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I’d once looked at them the way Ily looked at Peter.
That same despairing, harrowing look of wishing you were stronger, bigger, better—not to get yourself out of hell but to save all those in there with you.
“Henri…I’m waiting.” Victor tapped his watch.
I made a split-second decision.
The only choice I could as the monster inside me grew longer fangs and sharper claws. I shuddered on the drawbridge as my clothing felt too tight, and my feet ached to run.
Whatever creature lived within me woke up again.
Only this time…it didn’t want to dine on tears.
It wanted to dine on death.
Raising my gun, I pressed the trigger.
Ily cried out and staggered back, taking Peter and Rachel with her. Pressing her forefinger to the splodge of bright orange on her upper thigh, she looked at me as if I’d just shattered her already broken heart.
“There.” I lowered my arm. “I shot her. My colour is on her skin. No one else is to fire at what is already mine.”
Victor pursed his lips, watching Ily wince as she prodded the bruise I’d given her. “Unfortunately, Henri…today the rules are slightly different.” Looking at his guests, he raised his voice. “My island is large and can be quite dangerous if you don’t know the terrain. There are loose rocks by the cliffs and blowholes by the ocean. The caves burrow through the island like worms through soil, and some footing is unstable. The forest is wild, and if I believe my land keepers’ remarks, there’s also quicksand in the marsh. The tides come in fast, and if you’re caught in a part of the cave system that gets cut off at high tide, then you might very well drown. But!” He grinned. “The stakes are worth it, gentlemen, because…my own personal favourite, Rachel, is available to anyone who can fire the most shots at her. And Henri’s—the forbidden jewel that started a war—is also free game.”
“What?” I choked. “No, she’s—”
“The winner is whoever covers the jewel of his choice in as many paint bullets as possible. Empty your clip at them, my friends. Cover them in bruises. Your choice of what to do with the jewel you win is entirely up to you.”
Pulling a pistol from his waistband, he aimed it at my heart. “Any objections, mon ami?”
I shot Ily a look.
She gave me an unreadable stare back.
Her hate for me cloaked the entire drawbridge, but I didn’t care.
I would fight for her…like I fought for a sister I didn’t remember.
I would protect her…like the wife she would never be.
I gave her a nod; she looked away.
My heart twinged with despair.
Swallowing hard, I grunted, “No, Vic. No objections.”
I had none because no one would get within firing distance of her.
I’ll make fucking sure of it.
“Great!” Passing me the gun, he inconspicuously looked at the guards with their sniper rifles on the battlement. Snipers all aimed at me. “In that case, how about you do the honours?”
“Fine.” I took the Glock.
The temptation to shoot him in the head made my palm sweat.
Pasting on a smile, I raised the gun to the sky. “Ready whenever you are.”
Victor grinned. “How nice.” Looking at his jewels, he stepped off the drawbridge, beckoning me to follow him. The avenue leading through the wall and toward the outside world hummed with ocean song and freedom.
The jewels all naturally swayed toward it, summoned by the allure of hope.
“You have a fifteen-minute head start, my pets,” Victor said gleefully. “Fifteen minutes to scurry your way across my island before we come after you. And that countdown begins…”
I closed my eyes.
Begged the fucking universe to give me luck.
I fired at the clouds.
BANG.
Gunpowder.
Ears ringing.
Hand vibrating.
I almost swallowed my own tongue. “Emerald Bruises begins now.”
I looked at Ily and imprinted her to memory.
I memorised her golden eyes, inky hair, and the soul that’d ensnared mine the moment I’d seen her in Paris.
If we survived this, things were changing.
I didn’t know how.
I didn’t know what I’d become.
But I did know I couldn’t stand this level of emotion anymore.
This agony of wanting and not deserving.
This despair and desire and decimating thirst for things I’d never had and things I would never earn.
I would win this game.
I would become the worst fucking monster to triumph over all other beasts.
I would cut away the strings of feelings and sink deep, deep into the black-fanged creature within me.
Who knew if I’d ever be human again.
Who knew what I would do out there.
All I knew was…I’m done.
She needs to go.
The metallic rust of blood coated my tongue.
The urge to chase and pillage, savage and ruin made me shudder.
She needs to go now.
Smiling like a murderer, I lowered my arm and said softly, “What are you all doing standing there? Run.”
It took a moment for my command to ripple from ears to muscles.
A heartbeat for everyone to break ranks and go.
