Page 28 of Claimed By Shadows

“We’re to monitor her as much as possible, await further instructions from the Knights,” I tell him, and he dips his head in confirmation.

“We don’t ask for anything from them for this though. We do this because it’s the right fucking thing to do. Because we couldn’t…” he trails off, but I know where he was going.

Because we couldn’t save Iris sooner.

There’s a pounding in my ears, my vision clouding for a moment when I think of all she suffered at the hands of that dead man walking, and he will die in the most horrible way I can think of. I will flay his skin from his body, then take off all the pieces that hurt her, all while keeping him alive so he feels every moment. I could make it last days, weeks maybe if I can keep my beast in check enough.

Sergi Petrov is marked for death at my hand. He owes me that much at least.

“For Iris,” I mumble as we silently trail the two women, far enough away that neither suspects they’re being followed.

It’s all for Iris. Everything I do, every breath I take, and every beat of my heart. It all belongs to her now, and I would give her any part of me she asked, carve it from my body in offering, because she may be my sacrificial lamb, but I’m her devoted pilgrim, worshipping at her altar for the rest of my life and beyond.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“ELASTIC HEART - PIANO VERSION” BY SIA

IRIS

Julia finds me still chatting with Johnny in the dining hall after breakfast.

“Good morning, Iris, Johnny,” she greets, a smile on her face. “Iris, might I have a word, please?”

My palms grow slick, like they used to whenever I was called into the headmistress’s office. Silly really, but I’m not due to have my first therapy session until later this afternoon, so I can’t help but wonder why she’s calling me in now. Johnny gives my hand a reassuring squeeze.

“I’ll see you later, babe,” he says, getting up and heading out of the room. I watch as he passes Rufus, blowing the other man a kiss, who flushes a deep red. A smile tugs at my lips at how much of a tease Johnny is until I remember Julia is waiting.

“O–of course,” I reply, getting up from my seat and following her as she leads me out of the dining hall. Rufus follows behindus, keeping his distance, but I can feel his presence like a reassuring warmth, which is already a comfort at my back.

“I’m glad to see you’ve already made a friend. Johnny has been with us for a while now, and I know he’s been desperate for a companion,” she tells me, leading me down a wide hallway. We reach a wooden door, which she opens and ushers me into. “I’m afraid you need to stay put here, Mr Woods,” she says to Rufus, who looks at me, and I give him a nod.

The room is bright and airy, so when she closes the door, I don’t feel trapped, though my heart flutters inside my chest as I wait for her to tell me the reason for this visit.

“Johnny is like a breath of fresh air,” I tell her, and she indicates a deep pink velvet sofa for me to sit on. It’s surprisingly comfortable, and I wish I could just sink into it, but nerves keep my back ramrod straight as I keep my gaze focused on her. She takes a plush chair that’s close but still leaving plenty of room between us, which I appreciate.

“That he is,” she says, reaching over to the low table by her chair and picking up a file. “Now, you know we did a series of medical tests yesterday? I want to assure you that everything is fine on the sexually transmitted diseases front, so you don’t need to worry about any of that.”

A breath whooshes out of me. To be truthful, I hadn’t even thought about possibly catching something nasty from Sergi, not until they said they needed to check, just in case.

“T–that’s good news,” I mutter, my brows drawing close when I see her smile turn slightly strained. “What is it?”

She licks her lips. “The pregnancy test came back positive, Iris. You’re about four to five weeks pregnant.”

All the breath leaves my lungs, my world narrowing down to a pinpoint as a rushing sound fills my ears.

“P–pregnant?” I whisper, my stomach swooping. Like the possibility of STDs, I hadn’t ever considered the possibility ofgetting pregnant, but then I remember Hunt taking out my IUD, my period following, and then…nothing.

“Yes, and there is plenty of time to decide what you want to do, so you don’t need to decide now,” she says, sitting forward but not reaching out, like she knows I couldn’t bear her touch right now.

“What to do?” I question, my voice sounding a little distant and disconnected. Blinking, I look up at her, and she gives an understanding nod.

“Whether you want to keep the baby,” she replies in a gentle voice, but I rear back, my hand flying to my stomach even though it’s the same as it’s always been.

“Get rid of my baby?” I ask, my breaths becoming shallow, my hands trembling.

“Only if you want to, but you don’t have to. Or make any kind of decision yet. There’s time for you to think, Iris. It’s not a decision to be made lightly. Raising a baby in these kinds of circumstances comes with some challenges that cannot be ignored.”

A child who is the product of rape, that’s what she means, because this just isn’t my baby. It’shistoo. Sergi’s. Bile fills my throat, burning as I swallow it back.

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