Page 15 of Owned By Shadows

Shit, it’s like the kiss ignites my entire body because everything fades away. The pain of my healing bullet wound. The chill of the predawn air. The forest that surrounds us and all the sounds of it. Nik, Dima, and Bubby. The only thing that exists is Iris. My beautiful, wonderful soulmate. The way her lips feel under mine, her tongue and the warmth of her mouth, is like coming home after the world’s worst journey.

We pull apart only when my lungs demand air, and my chest heaves as I stare into her stunning eyes.

“We should head inside.” Nik’s voice comes from behind me and I blink, the sounds and world around us filtering back in.

Iris’s delicate nostrils flare, and with a banshee shriek, she tears away from me, the sound so loud the birds startle from the trees. I twist just in time to see her slap Nik across the face so hard his head twists to the side; the sound echoing in the clearing. My mouth gapes as, in the next moment, she throws herself at him, grasps his still stunned face in her small hands, and crashes her lips against his.

“I will never understand women,” Bubby says next to me, and I twist to face him, a wide smile on my lips. “Also, Jesus fuck, Roman.”

He bursts into tears, and it’s as easy as breathing to take the kid in my good arm and hold him to me. I’ve never seen such emotion from him, even when he’d been starving because his deadbeat dad drank all their benefits away.

“It’s okay, Bubby. I’m here now,” I soothe, holding his shaking body, tears stinging my eyes again as I embrace him. Bubby has always been like a little brother to me, and I’m just so fucking grateful I’m not dead. I’ll be a fucking wreck when I see my twin and Hunt, as I’m sure they will be, so I pull Bubby closer, taking comfort in the simple human contact.

Andrei comes out of the house just as Iris and Nik take a moment to breathe, looking more refreshed than the rest of us.

“I’ll drive back to the airport to collect the rest of the Shadows,” he states, walking down the steps and taking the keys off Dima. He presses a quick kiss on the giant’s lips, earning a smile from the scary Russian that I’ve not seen unless it’s directed at Andrei. “Dima, you need sleep. Roman, try not to fuck up your wound too much.”

Bubby steps out of my embrace, wiping his eyes and looking at Andrei as I raise a brow at the medic. Andrei stops.

“Hunt and Rowan are coming?” I ask, glancing at Iris who is nestled against Nik’s side, his cheek red even as he stares down at her like she hung the moon. Yeah, I’d let her slap me too and still thank her for loving me.

“Hunt’s pissed,” Iris says, cringing slightly, though she’s not scared. If anything, her eyes shine with what looks like excitement. Yeah, Hunt’s punishments aren’t all bad. “But he messaged to say they were on their way.”

My chest twinges, my stomach fluttering as I think about seeing the other part of my soul and my twin so soon. Of course they would follow her, we all would, and it’ll be good to be in the same place again so we can regroup and plan our next steps.

“I’ll bring them here, but in the meantime, remember you’re still healing, so try not to do anything too strenuous.” Andrei gives me a knowing look, and a pleasurable shiver runs over me that has nothing to do with the chill in the air.

“Yes, Doc,” I tease, and he just shakes his head before turning to Bubby.

“I’m Andrei, pleased to meet you, Bubby,” he states, holding his hand out to the younger man. Bubby takes it, shaking it and looking all kinds of awkward, which makes me snort at him. He gives me death eyes, which only makes me grin wider.

Andrei shakes his head, says something in Russian, and then stalks to the car, getting in and driving off.

“Let’s head inside,” Nik suggests, Dima waiting for us all to walk up the steps before he follows. Nik turns to him once we’re inside. “You need to get some sleep, Dima. I can manage for a few hours.”

“I wouldn’t mind catching a few,” Bubby says, his jaw cracking as he yawns.

“Come. I’ll show you to your room,” Dima replies, nodding towards the stairs and turning to head up them.

“Bub?” I say as Bubby goes to follow, and he pauses, looking back at me. “Thanks for taking care of her.”

His lips tilt upwards and he glances at Iris. “Of course, bro. She’s family.” With that, he turns and walks up the stairs, carrying a duffle bag that he must’ve had on him but I just didn’t notice.

My eyelids flutter as a yawn threatens to overtake me.

“I think we all could do with some sleep, don’t you?” Nik asks, and I look over at him and Iris to see that she’s definitely flagging, leaning into him as his lids droop. He holds a bag that looks like the one she arrived at the estate with all those months ago.

“Do you have a bed that will fit all of us?” she asks in a sleepy voice, rubbing her eyes with her fists.

“The master is big enough, as long as we’re careful with Roman’s arm,” Nik replies, and what looks like longing makes his dark eyes shine as he stares at me. I swallow hard, my body flooding with warmth despite my fatigue.

“Then lock up, Nik. You’re coming with us and we will all sleep together until the others get here,” she states, stepping away from him and coming up to me. Her hand reaches out, tracing my face, wonder in her eyes. “I knew you weren’t dead. My heart wouldn’t accept it, and they told me I was being wishful, but Iknew.”

Nik locks the front door before setting an alarm system, all while Iris and I just stare at each other. I will never again take for granted being able to look upon her beautiful face, hold her in my arms, and kiss her plush lips. Each moment will be a blessing, something that I may never have experienced again if Nik hadn’t saved me.

Nik comes to stand next to us and Iris and I look up at him. His lips part as his eyes soften, almost glossing over.

“You are both so beautiful,” he whispers, one hand coming up to cup Iris’s cheek. She nuzzles into his touch, and my chest swells as I feel fingers on my skin. His palm is warm as he cradles my face, and my eyelids flutter at the touch. He chuckles. “I can see I’ll have my hands full with you two. For now, sleep and then we can see about...other things.”

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