Page 164 of Diamond Kisses

Peter’s voice tore through my head.

The first night I’d arrived at the jewel’s quarters.

The first hint of his sorrow.

I choked on a sob as I looked up at my mother and did my best to hide my tears. “Yeah, Mama?”

“Come join us. I don’t like to see you out here all alone.” She wiped her hands on a tea towel, giving me a sad grimace.

“I’m okay. Truly.” I plastered a smile over my melancholy. I loved my parents too much to let them continue worrying about me, especially seeing as I’d told them—in heavily redacted sentences—about where I’d been and why I hadn’t been able to come home. I hadn’t told them about Henri’s involvement in stealing me away. I didn’t tell them about the sexual nature of the abuse. But I had confessed that I’d found people who meant the world to me, all while we suffered in sorrow together.

Giving me a knowing look, she said gently, “Would you think about talking to someone like your father suggested?”

I closed my book and shook my head. “Not yet. Maybe soon.”

She studied me before nodding. “If you need me, you know where I am.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll bring you a mango lassi. How about that?”

“Sure.” I gave her a grateful smile, thankful she wasn’t pushing me to socialise. “That would be lovely.”

Bustling back into the kitchen, she reminded me a little of May, the cook in Victor’s kitchens. What’d happened to her? Was she back home with her loved ones?

A stabbing in my heart.

For a second, I feared it was Henri.

That he’d died wherever he was in the world…hunting.

I clung to the hope that I’d feel him. That I’d know if he was in mortal danger by whatever unexplainable connection we shared.

I just wished it allowed us to speak telepathically across oceans.

It would be so easy if we could.

Come back.

I’m here.

Waiting.

Ugh!

No more.

I couldn’tdothis anymore.

I couldn’t keep hanging in limbo.

Not grieving. Not moving on. Not accepting the one person’s death I just couldn’t acknowledge.

Peter.

Henri was still alive.

But Paavak…

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