AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Victor grinned. “You know, loyalty toward a friend over loyalty toward a Master often leads to the worst pain of all.”
Her nostrils flared.
Looking back at Peter, Victor said suavely, “You know I’m aware of your illicit apothecary, correct?” He chuckled as Peter stiffened into concrete. “Relax. I’m not going to punish you for it or even take away the pills you hide in your pillowcases. I tolerate Dr Belford’s substance smuggling because when one of you self-medicates, my guests always comment what a good fuck you were.”
Rearranging his cock, Victor shrugged. “I even partook in one myself when Rachel came to me a few nights ago. It was…fun.”
“I…” Peter scrambled for something to say, lost for words. “I, eh…” Flicking Ily a look, he finally found courage and blurted, “I drugged Ily without her permission. That’s why she reacted so strangely.”
Wait, what?
I studied her closely.
So that was why she fought?
Why we both snapped?
I snickered at the serendipity.
Victor got me drunk, and Peter got Ily high.
It seemed those two ingredients granted me the perfect panacea to be free.
Have to try it again sometime.
“I thought you did.” Victor nodded sagely, then turned to Ily. “What did he give you, sweetling? And why did you react so badly? Only for my records of course. I have a vested interest in your mental and physical health.” He sighed as if it truly dismayed him. “Tina kept things from me once, and it turned out she had a rare type of aggressive cancer. If only she’d told me sooner, I might have been able to treat her.”
“Perhaps she took the sickness as her ticket to freedom?” Ily hissed. “There are far worse things than dying.”
Peter shot her a warning look.
“Yes, there are.” Victor nodded. “So I suggest you keep that in mind when I’m being so cordial and forgiving. I know you’re still new, and that fire of yours will most likely reemerge now that you’ve seen the truth of Henri’s lies, but I suggest you think long and hard about being argumentative.”
“You know what? Fuck you too. Fuck both of you.” Ily sniffed, throwing me a fiery glower.
My hand twitched, but Victor just snickered. “One day, my pet. One day. Perhaps even together.”
She gulped.
My temper prickled. If Victor thought he’d share an Ily sandwich with me, he would find I had a few terms and conditions if he wanted Q’s fortune.
“So?” Victor looked back and forth between the two jewels. “What was the drug that made Ily react?”
Peter balled his hands, well used to answering when asked. “It was psi—”
“Why?” Ily interrupted. “So you can use it as a weapon against me? Drug me each time I’m misbehaving?”
“That’s up to Henri to decide.” Victor shrugged. “Or whatever Master is currently ruling you in the future. I merely want to know so I’m aware of what can kill and maim. Do you think I intend to kill my jewels through allergies? That the notes I have on Rachel and Colin with their peanut and sesame intolerances are a dastardly plot to murder them?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past you.” Ily crossed her arms, not caring she stood naked or that my bloody fingerprints still branded her.
“I’ll take that as a compliment, and perhaps you should take it as a warning.” Victor grinned far too white and wide. “For now, though, I’m impatient to see if Henri can finally be trusted, so…I’ll find out another day.”
Patting Peter’s bare shoulder, he added, “I expect a fantastic treasure hunt tonight. And don’t forget. Good things come to those who accept their place and respect their Masters.”
“Yes, Sir V.”
“Good boy.” Victor’s hand dropped away. “I’ll tell my friends you’re out of bounds for now. You even have my permission to tell me if anyone disobeys that order.”
Peter’s cheeks pinked beneath his natural dusky tan. “Thank you, Sir V.”
“Run along now.” Dismissing him with a wave of his wrist, Victor pinned his eyes on Ily. “You see, my pet? See how generous I can be when a jewel has earned my affection?”
Peter gave her a tight grimace before he left and vanished into the castle.
Only once he’d gone, did she reply with fangs, “I see you using kindness as another form of control.”
“I don’t know if I prefer this real version of you or the one who was acting because she believed her new Master was a cop.” Victor chuckled. “You were so much quieter and amenable yesterday.”
“Yesterday, I believed in a lie.”
“Yes, I suppose you did. Pity that.”
Withdrawing a leather leash from his pocket, he tossed it to me. “Bring her with us. If you are who you say you are, then I suppose you better keep her close. You have a long task ahead of you, Henri. You skipped straight to the obedient slave thanks to whispers and lies. But today, she won’t obey. Today, she’ll fight, and I can’t wait to see how you’ll break her.”
