Page 41 of Wicked Revenge

The Shadows.

They must have pulled me from the bottom of Grimm River when I fell. I remember waking up with that old man and his voice triggering memories I’ve long since buried to protect myself.

The comfort I found in their arms surprises me. No one has ever made me feel like that before. Like I was safe. I’ve been wary of all men since escaping King’s grasp. I wasn’t scared of them though. I knew deep in my soul they wouldn’t hurt me. Even with my time spent in Aspen’s sanctuary with her guys, it took a long time for me to feel safe around them.

I don’t feel that with these guys. My soul calls out to theirs. Their touch sets me ablaze, their kisses leave embers of fiery lust in their wake, tantalizing me with the desire to let their flames consume me.

Looking around the elegant, yet simplistic space, I wonder whose room this actually is. Taking the cover with me, I wrap it around myself as I get up. The open space is lined with sleek glass and wood. The masculine touch is evident with the neutral dark tones. Everything is black, dark wood stained, or clear glass. There is no color in this room.

Walking over, I pull the black-out shades open. The glass window-wall reveals the forest and Grimm River below me. I’m at least two stories up, maybe more, the rocky shores of the river just below.

Being saved wasn’t the only thing they did to me last night. What happened in the shower and then the bedroom, just the memory of it causes my stomach to flip and my thighs to clench together. I’ve never been touched like that. For my pleasure.

I mean, I’ve touched myself, but it doesn’t come close to the feelings they invoked in my body and mind. I was on a cloud of pure orgasmic bliss.

And that kiss.

Maddox kisses like he’s drowning and has to steal the air from your lungs to survive. I can’t believe the guy I stabbed last night ended up being my first real kiss. That will be a story of a lifetime.

Moving away from the window and dragging the blanket with me, I continue exploring the room. I need to find clothes. Finding a third door, which I assume is the closet, I open it up. It’s a massive closet fit for a giant.

The masculine vibes extend in here as well. Lights line to top and bottom of the walls and illuminate the way inside as I move deeper within the closet. Clothes are color and style coordinated, hanging on both sides of the space. The back wall is divided by glass cube shelves on top with backlighting making them glow. The bottom portion is a black marble countertop with different size drawers below it. This is ridiculously organized and stunning.

Turning back to the hanging clothes, I find an entire row of extremely oversized black hoodies. Grabbing one off a hanger, I let the blanket pool at my feet. Holding the giant hoodie up to my body, it should fall well past my knees. This will be perfect to cover my naked body until I find some clothes or go home.

Slipping it on, I grab the discarded blanket from the floor and walk out of the closet, tossing it on the bed. The hoodie is so giant that it could almost be considered a dress. I make my way out of this room and down the hallway.

There is a door across the hall from this one, and I pass two more doors, pausing to listen for any movement coming from behind each of them before coming to a landing and set of metal stairs. The landing has glass panels and a metal railing that overlooks the massive open space downstairs.

This looks like something out of a magazine. Most of the exterior walls are made of glass, giving you the feel of sitting right in the middle of the enchantingly gorgeous Shadow Forest.

I know from the bedroom I just left that we’re somewhere on Grimm River in the Forest, and it makes me wonder how close we are to my cottage. It can’t be too close; I chose that cottage because there weren’t any close neighbors, needing privacy when I snuck back into town.

Descending the staircase, I take in the massive living area that leads into an open kitchen. The entire house seems to have the same theme. It’s ethereally beautiful.

Walking through to the kitchen, I see an open door with a set of stairs descending down. Stepping into the doorway leading down, I hear voices coming from below. Going down the stairs, the lights illuminate the further I go. This house is too fucking fancy.

“What the fuck did you just say?” The voice stops me in my tracks half way down. It’s a voice I will never forget. It haunts my nightmares and I’m immediately frozen in place.

“No one showed up. We waited all night,” I hear one of the guys respond. I’m not sure which one, but I think it was Royal.

“You know what's at stake here, don’t you, son? Do you want little Em to pay for your failure? Again? I thought you cared about your sister. It seems to me like you need a little motivation.”

“NO!” They shout in unison, and I realize they are talking on speakerphone. The realization he isn’t actually here has me continuing to creep down the stairs.

“Find me that goddamn hunter, boy. Or poor little Emma is going to feel every ounce of my fucking wrath.” Icy tendrils of fear shoot up my spine as the line goes dead. I know exactly how he likes to work out his anger on innocent little girls.

I have to do something. I have to save her.

If it means saving this child, I will give up my hunt and take her place. No child should ever have to endure the things I know him to be capable of. I won’t let history repeat itself here.

“Call him back,” I say, stepping off the steps and revealing myself.

“Angel,” Royal closes the distance before drawing me into his arms. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were down here. You shouldn’t have to hear his voice.”

“Baby Girl, are you okay?” Alek asks, moving beside us and rubbing my back.

“I’m okay. I need you to call him back.” I say with steely determination. It’s the only choice. I need them to listen to me.

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