Page 25 of Their Offering

When the light faded, I saw a man standing over her naked, bruised body on the altar, the same altar where she’d given herself to us.

He would die for hurting her.

Chapter 12

Lillian

I woke up when Aiden placed me on a bed.Mybed. The one in my house. How did they...

“How did you know where I live?” I pulled Nicholas’s shirt up to cover more of my body, as if they hadn’t already seen everything anyway.

Nicholas chuckled, but it was Aiden who answered me. “We’re the princes of Hell, little one.” He stood up, like that was a good enough answer. “Nicholas is going to clean your wounds while I get the shower going.”

Nicholas knelt in front of me as Aiden moved to the bathroom, placing his hands on my knees. “May I?” He gestured to my thighs.

I nodded slowly, and he removed his shirt from my body. I gasped at the bruises that were already covering my body, but I pinched my lips together, refusing to cry anymore. I choked when I saw the cuts between my thighs, my birthmark sliced clear in half. Austin had actually done this to me. He’d hurt me. “Oh, my god….”

“Hey, look at me.” Nicholas cupped my face gently between his palms. “I know it looks bad, but we can clean you up, and your body will heal. What’s important is that you’re safe now; we will make him pay for his sins. Wewilltake care of you, Lilly.”

I just blinked at him, unsure of what to say. I also realized he’d been calling me by my name, but I didn’t remember ever giving it to them. It must be a prince of Hell thing, like how they knew where I lived.

“You guys barely know me.” My voice was quiet, almost stunned.

He smiled at me. “We will. You're ours now.” Despite my confusion, he didn’t expand on that as he placed his hands on my thighs again. “I’m gonna get those cuts cleaned up now, okay?”

“Okay.” I hissed when he dabbed the cuts with a wet cloth.

He kept apologizing as he cleaned the cuts, frustrated that his actions brought me pain. “I swear, I’m trying to be gentle. I’m so sorry.” His fingers were cold on my skin but not uncomfortable. I tried to focus on them rather than the pain.

Then, a thought hit me. “Did you guys, uh, see my mom?” I hated knowing they’d seen the dump I lived in and possibly my mother tweaked out somewhere. It made me feel even more vulnerable than being naked.

“We did,” he said plainly. Pity flashed in his eyes, and I looked away before he moved to be in my sight again. “Don’t be ashamed. Trust me, my brothers and I know a thing or two about having shitty parents.” He gave me a pained smile.

At that moment, I knew I could trust him. It was wild, but I knew I was safe with the twins. Part of me knew I could trust them with my life if it came down to it. I’d just met them, but my heart wouldn’t listen to logic.

“Shower’s ready.” Aiden’s eyes met mine as he joined us in my room, and I swallowed. He looked so angry when he looked at my body.

I squirmed uncomfortably, and his face softened.

“Come on.” Nicholas looped his arms under my shoulders and legs, and I winced when he lifted me. He cursed under his breath. “Sorry.”

“Icanwalk, you know.” His face was so close to mine; he smelled so good, and he looked even better. Iachedto taste him.

“I insist.” Nicholas stared into my eyes, and I licked my bottom lip nervously, then leaned toward him, but he pulled back.

I felt heat rise to my cheeks at his rejection. If they weren’t still red from Austin’s slaps, they were definitely red now. “Shit. Sorry. I just thought…” Without hesitation, he pressed his lips to mine, and I melted. I kissed him back, and our lips parted, deepening the kiss.

I was still in shock when he pulled away. “You caught me off guard. After what happened tonight, I expected you to need more––”

I cut him off with a gentle kiss. I’d wanted to kiss him since that night, and he didnotdisappoint. His lips were delightful. My chest swelled with more emotion than I knew how to handle.

“Please, don’t look at me as a victim. I’m okay. I’ll heal.” I stared into his captivating blue eyes. “Thank you.” I looked at Aiden. “And you.”

No one spoke as Aiden took me from his brother and set me on my feet in the shower. My knees would’ve buckled had he not gently wrapped his arm around my middle. I hadn’t even realized before that he was naked, but Idefinitelydid now. I wanted to jump his bones; he was so hot, literally and figuratively, but the slightest movement reminded me to take it easy.

He helped me wash, then dried me off. I felt so pampered, but I wished it was under different circumstances. I tried to convince myself that it was all because of how they’d found me; I doubted I made their hearts race the way they did mine.

I chewed on my lip as I took in the sight of my body in the bathroom mirror. I lookedhorrendous. There were bruises everywhere, my face was swollen, and my eyes were red from crying. I wanted to throw up just looking at me. I couldn’t imagine how the twins managed to look at me so sweetly.

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