting Henri go, Victor splayed his hands. “And I’m not taking away what is rightfully yours. I’m merely sharing. We’re big boys. We can share, can we not? I assure you Rachel is a good fuck. Probably even better than Ilyana. She actually tries to please instead of shutting down and enduring it.”
Inhaling deeply as if Henri still tested his patience, Victor shrugged. “Your choice. Your choice to take the gift I’m so generously giving you and then grant me the same courtesy by offering up what’s yours, or...you can spend the next few weeks nursing a few more bruises. What’s it going to be?”
Henri shot me a look.
I had no idea what went through his head, but he looked as if he was seconds away from either slaughtering Victor or going into cardiac arrest. Balling his hands, he hissed, “Ily’s education is mine.
You said it so yourself. As her teacher, I’m not comfortable trading her yet.
She’s not obedient enough for you. I fear...
” His face twisted with loathing. “I fear she won’t live up to your expectations, and I’ll let you down. ”
Victor snickered. “Your concern for my pleasure is touching but never fear.” Stalking toward me, he scooped me from the carpet and dragged me into his arms. “Like I said, tonight we won’t do anything else apart from a quick fuck.
I’m tired. I’m jet-lagged. Tomorrow, we’ll play in the snuffbox where I can help guide you with her education.
For now, I just want to come so I can sleep soundly.
” He pouted as he nuzzled me close. “You won’t deny me a quick release, will you? ”
I couldn’t look at Henri.
Couldn’t look at Rachel.
My head filled with static. My heart transformed into a rabbit.
Images of Mollie with Roland down below. Peter with that brown-bearded guy, and all the other jewels currently serving out monsters’ fantasies.
All of us existed in different nightmares.
The new jewels would be petrified.
Their arms sore from injections and blood tests. Their entire souls screaming that there had to have been some mistake.
I locked onto their misery instead of mine.
The empathy for them threatened to cripple me, but I would be strong for them.
I had to be strong for them.
Whatever they went through downstairs was far worse than this.
This was just sex.
Victor wouldn’t hit me, strike me, or hurt me.
A simple transaction of bodily fluids, and it would all be over.
It’s fine.
I can do this.
You knew this would happen one day...
My teeth chattered as I pictured him inside me. My insides revolted at the thought of him ejaculating—
Oh God.
Swallowing hard, I met Henri’s gaze, and something happened.
Something unexplainable and mystifying.
The world fell away as I sank into his hurting silver stare.
I didn’t feel Victor’s touch. Didn’t sense Rachel’s warmth against my leg.
Just him.
And in some puzzling, incomprehensible heartbeat, I felt him.
I’m sorry. His eyes screamed.
I can’t stop this. His entire soul howled.
For the first time since we met, I saw him. Felt him. Heard him.
God, did I hear him.
His anguish.
His heartbreak.
His horror.
How had I not heard him up till now? How had I not seen behind his mask and mirrors and found the missing piece of...me?
Every illusion fell away.
He was no longer the handsome demigod who defied all facets of male beauty. No longer the man I hated or the man I lusted for.
I saw him.
My twin soul.
Twin flame.
Everything the Vedic astrologer told me that fateful day collided with a heart-shattering implosion.
We would one day destroy each other.
But that day was not today.
Today, we were one, and I could survive this as long as he was near.
He could survive this as long as I was near.
Him with Rachel.
Me with Victor.
Both unwanted but...they didn’t matter.
The only thing that mattered was this. Our connection. Our bond that’d grown like weeds through concrete, tenacious and insidious.
And that? God, that was blisteringly profound.
It’s okay. I half smiled.
I won’t watch. I arched my chin.
It’ll be over soon...
I didn’t know if he could catch my silent words, but he staggered to the side and groaned.
The silence of our stare screeched to a stop, and the world rushed back in.
Victor’s aftershave of musk and tart citrus.
Rachel’s soft presence on the floor.
And the sickening fear in my veins.
“Y-You know what, Vic...” Henri stuttered.
“I’m not in the mood to fuck, so Rachel can have a night off.
” Squeezing his eyes shut, he opened them again and raked a shaking hand through his hair.
“I accept I can’t stop you from claiming Ily.
We made a bargain and...fuck. I’m not gonna lie and say I’m okay with it, but...
” Wiping his mouth, he sat heavily on the couch. “Just fucking get it over with.”
His eyes met mine.
They glimmered sterling as if he was moments away from tears.
The memory of my vow came back to haunt me.
The day I’d given him a blowjob by the pond, I’d promised to make him weep. To sob.
Was this the catalyst that would break him?
He can’t.
If Victor knew I’d somehow become Henri’s ultimate weakness...
He’ll make him use that Diamond Kiss chit—
Huffing with disappointment, Victor let me go. “Well, that isn’t part of the plan, Mercer. Forgive me if I don’t fancy you looming over me, watching my every thrust.”
Without Victor holding me, I dropped to my knees beside Rachel. Our fingers instantly entwined. I wanted to tell her it was okay. None of us had a choice. I wouldn’t allow jealousy to coat the very real notion that as much as I enjoyed sleeping with Henri...to her, it would still be rape.
And perhaps, just perhaps—because this place screwed up even the most sane of people—a small part of her would be jealous of me with Victor.
“All things pass,” I whispered under my breath. “Whatever happens...in an hour, this will all be over.”
She sniffed and squeezed my fingers so hard they hurt. “Together. We’re in this together.”
I squeezed back.
I grabbed the second glass of vodka and tossed it back.
And together, we waited for what came next.