Page 47 of Diamond Kisses

Needed to hear her.

Touch her.

Hold her.

But…we were kept apart.

Once his taunting and schooling finished for the day, I was thrown into that beige and black chamber. I was given just enough rations to stay alive. Told to stay clean and presentable for my owner. Ordered to kneel and bow and yield.

Ily and Peter were kept elsewhere, and most nights, I woke up screaming, begging to return to the dungeon where at least we faded together.

That had been hell, but this…this was fucking purgatory.

* * * * *

I huddled on the ground as Victor stood over me, watching his guards kick me like they had in the temple. Cupping my head and curling as tight as I could, I did my best to switch off.

Pain came in bursts.

Despair clawed at my soul.

I hadn’t done anything to deserve this punishment, but…I took it.

I took every little infraction he blamed me for.

I breathed too loudly at dinner.

I didn’t leap to my feet quick enough.

I didn’t say Sir or please or thank you.

Every day, more of the same.

Every night, similar abuse.

Each time he ordered me to kneel, I fought a savage war not to snap. Not to hurt him.Kill him. But all he’d have to do was look in Ily’s direction, and all my fight would snuff out.

Behaving was the only way to protect her.

So…I behaved.

It took every ounce of courage I had left.

Every atom in my body bellowed how wrong it was. How abhorrently,grotesquelywrong to simper at this monster’s feet and notslaughterhim.

I held my tongue.

I choked on my rage.

And Inever oncelooked at her.

Fuck.

Every evening he tormented me, she was there.

I couldfeelher.

Sense her heart. Hear her whispers. Touch her energy.

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