Page 15 of Claimed By Shadows

“Your comrades seem to think so,” Roo replies, and Nik freezes.

“You’ve been the one killing off my father’s men and leaving them for us to find?” He sounds more impressed than pissed. I guess he benefits from there being less men loyal to his father.

“I have.” There’s no regret, no shame in Rowan’s admission, and there’s something hella romantic about a man committing mass murder to avenge you. Or maybe that’s just me. “And I’ll keep doing it for as long as it takes to eradicate them.”

That shouldn’t be hot, yet my body lights up like a fucking firework at the violence lacing his tone, at the vow he makes.

“But it’s a different thing entirely to declare war on the Bratva. My father may be the leader here, but there are countless others who would jump into his place and seek revenge. You’d be watching your backs for the rest of your life, Iris would be in danger wherever she goes, which is why we have to be smart about this and take it down from the inside out.” Nik’s arm is clenched tightly around me, and I know that this is just as hard for him. Unlike my Shadows, he knows what I’m going through night after night, and I know that he feels helpless because of his father’s position and the power he currently wields.

Rowan’s expression becomes pinched, his lips pressed into a white slash, then he sighs, gives a nod, and drops the subject.

“I fucking hate this,” Roman murmurs, and tears sting my eyes.

“Me too, Ro,” I whisper, trying to take a deep inhale and mostly failing. Nik places his lips against my head, pulling me even closer so not a breath of air is between us.

“We should go,” Nik says softly, and my heart feels like it’s dropped down onto the forest floor.

“I love you, Peaches,” Hunter tells me, and I’m unable to stop a hot tear from falling down my cheek. “And we will see you later, okay?”

I suck my lips between my teeth, nodding as I try to swallow past the lump in my throat. I can’t say anything even though I’m desperate to tell him that I love him too.

“You are stronger than you think, Lamb. One day, we will kill them all, and you can bathe in their blood as you slit every last one of their throats,” Rowan tells me, and a small huff of laughter leaves me.

He’s really embraced the darkness that no longer lurks under the surface. It’s out for all to see and I love him even more for it. For making me believe that I will get revenge and I will be the one to deliver the blows. That I don’t need anyone else to do it for me, and while I should probably be horrified at the thought of murder, fuck, mass murder at this point, I’m not. These weeks have changed me, morphed me into something that I never knew I could be.

“We’ll see you tonight, Princess. I love you so fucking much,” Roman says, and more tears fall down my cheeks. It’s like I’m a tap that just won’t switch off. Again, I dip my head, unable to utter a fucking word as my desolation threatens to drown me.

“See you later,” Nik states, then I shatter as the screen goes dark.

CHAPTER NINE

“MASQUERADE” BY EUPHORIA, BOLSHIEE

IRIS

Iswallow bile as I look over the outfit that is laid out on my bed for tonight. I’ve showered and done my hair and make-up as instructed; smoky eyes and tumbling waves. Reaching out, I stroke the gauzy black fabric, its silkiness at odds with the way it makes me cringe. Any other time, I’d relish wearing this beautiful garment for my Shadows and Nik, but not tonight. Tonight it will put me on show, allow all the other men present to see any part of me they desire. I’ll be utterly exposed, which no doubt was Sergi’s intention.

Heaving a sigh, I take hold of the garment and put it on, the whisper of black silk chiffon falling to my bare feet. Turning, I look at myself in the mirror and want to cry. I look beautiful, sexy, and under other circumstances, I’d feel like a goddess. The translucent fabric falls in soft waves from under my bust to kiss the floor, giving teasing glimpses of my thighs and my sex. My nipples are entirely visible through the fabric that barely coversmy breasts and thin straps sit on my shoulders, almost hidden by my hair.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I reach for the jet-black Louboutin peep toe stilettos, their red soles adding a splash of colour to my monochrome outfit. In another life, these shoes would have maybe excited me, the brand one that the girls at Wyndham’s Finishing School for Young Ladies coveted. Now though, I decide that if—when—I do get out of this, I’m never wearing anything black again, even if the shoes cost thousands.

My door opens just as I’m getting to my feet, my eyes widening to see Sergi striding in, his eyes raking over me and burning a path across my skin that leaves me feeling even more nauseated.

“You look perfect,Kukolka,” he purrs, and I want to throw up as his fingers reach out and trail down the side of my breast. A shudder of revulsion runs over my body now each time Sergi calls me it. “Just need your jewellery.”

My lip trembles as he brings out from behind his back the collar he put on me the night he took me from my Shadows. The lead is attached, and with the hand that just stroked my breast, he twirls his finger, telling me to turn around.

Taking a deep inhale, I do as instructed, sweeping my hair to one side.

“Such a perfectKukolka.” Sergi’s breath against the back of my neck leaves goosebumps pebbling all over my skin, and not the good kind. No, these are the kind that warn you of a predator about to strike.

My breathing turns shallow as he wraps the leather around my throat, tightening the buckle just a little too much so I feel it every time I swallow or take a breath. Always such a control freak. The tinkling of the lead against the collar has me fighting a shiver. I know that sound will haunt me for the rest of my life.

He doesn’t say anything else, just tugs the lead, and I follow in his footsteps as he leads me out of my room towards the front of the mansion. He doesn’t adjust his pace, forcing me to wobble on heels I’m not used to yet as we make our way down the stairs. Nik is at the bottom, Andrei and Dima either side of him, and the rage that fills his eyes is enough to set the house on fire.

I look away, unable to hold his gaze, my cheeks heating with shame as my shoulders hunch. There’s a thickness in my throat that won’t go away, no matter how much I try to swallow, which this fucking collar prevents anyway. Dark spots start to dot my vision, and I just can’t get enough air into my screaming lungs.

Sergi doesn’t stop, just pulls me along behind him, and as we pass Nik, a brush of his fingertips against my own is enough to have my shallow breaths deepening a little. Once we step outside, the cool night air also helps to ground me, stopping a panic attack from overtaking me. I can feel warmth at my back, the scent of juniper, black pepper, and vetiver telling me it’s Nik behind me.

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