Page 700 of Coal Hearts

A guard shoved me back, sending me wheeling into the one bleeding behind me.

He grabbed me in a neck-lock, throttling me and trying to throw me to the ground.

Scratching at his forearm, I gave in to the final dregs of my violence.

Throwing myself forward, I managed to toss him over my shoulder. Stomping onto his stomach, I flew toward Victor, where he stood by the crack we’d entered. His black suit slashed from my first cut, the material shimmering wetly.

I’d hurt him.

He wasn’t invincible.

He’s killable.

“Henri.” His eyes flashed as I ducked around a guard trying to tackle me, then grunted as another struck my kidneys. “You won’t win.”

I knew that.

I’d known that the moment I’d cut him instead of Ily.

But...I had to try.

Baring my teeth, tasting blood—my blood—I tried one last time to get to him.

His eyes flared as I managed to get close.

His lips parted as I reached for him.

And then every remaining guard in the cave collided with me.

They knocked me down.

Towered over me in a ring of retribution.

And then...

...pain.

Chapter Two

...............................

Ily

––––––––

I SCREAMED AS FURIOUS MEN stood over Henri and kicked him.

A mob of them.

A swarm.

A never-ending punishment of savage fists and chaos.

It went on forever.

A sickening eternity.

The heavy thuds of their abuse.