Page 46 of Claimed By Shadows

It’s a sound that heralds the new dawn, that signals a new beginning.

I just pray it’s not the beginning of my death knell.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“ARTISTRY” BY JACOB LEE

IRIS

Ihead down to breakfast with a sober-looking Rufus, his brows wrinkled and his body stiff. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, my gut telling me something is wrong.

“What’s up?” I ask as we make our way along the halls. There’s a lightness in my soul, and I feel like a giggly schoolgirl who had sex for the first time every time I remember the day before and everything that happened with Rowan and Roman a few days prior. It was exactly what I needed, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t plagued by nightmares last night, instead, managing a somewhat peaceful night’s sleep.

They’ve all visited since, though none of the visits have been as explosive, and we’ve spent a lot of time walking around the gardens now that the weather is so nice out.

Julia is also pleased with my progress, not making it feel awkward in the least when I confessed what has happened between me and the guys.

Rufus’s jaw works and I pause, reaching out a hand and placing it on his tense, muscled arm as my brows lower.

“What happened, Rufus?” I ask, my heart doing an unsteady thump inside my chest. He sighs, briefly closing his eyes before opening them again and looking directly into mine.

“Depravity was blown up last night, and it looks like it was the Russians,” he tells me, and it’s as though the ground has fallen out from underneath me. My mouth opens, but no sounds escape, my nails digging into his skin. His eyes widen upon my reaction, his hand coming out to grip my other arm as if he’s afraid I will fall down. “Everyone is fine, no one was hurt. There was an issue with the sewage pipes, so the whole place was evacuated about half an hour before it happened.”

My breath whooshes from me as relief leaves me feeling almost dizzy. “Thank fuck.”

I’m distracted as I eat breakfast, Ember and Johnny glancing at me with frowns as I remain mostly silent, thinking over what Rufus told me and all that it implies. Did Nik know about the bombing? Was he part of it?

My stomach churns and I push my food away, not able to eat anything.

“Are you okay, babe?” Johnny asks, his hand reaching out to stroke my arm. My gaze flies to his, his voice bringing me back into the room where my mind took me away with all the questions swirling around it.

“Yeah, just, something happened last night, outside I mean, with the guys, and I guess I’m worried,” I confess, wringing my hands together. I wish I had a fucking phone, just so I could call them and ask what the fuck happened.

Johnny’s gaze flits behind me as Ember takes one of my hands in hers and rubs it soothingly.

“I’m sure everything is fine, Iris. They’d get a message to you if it wasn’t,” she assures me, and I nod just as a tap on my shoulder has me spinning, my heart racing.

“Sorry, Iris, didn’t mean to scare you,” Rufus gruffly apologises, his cheeks reddening. “Just got word that Hunt and the twins have arrived and are waiting in your usual room.”

I’m up before he’s even finished, rushing across the dining room and just catching Johnny calling Rufus sweetheart before I hear his footsteps behind me.

I don’t stop until I’m bursting through the door of the room that is fast becoming a place of comfort to me, my eyes catching Hunt’s, my body colliding with his before my brain has even caught up.

“Rufus told you then,” Hunt states, his arms wrapping around me and pulling me into one of his bear hugs that always leave me feeling safe and protected.

“Yes, and I want to know what the fuck happened?” I snap, pulling back and glaring at him. His eyes widen, then his lips twitch, and I just know he’s holding back a smile. It makes my eyes narrow on him, my blood heating in annoyance.

“You’re cute when you’re angry at me, Peaches,” he rumbles, his hand coming up to stroke a finger between my furrowed brows.

“Stop trying to distract me and tell me what happened, Hunt,” I say, my tone fire and brokering no arguments.

“Come sit down and I will,” he says, taking my hand in his and leading me to a soft-looking armchair. “You also might want to say hello to the twins, you know, since they came to visit too.”

My mouth drops as I look around the room, finding Roman and Rowan helping themselves to some pastries that were clearly laid out for us.

“Hello,” I say, my tone a little sullen, and they both smirk, leaving their pastries and strolling over to me.

It’s like being stalked by two jungle cats, their feline grace, a sight that always makes my heart beat faster, my pulse racing as they get closer.

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