Page 33 of In the Shadows

Kovu’s smug grin appears on his lips as soon as he sees her, and he quickly closes the distance between them.

“What happened?” she asks quietly, dropping her eyes to where her hands are bundled in her lap.

“Kaos and I had a little disagreement.” He shrugs, and I roll my eyes. Those two may be like brothers, but they fight like they’re enemies. Every time they disagree on anything, the only way they can see to resolve it is with their fists.

“Are you okay?”

He chuckles and drops to his knees in front of her. “Are you worried about me, Little Lamb?”

A look of indignation crosses her face as her gaze turns to a glare. “No.”

“You know, Camilla, we don’t take kindly to liars around here,” he says playfully.

“Well, I’m not lying.”

“You won’t like the consequences if you keep up the lies, Little Lamb.” He pauses and flicks his gaze to me. “Or maybe you will. Depends what you’re into I guess.”

Her mouth drops open, and I run my hand down my face. “Kovu,” I warn.

“What? I’m just preparing her for our…tastes.”

A small squeak pulls our attention back to Camilla, who is staring at him with wide eyes like she’s seeing him for the first time. Knowing she’s a virgin only makes us all more interested in her, because that means we can mold her into the perfect woman for us. There are no exes we need to kill for touching her, no bad habits we need to break, and a world of kinks to introduce her to. What’s not to be interested in?

Kovu stands so quickly I almost miss the movement, and before she can argue, he plucks her off the armchair and turns to sit with her bundled in his lap.

I stare at him with my own mouth agape. He’s never touched a woman like this. Never. He’s never touched anyone like this. His chronic aversion to touch has only ever allowed him small touches, and yet he has Camilla pressed against him like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I’m so distracted by the intimate move that I forget to be jealous.

“Does that scare you, Camilla?” Her name rolls off his tongue, and she’s entranced by his every move.

“No,” she whispers the lie, and it tugs up the corners of my mouth. She’ll need to get better at lying if she wants to lead her family, but I doubt she’s quite so transparent when she’s not in a vulnerable situation like the one she finds herself in right now.

“Liar,” he murmurs, bringing his face only inches from hers. I hold my breath the same way she does. I don’t know whether to pluck her out of his arms to keep her safe from the big bad wolf or if I want to join the little show they’re on the precipice of.

“I’m not scared of you,” she tells him, her voice filled with confidence, and I lean forward, dropping my elbows to my knees so I can watch her more closely.

I can spot a lie a mile away, and that’s not one. She’s not afraid of him. Or at least not of what he may do to her, which is surprising, but only makes my need for her deeper.

“You should be, Cami. He’s the big bad wolf to your little lamb,” I say, desperate to insert myself into the little game they’re playing.

“I guess you never heard the story about the wolf in sheep’s clothing?” She quirks her brow at me.

Kovu’s laugh is loud and booming, and I can’t remember the last time I heard it quite so boisterous. Was it when she was here? No. Maybe even before that. He may laugh and joke around with us, but it’s rare for him to show so much of himself like this, and more and more, I’m realizing that there’s no way the two of us will be okay with letting her go.

We just have to convince Kaos and Crew that having her here is for the best. That she can be the missing piece of our puzzle we each gave up on finding a long time ago.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

KAOS

Irub my aching jaw as I make my way through the complex.

Fuck, Kovu got me good. It’s not often our fights involve actual punches intended to hurt each other, but I’m craving violence more and more while Camilla is under our roof.

It’s only a matter of time before they realize she doesn’t belong here and send her on her way. Their interest in her is temporary, just like it always is.

Kovu especially is easily led by a shiny new toy, and what is better for him to obsess over than a wounded virgin? The sick fuck will have a field day with his prey, and then he’ll spit her out when he’s had enough. It’s always the same. I just have to be patient.

Bishop is another story, though. He’s rarely interested in women for anything more than fucking. He’s never seen the appeal of having a woman here full-time other than to enjoy the perks of having live-in pussy. But he’s different with Camilla. I’m not so blind that I don’t see that.

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