Page 98 of Diamond Kisses

The sounds of war faded a little as opponents slowly became fewer.

All around us scattered the bodies of jewels, Masters, and guards.

Every part of my soul begged to check on the jewels. To drag them to Dr Belford and have her bring them back to life.

Only…the war wasn’t finished.

Not yet.

Giving me an exhausted smile, Peter shrugged. “Together?”

I grinned.

Spying Travis—the Master who’d been the reason we’d had to play Topaz Torment all those months ago—dead with his legs on fire, I staggered toward him and grabbed the pistol still clutched in his hand. Trading it for the dagger Peter gave me, I wasn’t prepared for the metallic weight. The toxic coldness that felt far more sinister than I could handle.

I shoved that weakness away.

“Together.” I nodded.

Peter smiled. “Okay then.”

I wished I felt stronger. Wished I was skilled at this.

But I wouldn’t give up until every last jewel was free.

“Stay behind me. We’ll do a sweep for the jewels and then take them to the south gardens.” Peter stepped around the blazing deck, flicking me a look as I fell into position behind him.

The heat pouring off the bonfire of decking, tables, and chairs, ought to warm the frost in my bones.

It only made me aware how terribly cold I was.

How this cold was different to a usual chill brought on by weather or lack of clothing.

This was internal, insidious, creeping through me at an alarming rate…almost as if pieces of me had started shutting down.

Don’t…

You’re fine.

Keep going.

Breathing hard, I followed Peter as we headed toward the less damaged wing of the fortress. Everywhere we went, stonework had been blasted off and pieces of carved angels scattered the grass in lichen-covered rubble.

Ducking to grab a gun from a dead guard, Peter traded it for his sword. Turning to face me, he went to take my hand. His eyes met mine before skittering over my shoulder.

His smile dropped to terror.

I went to look.

To stare into the calm black gardens where Henri had run off to.

Only…

A gun fired—

Peter snatched me by the shoulders and spun me around, guarding me with his body.

“Argh!” He shuddered as a bullet tore into him.

---