Page 726 of Coal Hearts

Peter gathered me tighter and dragged me onto his bony lap. “Hey, jaanu, it’s okay. You’re okay. We’re all okay.”

Yes, but for how long?

How much longer before—

A noise.

A loud clang followed by heavy footfalls.

No.

Tears froze on my cheeks as Henri stiffened and Peter turned to a statue beneath me.

Please no—

Footfalls came closer, closer, echoing down the dungeon corridors, louder, louder, until...

Four guards appeared.

Crawling off Peter’s lap, I swiped at my tears and glowered at our unwanted guests.

None of us spoke as the guard in front used a ring of keys to unlock our bars, then kicked the door wide. “If you move wrong, I’ll electrocute you. If you try to run, I’ll shoot you. If you try to fight back, I’ll beat you.” The guard pulled free a black remote and gun from his utility belt. “Any questions?”

Henri stood by his bed, his hands balled. “What do you want?”

“Your time down here is up.” The head guard shrugged. “My orders are to take you to get ready.”

“Get ready for what?” Peter asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Waving his gun, the guard commanded, “Unshackle them.”

I didn’t move as the three other guards fanned out. One went to Henri and unhooked the chain from his collar. One to me to free my own neck. And one to Peter.

Once all three of us were no longer tethered to the wall, the guard by the door marched into the corridor. “Follow quietly and obediently, and no one will get hurt.”

Peter went first, the beads of his spine bruised and red from sleeping on such a hard bed for so long.

I trailed him, my bare feet icy and white dress completely filthy.

Henri slipped silently behind me.

A current of connection tingled across my back.

His energy blended with mine like a warm blanket across my shoulders.

So close.

Far closer than we’d been in over a month.

I shivered as his hand landed on my hip. His thumb stroked those wonderful Morse code circles.

“No touching.”

Henri grunted as the guard behind him struck him.

His hand fell away.

We all shuffled in a long line, barricaded by guards and guns. None of us spoke as we travelled down the long pathways of the dungeon. No other cell was being used. BDSM equipment waited in the gloom for players. Torture devices in others stained by previous victims.