Page 10 of Claimed By Shadows

A pained grunt leaves my body when he enters me, my gaze fixed on the darkness outside, my mind detaching from what ishappening to my body, even as wetness seeps from my eyelids as the pain of his intrusion registers.

I drift back to happier memories of Nik and I in my old house, running around the garden, the sun on our faces and laughter flowing between us as we play one game or another.

He doesn’t last long—he never does—and soon, he’s heaving himself off me, his skin sweat-slicked as his chest heaves with his exertion. I remain frozen, my eyes not leaving the dark window as I hear him redressing, then the stride of his footsteps as he leaves, the slamming of my door and the engaging of the lock the cue for my body to relax, my eyes finally closing as I just breathe.

“COMATOSE” BY SØD VEN

NIK

Growls rumble inside my chest as I pace my room, both Dima and Andrei standing in front of the servant’s door, blocking my way into Iris’s room, no doubt saving my life. I fucking hate them for it though. I’ve been pacing since I heardhimstumble his way into her room, a red mist descending over my vision when the rhythmic thudding of the bed against the wall filled my ears.

Only the threat of Andrei sedating me held me back, my promise to Iris ringing in my ears. I said I’d see her after my father’s visit, try to ease the pain that he’s inflicted, though fuck knows how. All I know is I can’t leave her to face this alone, even if the only thing I can do is hold her and pray for her forgiveness.

The thumping stops with a deep groan from my sire that leaves me nauseated, then no sound until his footsteps and thenthe opening and slamming of her door. Seconds pass as I stand frozen, straining to hear his footsteps make their way to his side of the house, away from us.

“Move,” I command with a voice that holds no compromise, sharp as a whip, and my men obediently part to allow me access to the door. Ever since I finished dinner, I have been fixated on it. Iris wasn’t allowed to join me. No, I had to sit through it alone, unable to eat much knowing what was coming. My hands tremble as I insert the key and turn it. No sound comes from it as I push it open and enter her room.

My breath rasps in my throat as my gaze zeros in on the bed, on her lying there, her black, silk nightgown ripped, her eyes closed. She hasn’t even noticed my arrival, and moisture fills my eyes as I look down her body, seeing the bruises, the fingerprints, and red marks all at the hands of the man who gave me life.

My jaw works as I look between her legs, seeing the evidence of his abuse, the way her beautiful pussy is red raw, a glisten that I know is his release and not hers, making it look even more sore.

“Solnishko,” I breathe out, stepping further into the room and closing the door behind me. I should let Andrei in here to check her over, but I can’t bear the idea of anyone else seeing her like this, seeing what he’s reduced her to. Plus, I won’t do anything without her permission or consent. She’s had enough taken from her without me adding to it.

Her eyelashes flutter, but she doesn’t open her eyes, silent tears tracking a path of anguish down her beautiful cheeks, which are far too hollow for my liking. Slowly, I make my way to the side of the bed, crouching down so that my face is level with hers.

“Iris, it’s me, Nik,” I softly tell her, reaching out a hand and pushing some loose strands of hair off her face. “I’m here, like I promised,Moy Solntse.” I can’t stop the way my voice catches,my pain at seeing her like this and being unable to stop it is almost too much to bear, but I will, because she has to suffer so much more.

“Nik?” she asks, her voice croaky with disuse. Her lashes flutter and she finally opens her eyes, the whites red, the skin around them tight as she takes a stuttered breath. “You came.”

I swallow hard past the lump that is threatening to choke me. “I will always be here for you,Moy Solntse.” My palm cups her cheek, my thumb lightly tracing the soft skin of her beautiful face, even if I have no right touching her. I can’t help it. My soul demands the connection.

“I hate the way he always leaves himself behind, Nik,” she whispers, her throat bobbing and her own fingers clenching the bedcovers. She doesn’t move otherwise, just lies there as he left her, hurting and so fucking broken it breaks my heart, tearing my soul to shreds. “Even when I wash him off, I can still feel him, feel his touch burning into me like a brand.”

“I can take him away, take away every touch and replace it with mine so all you know is me,” I suggest, a desperate need to do just that roaring through me, setting my blood alight. I may not be able to stop him, but I can burn him from her mind, make it so all she thinks about is me, but I won’t do it without her permission. It may be too much for her right now, yet it’s all I can offer her at this moment other than my presence.

Her eyes drill into mine, burying into my fucking soul as she thinks about my proposal.

“I’m hurting, Nik, I don’t think I can…” she confesses, and she doesn’t need to finish for me to understand her perfectly.

“I won’t enter you,Dorogaia. Just kiss it all better,” I assure her, my heart pounding inside my chest at the thought. I can’t lie, I want her badly. I always do and always have ever since I knew what she was to me; my soulmate.

She swallows, her slender neck bobbing with the action, then her head dips in a nod. Slowly, so as not to startle her, I drop my head down and place my lips on her trembling ones, my eyes drifting closed the moment I make contact.

It’s like how I imagine it feels to come home to find everything as you left it, all warmth and comfort. Like it was every time I came to Iris’s house. A small sigh brushes against my lips, and my tongue traces the seam of them, requesting access that she freely gives. It’s the best gift, and I don’t waste it, delving into her mouth and using my grip on her cheek to gently angle her face so I can go deeper.

I inhale the small moan that falls from her lips into mine, relishing that I can have this effect on her, before I pull away, needing to kiss all her hurts.

“Still okay with this?” I ask, my voice low and husky with the desire that thrums through my veins.

“Yes,” she replies, her own tone breathy, but her eyes now heated instead of filled with anguish. I smile at her, placing another peck on her luscious lips before releasing her and climbing onto the bed next to her.

My eyes trace down her neck, spotting some old fingertip-shaped marks around it, marring her beautiful skin. Forcibly relaxing my jaw, I lean down and pepper the areas with kisses. Her hiss of breath and the way her chest thrusts forward tells me she is enjoying my attention.

Moving down her body, I kiss every bruise and mark, replacing them with my lips and tongue. She writhes beneath me, her breaths becoming more laboured and her skin flushing with lust the longer I tease her with light touches.

I pause when I get to her poor abused pussy, my chest rising and falling rapidly as rage wars with desire the longer I stare at what my father has done to her. There don’t appear to be any tears—thank fuck, because I’m not sure how I’d react if therewere—but it’s sore and raw looking, which isn’t surprising given what he’s been doing to her every night.

“I’m going to get rid of him, okay,Dorogaia?” I ask, glancing up at her and wanting to celebrate her hooded eyes, bright with lust.

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