Page 67 of Claimed By Shadows

My bump grows bigger, and turns out one of the twins’ cousin’s is a midwife, Mae. She was helping Lilly, but now that Lilly’s back in Colorado with her Knights, she’s become my midwife. She comes to do checkups on me and organises a private scan to ensure that Sergi doesn’t get wind of my pregnancy. Because I know without a shadow of a doubt that if he were to find out, he’d take me again, The Fallen be damned.

All the guys come with me, and when I hear the heartbeat and see my baby on the screen, I burst into tears. Even Hunt’s eyes well up, his hand gripping mine tightly as he stares at the screen in wonder. Seeing our child further confirms I made the right decision in keeping it. Bringing this baby into our lives willcomplete us in a way that we never anticipated, and shows that out of agony, something wonderful can emerge.

After that, the guys double their efforts in building the nursery, just off the bedroom like I requested. They also have to get back to business running the Shadows, but I have at least one of them with me at all times.

One night, we’re all sitting around in the living room, watching a Disney film because I’ve been missing my teenage years with Ember, who has visited several times with her stepbrothers. They’ve become good friends to us, and Ember has painted several gorgeous watercolour paintings for the nursery for when it’s finished. Her stepbrothers have been helping the guys with the more legal side of the Shadows, Hunt refusing to let them help with the business that could land them in trouble.

Both of the twins’ phones go off, making me jump from my place sprawled across Hunt’s lap, my feet in Roman’s. I watch as Roman looks at the screen, frowns, and then his eyes go wide as he raises his head to look first at me, then Hunt.

“What’s happened now?” Hunt grits out, and my heart pounds, my thoughts racing.

“It’s Lilly,” Roman answers, his hand going to the back of his neck and rubbing it as he lets out a long exhale.

“What happened? Are Lilly and the baby okay?” I rush out, sitting up and swinging my legs to the floor.

“They’re fine, well…” he trails off, throwing his phone onto the coffee table and rubbing both hands over his face, then turning to face me. “Julian sent someone to kill her, but luckily it was Ryan, her mum’s old boyfriend.”

“What?” I gasp, my hand coming over to cover my bump as my heart pounds. Hunt doesn’t let me get far, dragging me back against him, pulling me tight like he needs to protect me with his very arms.

“It’s fucked,” Rowan hisses, his eyes wide and jaw clenched. “He really needs to be taken out.”

“Yeah, the Knights are on it. It’s complicated.” Roman sighs, and I know he’s seeing the similarities between their situation and ours. “But for now, they’re sending Lilly away and have made out that she died, to get the heat off her. They want us and Mae to go and be with her, protect her and make sure she’s okay while they sort Julian and their families out.”

“Fuck,” Hunt curses, the muscles in his neck tight. He glances at me, but I’m shaking my head before he can even protest.

“They have to go, she’s in danger, Hunt. Her baby…” I swallow past the lump in my throat, my hand rubbing my bump once more. His eyes dip down, his nostrils flaring as his jaw clenches.

“Fine, but only because you’ll never forgive me if I say no,” he grits out, then turns to Roman. “What’s the plan?”

“Ash has scheduled a private jet, untraceable, for us and Mae, leaving as soon as we get to the airfield,” Roman tells us, getting up, but I glance over to find Rowan staring at me, his brows deeply furrowed, and my chest squeezes at the look of worry that is all over his face.

“I’ll be okay, Lilly needs you more right now,” I tell him, tapping Hunt’s arms so he lets me go. I get up and lower myself in Roo’s lap, and his arms come up around me immediately, pulling me closer.

“I fucking hate being away from you again so soon,” he murmurs, and a lump forms in my throat because I feel exactly the same way.

“I know, Roo, but you’ll be back before too long, right?” I look at Roman, who gives a nod.

“Yeah, their plan comes to a head in three weeks’ time, and then we can come home,” Roman informs me, and I glance back at his twin.

“See, hardly any time at all,” I assure him, though my hand trembles as it cups his face. I hate parting with them again, my gut telling me we all need to stay together, but with what Lilly’s facing, she needs help, and I’m just grateful she has my guys on her side as well as hers. That kind of support is something to treasure. “Let me help you pack.”

I get up, holding out my hand, which he takes, and we head towards the bedroom, Hunt’s voice filtering towards us as he calls Mae. We grab a couple of duffle bags, stuffing in clothes and weapons—the beauty of private travel… I guess no one will be checking bags.

Soon they’re ready to go, and there’s a knock at the door as we walk back into the main living room.

“Hey, Iris,” Mae says, breezing in and pulling me into a hug. “You girls really know how to keep me on my toes, huh?”

I laugh, hugging her back tightly and then releasing her. “Maybe it’s just your specialty,” I tease, and she barks a laugh.

“Yeah, midwife to badass bitches,” she says with a wink, stepping away and heading back towards the door. “I’ll meet you guys in the car.”

My mouth goes dry when I see Roman and Rowan, ready to go, all of my assurances moments ago fleeing at the reality of losing them again. “Take care of yourselves as well as Lilly.” My voice trembles and then I’m in Roman’s arms, his calming scent washing over me as he wraps me in one of his huge hugs.

“I fucking love you, Princess,” he tells me fiercely, pulling back just enough to slam his lips onto mine, his tongue demanding immediate entry. I open to him, my hands clasping him to me as my heart thrashes inside my chest.

“I love you too,” I gasp when he pulls away, his eyes tracing my face. “See you soon, okay?”

“Keep Daddy’s cock hard for me,” he replies, and I chuckle, though it’s a little choked sounding.

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