Page 519 of Coal Hearts

My teeth locked together the farther we travelled. The scents of disinfectant grew stronger as we spilled out into a long narrow gallery. The ancient castle that Victor stole his blueprints from would’ve used this sort of space as an art display or promenade track. But now, in this modern hellhole, it housed a long row of single beds all facing a bank of interconnecting windows. Each window was wide open, allowing sunshine and fresh air to circulate.

A few jewels I recognised looked up from where they crowded around a bed.

With no Masters to serve and no Victor to command them, they huddled around the only leader they actually respected.

Rachel smiled and waved.

Mollie gave me a nod.

Citra and Caishen, Nancy and Corinne. Some of them had made the choice to go their own way in the caves, and others had left us out of panic. I held no grudges. Only relief to see so many faces.

“I’ll leave you to it then,” Dr Belford said. “I need to help Rose change Yumeko’s bandages.”

She retraced her steps and left me alone.

Drifting forward, my pulse pounded.

As much as I was one of them with our matching collars and cuffs, I was still removed—thanks to Henri refusing to let me sleep in the slave quarters.

What if they thought I wasn’t to be trusted? What if they no longer welcomed me?

Fear clutched my throat as I reached the end of the bed, and my eyes landed on a soulmate in friend form. I’d been wrong that he wasn’t a soulmate. I’d forgotten what my family had taught me. Soulmates came in all forms. My brother and parents were soulmates.

And this man too.

Undoubtedly.

And Henri? What’s he?

“You’re destined to destroy each other...”

I sighed heavily.

If Peter was my soulmate as surely as Krish was...what did that make Henri?

Was he my twin flame like the astrologer said?

While Henri typed away on his laptop the past few days, I’d done my best to remember what I’d researched after we’d gotten home that day. Krish had helped me, and together, we’d found texts full of dire warnings. Things like: You’re drawn to each other against your wishes. When you meet, you just know. Your twin flame will feel different from everyone else. Unbearable sexual chemistry. Reflection of darkness and light. Difficult and painful. Can amplify feelings of loneliness and loss. Cause discord and hurt. Can only be a lover and most often as not, ruin each other if that is the karmic pattern.

Finding your twin flame never seemed to work out well.

Shaking my head from useless thoughts, I blinked and focused on Peter.

His dark brown eyes met mine, his dusky skin drawn with pain.

Bare-chested and propped up by white pillows, he shifted his legs beneath the sheets and gave me a wobbly smile. “Hi...”

Every worry.

Every concern.

Gone.

Tears instantly erupted, and my knees threatened to collapse. “Aap theek hain.” (You’re okay.)

He shrugged a single shoulder. “I’m alive.”

“Alright, guys.” Rachel suddenly stood and clapped her hands. “Let’s give them a few minutes.”