Page 5 of Claimed By Shadows

“As you wish, Father,” Nik answers, his tone almost bored sounding, but his eyes burn into me.

Sergi switches to Russian, and I look back down at my breakfast, not hating the avocado as much as I did moments ago. I’ll get Nik today, and that is everything. Pain surges between my legs, reminding me of the rough treatment Sergi gave me last night, but taking a sharp inhale, I push it aside.

I’ll deal with that later, and with telling Nik. For now, I focus on eating as quickly as I can, but not too quickly as to be suspicious. I want to finish and get outside as soon as possible though, and not just for the fresh air. One of my soulmates is joining me, and that is better than any sunshine, breeze, or birdsong.

“UNWORTHY OF LOVE” BY CHAPTERS, BOLSHIEE

NIKOLAI

I itch all over, a pounding in my ears the only thing I can hear as I watch Iris eat. She winced when she sat down, and I was only here for a matter of minutes before I heard my father’s men talk about his new toy, one that they have held down while he does unspeakable things to her. I had to muster every ounce of self-control not to kill each and every one of them, even though their names are seared into my mind, on my kill list for when I can finally take control.

I spent my time in Russia securing my reputation, making my own contacts and gaining loyalty so that soon, very fucking soon, I can make the move. I just wish I’d been able to do it sooner. My delays have caused her pain and I’ll never forgive myself for it.

“Nikolai?” My father’s harsh tone cuts through my inner turmoil, and I turn away from Iris, who has just gotten up and excused herself, fucking Vlad following her, looking at her with a leer that needs to be carved from his face.

“Yes, Father?” I reply, keeping the anger from my tone by sheer fucking force of will. It helps that I’ve honed my skill of remaining blank throughout years of torture at this man’s orders if not his own hands.

“You can have today off, but then I need you with me as I move forward with the Fallen. They’re our way into the Enlightened, and you know how important they are for our empire,” he says, and I take an inhale at the names. I knew he wanted to get in with them. He wants more power, and the Enlightened and the Fallen have the lions’ share. The Fallen are one branch of the Enlightened, a not so secret society that has members in all echelons of society. It’s rumoured that they can get any information you need, and all it costs is a favour, but that favour could be something as simple as information in return or they could command you to murder your mother. You don’t know in advance, but you best be willing to pay the price, otherwise they will take it from your flesh instead.

“Where are we with them?” I ask, curious as when I left, he was just approaching them.

“They’ve invited me to their poker game in a couple of weeks to discuss our mutual interests,” he tells me, placing his now empty cup on the table. “You’ll be with me, of course, and we’re to bring some of the girls so we can show them what we have to offer.”

“Will you bring Iris?” I question, cursing myself as it was instinctive. My muscles tense as he looks at me, a considering gleam in his eyes.

“That’s a good idea, son. We can show them what happens when someone owes us, so they know we are not to be messed with,” he muses, placing his napkin on the table and getting up from his seat. I follow him, having lost my appetite the moment she walked into the room, looking like she’d died inside. “You can tell her on your walk.”

With that, he sweeps out of the room, his men who were standing along the walls following him and leaving me, Dima, and Andrei alone.

Andrei hisses under his breath, cursing in Russian, and I nod.

I don’t know what happened, but I plan to find out. Then I need to work out how to get her away from him and back with the Shadows, all while trying to stage a coup and murder my father. Fucking hell.

CHAPTER FOUR

“EYE OF THE STORM” BY IVY & GOLD

IRIS

There’s a lightness in my chest as I rush upstairs to my room to get ready. As usual, I find an outfit laid on the bed. High-waisted, wide-legged trousers in a soft navy fabric, a cream silk blouse with pearl buttons, and a boxy style navy cardigan with cream detailing at the pockets. My gaze stutters on the blood red lace bra and knickers, a shiver travelling across my nerves at the thought of wearing it. It’ll be visible underneath the blouse, and the thought that Nik will see the underwear his father chose for me leaves my stomach clenching and bile stinging my throat.

Taking a deep inhale, I head to the bathroom and rush through a shower and brushing my teeth, not wanting to waste a minute of my time with Nik. Before too long, I’m dressed, the red lace burning every part of my skin it touches, but I ignore the phantom pain as I pull the door open to find Dima standing there.

“Hello,Maya,” he greets softly in that deep, gruff voice of his, and it almost undoes me. His ocean blue eyes soften as mine mist over, the scar across his cheek pulling as his lips tip up in a small smile. “Let’s get you outside.”

I take a shuddering inhale, forcing the tears that sting my eyes down for just a few moments more. He places a large hand at my lower back, guiding me along the hallway and stairs, and then we’re going through another of the rooms downstairs, Nik and Andrei waiting on the stone patio for us. The sun is shining once more—it seems we’re having a beautiful spring this year—and I almost forget myself and run into Nik’s arms, which are by his sides, his fists clenched. Instead, I stop a couple of feet away from him, my body practically vibrating with the need to let him wrap his arms around me.

“Shall we head into the woods? I hear that’s your favourite walk,” Nik suggests, holding out his arm and indicating the woodland behind us.

I nod, unable to utter a word for fear that I will free the sob trapped in my throat, and there are still so many eyes on us. Andrei gives me a nod as he and Dima fall behind us, Nik walking alongside me as we head towards the trees.

We don’t speak, not until the forest surrounds us.

“What happened,Malyshka?” Nik’s low voice rings out like a shot, and my careful control fractures the sob ripping free from me. No sooner is the sound free than I’m in his arms, his scent surrounding me in a comforting embrace as he whispers soothing words I can’t hear over my anguish.

“I–I’m s–sorry,” I stutter, gripping his soft cashmere jumper tightly in my fingers, my teardrops sitting on the plush material and glistening in the dappled sunlight.

“What are you sorry for,Solnishko?” His voice is rough, like the words pain him, his grip tight around me. My stomach swirls with nausea, knowing that I have to tell him what his father hasbeen doing to me, but dreading that it will make him release me in disgust.

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