Page 85 of Diamond Kisses

I threw myself into him.

I hugged him ever so tight.

He hissed between his teeth as my arms lashed around him. “Gently, Ily. Gently.”

Breaking the hug as quickly as I’d given it, I ducked around him and choked. “Y-Your back.”

Scowling, he turned to face me, preventing me from seeing the twenty lashes he’d earned because of me and my stupid mouth.

“I’m so sorry, Paavak. I didn’t mean—”

“We don’t have time for that. Come.” Grabbing my hand, he carted me into the billowing blackness. We both coughed as the smoke turned thicker, wetter. The air dense with two elements fighting each other for supremacy. He cut into yet another luxurious room and let me go as he stalked toward the side table with a purple silk runner draping over its sides.

Yanking it off the table, he sent a small figurine of a field mouse flying.

I had no idea what he was doing.

“We need to fight with the others,” I rushed. “I need to find Henri.” I staggered a little as my eyesight vanished, then reappeared.

Annoying.

Inconvenient.

Balling my hands, I braced my legs for stability. “Victor ran toward the battlement. He’s probably safe with his snipers by now. We need to figure out a way to—”

“I know.” Marching back to me, he stabbed the sword into the thick carpet and beckoned me to move closer. “Come here.”

“Why? What are you doing?”

Stepping into me with a snarl, he pointed at my silver lingerie.

Well...not so silver anymore.

In fact…most of it was a rich ruby red.

Oh, that’s strange.

I hadn’t killed anyone like Kirk.

Victor hadn’t been bleeding that much, and Mollie barely bled at all.

God, Mollie.

He needs to know.

“Peter…Mollie, she—”

“Don’t. I don’t want to know. Not until after.” Gathering my hair off my sticky shoulders, he ordered, “Apne baal upar karo.” (Hold your hair up.)

I went to obey.

To take my hair that he’d twisted into a ponytail—

Only…somehow, I was on the floor.

And Peter’s face had switched from determined to terrified. “Ily…Ily.”

I frowned and licked my lips. “I-I’m fine.” Something soft lashed around my neck, tying tightly. Tracing my fingers over it, I followed the ends of the purple table runner draping down my chest. “Why…why am I wearing the decorations?”

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