Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
I stilled.
No collar.
My heartrate picked up as I looked at my arms.
No cuffs.
“I…I’m so sorry, Krish, but someone took it and—”
“It’s okay. I’ll get you another.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you.”
He nodded as my fingers returned to my neck, tracking a thick bandage.
Victor.
I remembered him cutting me.
How everything had gone slowly weak and wobbly.
A crack of gunfire.
Peter!
I jack-knifed up in bed.
A machine beeped loudly to my right as my pulse skyrocketed. Pain lashed through me. A deep, syrupy kind of pain that lurked in my very veins. I gasped for breath, willing the discomfort to subside. “Peter. Has anyone seen Peter?”
“Peter?” My mum wrinkled her nose. “No, I haven’t heard that name. There’s a Rachel and a few others. And the man who owns this place is called Quincy, I believe. Oh and there’s Tess and Franco and Suzette, but no Peter.”
“She’s looking for a Henri too,” Krish said helpfully.
“Oh. No.” Mum wrinkled her button nose. “I haven’t seen him either, I’m afraid.”
Wrenching back the covers with feeble arms, I went to stand.
Only…two men walked into the room.
I froze as my eyes locked on the one beside my father even as my dad charged to my side and bundled me into his arms. He kissed my entire face as madly as Mum had, his tears mingling with mine. His bushy beard and shaggy hair looked far too unkempt for a renowned cardiologist.
“Oh, thank goodness. Thank goodness.” He cupped my cheeks. “I can’t believe you’re here. That you’re awake. How’s your heart? It restarted approximately eighteen hours ago but sometimes those who have been defibrillated suffer dangerous arrhythmia. The doctors who cared for you have been wonderful. They ensured you had two transfusions and were stitched to the best of their care, but I would still like to assess you myself.”
Defibrillated?
Transfusions?
My mind swam with words that made no sense.
“I’m okay, Papaji.” I cupped his weathered whiskered cheek. “I’m a little sore but honestly, I feel better than I have in a while.”
He probably thought I was crazy for saying that. For actually meaning it. But it was true. After a month in a dungeon and hardly any food, followed by a month of being chained to a wall watching Henri being tortured…this was easy.
A holiday compared.
“Wait.” I blinked, the words finally making sense. “My heart stopped?”
“You died,” Krish piped up, sitting cross-legged on the floor watching Tiger as the rabbit hopped around under the side table, sniffing for more grapes. “But you came back.”
The man who looked almost identical to Henri—if Henri hadn’t lost so much weight or been tortured within an inch of his life—cleared his throat and threw my brother a scowl from where he stood by the door.
I went to reprimand him.
To tell him not to look at Krish that way, but then he marched toward me and scowled at my condition. “I’m assuming, seeing as you’re sitting up on your own accord, that you’re feeling much better than you were?”
“I am.” I nodded, stroking the bandage on my neck again. “What happened? Where’s Peter? Where’s Henri? How did I get here?”
“We can get to that. But first…I need your help.”
“My help?”
“May I?” The man looked at my parents. “Can I talk to Ily privately?”
“But she just woke up.” Mum wrung her hands. “Surely, you can—”
“It can’t wait.” The man who I assumed was Henri’s brother crossed his arms. “It might already be too late.”
“Tiger and I will be in our room.” Krish stood and scooped the bunny into his arms, careful to cradle the bottom-heavy creature closely. “See you soon?” He glanced my way, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
I nodded. “Definitely. I want to hear everything you’ve been up to.”
With a short nod, Krish walked toward the door. “Mama, Papaji, leave her with the man with the black heart. His panic is too noisy.”
Henri’s brother shot him another wary look before glowering at my parents until they followed Krish. “We’ll be just outside,” Mum said. “We won’t be far.”
“Okay.” I blew them a kiss, my arm slightly sluggish. “We won’t be long.”
Only once the door shut behind them did the man turn his full attention on me. I stiffened despite myself. His pale green eyes were so aggressive compared to Krish, his temper creeping below the surface of his skin.
He reminded me of Henri so much.
Henri the Master.
Henri from before.
Raising my chin, I said, “I’m assuming you’re Q?”
“I am.” He nodded. “And I’m assuming you’re in love with my brother? That he didn’t lie about that?”
“You spoke to him?” My gaze shot to the door. “He’s here? Why isn’t he—”
“He was here. He hasn’t left your side, but…he witnessed you die last night. He drove away just as your heart started beating again.”
“Drove away?” My nose wrinkled. “Drove away where?”
He sighed and paced the room. “To hunt.”