Page 246 of Evil Hearts

“Not what I think?” Henry’s laugh was hollow, almost maniacal. “You should’ve considered my loyalty before you threw it away for this...this...stupid human. I can’t believe you offered her immortality over me!”

Stupid human. The phrase burned like a cruel taunt. She felt small, insignificant under Henry’s glare. How dare he insult her!

“Stop!” Amelia threw up her hands and a cold dread settled in her stomach.

Why had she ever thought she could belong in Dimitri’s world? A world where loyalty was as brittle as old parchment.

“Amelia, let me handle this, please.” Dimitri stretched out a hand toward Henry, a gesture meant to calm.

Could he mend something so deeply fractured? Amelia’s faith wavered as she watched him struggle for control.

“You can’t handle anything anymore, Master Dimitri. Not after this.” Henry’s tone was low, dangerous.

The room seemed to close in around them. Amelia’s gaze darted between the two men, her nerves on edge. It was as if the air itself buzzed with impending violence.

“Henry, please,” Dimitri pleaded again, striding forward cautiously. “You are too unstable for life as an immortal. Youmust deal with your aggression and past demons first, and then perhaps we can debate this again in a few years.”

“You have said that again and again!” Henry roared, his composure snapping completely. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”

Amelia felt frozen, unable to move or speak, every muscle locked in place.

“Henry, listen to me. Please, old friend.” Dimitri tried one last time, his timbre softening, but there was no reaching the man now.

“You’re dead to me, Dimitri,” Henry snarled, his expression fervent with betrayal and wrath.

She knew the wreckage of trust and loyalty could not be mended. Then Amelia realized that some wounds were too deep to heal and it hurt her to see their friendship ending like this. She felt a pang of sorrow. It was as if she was witnessing the crumbling of a grand cathedral, each stone falling away into oblivion.

She watched Dimitri’s shoulders slump. His eyes, usually so vibrant and alive, now seemed dull and lifeless.

“I never meant for this to happen,” Dimitri said. “I never wanted to hurt you, Henry.”

Henry scoffed, a harsh, grating sound that made Amelia flinch. “Spare me your platitudes, Dimitri. They mean nothing now.”

Amelia’s emotions were a whirlwind, desperate to find a way to salvage the situation. But what could she say? She was just a stupid human, after all.

“Please, Henry, let’s just talk about this.” Amelia’s limbs shook, betraying her discomfort. “There has to be a way to work this out.”

Henry’s gaze snapped to her, his stare blazing with hatred. “You have no right to speak to me, human. This is between me and Master Dimitri.”

Dimitri stepped forward, placing himself between Amelia and Henry. “Leave her out of this, Henry. Your quarrel is with me.”

Amelia’s heart ached at the sight of Dimitri’s broad back, shielding her from harm. Even now, in the midst of this disagreement, he was trying to protect her. The irony wasn’t lost on her—here they were in a heated argument and yet she felt a strange sense of safety behind him.

“Actually, my quarrel is with both of you,” Henry spat, his fists clenching at his sides. “You’ve made your choice, you bastard. Now you must live with the consequences.”

The air sizzled and hissed with strain, the room suddenly too small to contain the raw emotions eddying within it. She felt bad for Henry and wondered why Dimitri hadn’t given immortality to Henry before now. He must’ve had his reasons.

Consequences—they were constantly lurking in the shadows like reticent predators waiting for their moment to strike. And here they were now, baring their fangs at them both.

There was no going back from this. The trust between Dimitri and Henry had been shattered, the pieces too jagged and broken to ever fit together again.

And it was all her fault.

Henry’s eyes, red with fury, seemed to glow as he slowly withdrew his hands from behind his back. A fleeting gasp escaped her lips when she saw the weapon—a sharp wooden stake.

“Henry, what are you doing?” Dimitri said with a warning edge.

“Ending this,” Henry growled, his voice deepening unnaturally.

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