Page 47 of Claimed By Shadows

“Hello to you too, Princess,” Roman says, being the first to reach me and pressing a quick kiss to my lips. “Have you eaten?”

“I couldn’t, I was too worried,” I confess, hearing Hunter making a tsking noise behind me.

“I’ll sort you a plate before Daddy has an aneurism,” Roman says, kissing my cheek and stepping back towards the side table as Rowan takes his place in front of me.

“Hello, Lamb,” he greets, his fingers tracing down my cheek. “You looked beautiful as you slept last night.” My brows dip and he gives a chuckle that really should be forbidden. It’s equal parts terrifying and sexual, my body lighting up at the sound. “As if I wouldn’t have my eyes on you every minute of every day.”

I let out a shaky exhale when he places a kiss over the top of Roman’s on my forehead, and then takes a step back.

“We will discuss that after you all stop avoiding telling me what happened at Depravity last night.”

Hunt tugs the hand he never let go of, and I fall into his lap, smiling when he makes anoofsound.Serves you right, bastard.

“Nik messaged me last week, telling me he needed to blow up Depravity. He said it was part of keeping you safe, so I didn’t argue, didn’t ask why, and just helped get everyone out before the bomb went off,” he tells me, and I straighten up so I can look into his eyes, my own no doubt wide.

“Wait, you knew about this last week and didn’t tell me?” I ask, hurt lancing my chest at the fact they kept something so big from me.

“We didn’t want to worry you, baby,” Hunt confesses softly, his hand cupping my cheek, his thumb passing over the skin under my eye. “And you’ve been through so much, we didn’t want to add to that.”

“You still should have told me. I don’t like that you kept me in the dark,” I say, unable to resist the comfort of his touch, rubbing my face into his palm. “Please don’t hold things like that back from me, okay?”

“Okay, Peaches. I’m sorry, love,” he replies, and I nod, pausing as something else occurs to me.

“You let him blow up your club? For me?” I ask in a shocked whisper, suddenly breathless, my muscles rigid. His face softens, his other hand coming up and cupping my cheek in a tender gesture so I’m held between his palms as he gazes into my eyes.

“Peaches, I’d let him, let anyone, do so much more to keep you safe. No arguments. No questions. Your safety comes first,” he tells me, and tears sting my eyes. “I love you, wife.”

“But you loved that club, and Roman loved playing there,” I reply, still unbelieving that he actually agreed, especially as he doesn’t seem to know exactly why it was needed.

“I love you more,” he says simply, using his grip on my cheeks to bring me close enough so he can place a gentle kiss on my lips. It’s reverent, worshipping, like he can’t quite believe he’s allowed.

“And we’ll fix it up in no time and I’ll play there again soon, Princess,” Roman adds, sitting on the arm of the chair, and I twist my head to look at him, Hunt still keeping hold of my face.

“I love you all so, so much,” I reply, my voice thick as I have to push past the lump in my throat. I turn to look back at Hunt, my mouth going dry as I think about the other part of my soul who is missing. “Is Nik… Is he okay?”

Hunt smiles, pressing another small kiss against my lips before letting me go as Rowan comes over with a plate full of fruit and pastries.

“He checked in just after the bomb went off. He’s fine, Peaches.” Then he sighs. “I just wish he’d tell me what he’s up to. Fucking idiot will get himself hurt if he’s not careful.”

I look away from the plate of food, my eyes narrowing as I find Hunt with his jaw tight, his brows furrowed. “Are you worried about him, Hunt?” His eyes snap to mine, wide, and a blush creeps up his neck. My mouth drops as realisation hits me. “You like him. Like,likehim.”

Hunt’s mouth opens, then closes, no sounds coming out, but his cheeks turn red and Roman laughs behind me.

“They’ve practically been sexting,” he says, and it’s my turn to blush, my core throbbing at the image those words create.

“That’s not fucking true,” Hunt grumbles, his gaze sliding away from mine. “He was trying to say he’s more dominant than me, and I reminded him I put all my brats on their knees.”

A gasping giggle falls from my lips, and I squirm in Hunt’s lap, also imagining being on my knees, Roman on one side, Nik on the other. That visual has heat lighting my body on fire. “You’d put Nik on his knees?” His gaze snaps back to mine, and I don’t miss the way his green eyes sparkle like molten jewels. Fuck, he’s turned on by the idea for sure. “I’d like to see that, Daddy.” My voice is a husky whisper as my visual morphs to one where Nik has Hunt’s cock in his mouth, making my thighs rub together.

“Well, he’ll have to keep himself alive long enough first,” Hunt grumbles, and just like that, my lust drains from me, replaced by a shudder that sees cold settling into my very bones. I don’t have to ask him what he means. I know that Nik’s biggest threat is Sergi, and whatever Nik was up to last night, you can bet Sergi is behind it and it has something to do with Nik’s plan to take over.

“He’s clever, like a fox. He’ll be fine, Lamb,” Rowan assures me, plonking down on the chair on the other side of Hunt and setting the plate on his lap. “Now come eat.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“ONE WAY OR ANOTHER” BY UNTIL THE RIBBON BREAKS

NIKOLAI

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