Page 15 of Diamond Kisses

And there he was…stealing Henri’s right in front of me.

“Stop it,” I snarled. “Leave him alone.”

“Ily.” Henri shook his head, almost falling off the altar for the tenth time. “Don’t.”

Victor snickered but didn’t look at me, keeping his stare pinned on Henri. “You say I want something I can’t have.”

Masters shifted and guards flicked each other a wary glance as Victor grabbed Henri’s knees and spread his bloody legs. Stepping into them, he nuzzled against Henri’s sweaty neck. “What makes you think I can’t have you?”

Henri recoiled.

Shoving Victor off him, he fell sideways and tumbled off the altar. He landed with a heavy thud, his skull cracking against the stone.

“Idiot.” Victor rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers at the guards. “Put him back please. This time on his back.”

“No, don’t—” I dashed forward. Larry dragged me back with my hair.

The pain couldn’t compete with my other beatings. I fought. I scratched. But it was Peter who touched my ankle and said, “Not yet,jaanu. Not yet.”

I didn’t know what that meant.

Don’t fight yet.

Don’t crack yet.

Don’t die yet.

All of that was impossible when watching the love of my life be tortured.

“Peter, I—”

“I know.” He nodded, his teary cheeks and earnest yearning made all my fight fizzle. “But not yet. Don’t give up…not yet.”

I wanted to drop to my knees and sob.

I wanted to run and never stop.

I couldn’t breathe as the guards picked up Henri and tossed him back onto the stone plinth.

Another bucket of water was brought and tossed over his face.

He came to spluttering and heaving, groaning and trembling.

Once his eyes flickered with awareness, Victor loomed over him and grabbed his hand. Henri went to fight but Victor merely pressed the diamond-hilted blade into his palm and wrapped his shaking fingers around it.

Guards gathered tighter; their guns all trained on Henri now he held a knife.

Backing up, Victor splayed his hands in surrender. “One last chance,mon ami.”

Henri tried to sit up but without Victor’s aid, he couldn’t. Glancing at the blade in his shaking, swollen hand, he grunted, “What do you…want?”

In the shadows where the Masters gathered, my gaze caught Stewart and Ben. They glanced away the second we made eye contact.

They swallowed hard and stood as stiff as concrete.

A flash of hatred filled me.

If they’d joined the fight, we might have won. But even as I thought such things, I knew the truth.

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