Page 86 of Owned By Shadows

“I love you too, Princess, and I’m so proud of you,” I tell her, and her eyes fill, her lower lip trembling.

“We all are, Peaches,” Hunt says from next to us, and she swallows as the first tear drips down her cheek into her hair.

“You’re so strong,Kotenok. A warrior queen,” Nik assures her, wrapping his arm around her body, which now shakes a little as more tears fall.

“Our queen,” Rowan tells her, his hand stroking over her hair, uncaring about his cum that’s in it.

None of us do, because she needs this release as much as she needed the sexual one, and we will hold her through it, help her through it. She quietly sobs as we each stroke and touch her, whispering how much we love her, how amazing and perfect she is until her cries stop.

“Thank you,” she murmurs, her voice still thick, but there’s a lightness about her that wasn’t there before. “I needed that. All of it.”

“We know, baby,” Hunt utters, pressing a light kiss to her cheeks. “Now, the boys will wash you while I make you some tea for your throat and something to eat. Then we will all go to bed.” He looks at us. “One of you needs to change the sheets too.”

“I’ll do it,” I offer, knowing that Nik and Rowan will have missed her these past two weeks and need to look after her more than I do right now.

Because that’s what family does. Look after each other and sometimes put someone else’s needs above your own because you love them. And these four, soon to be five, are my family. It doesn’t matter that Rowan is my only blood relation, or that technically, I’m fucking three of the four of them. We chose each other, and some might argue that is the strongest of all bonds because we could have just as easily walked away.

But we didn’t. They are mine just as I am theirs, and nothing or no one will ever take them away from me. Not as long as I have breath in my lungs.

CHAPTER FORTY

“CHASING STARS (PIANO & STRINGS VERSION)” BY FLEURIE

IRIS

Nine days pass in tension-filled bliss. Rowan and Nikolai explained what they’d found at Sergi’s medical facility, my stomach twisting with each horrifying revelation, and although it was risky, plus really fucking dangerous, I’m glad they blew it up. I’m not sure I’d be able to sleep knowing that place existed out there, just waiting for me.

We expected some kind of backlash from Sergi, but we’ve heard nothing. Only that he’s back at the Petrov estate. It seems fitting that we will confront him at the place that features in my nightmares. That his ending will be there, the home where he causes so much pain, not just to me, but to Nik for his whole life.

It’ll be dangerous and so much could go wrong because we’ll be on his turf. It’s like a fortress, and the guys have spent most of the past week and a half discussing options for how we actually get in. Nik thinks at least half of Sergi’s men are now on his sideand can help. Hunt isn’t sure we can really trust anyone outside of our circle, but what choice do we have? We will bring in the Shadows too. We need every man and woman who can help take down the monster that is Sergi Petrov.

“Wake up, birthday girl.” Hunt’s deep voice filters into my sleepy haze, and I blink my eyes open to find him leaning over me. He smiles widely, placing a kiss on my forehead. “Happy birthday, wife.”

I smile as I stretch and yawn, noticing that the bed is empty, which wasn’t the case when I went to sleep. “Where are the others?”

He gets a mischievous glint in his eyes, which are just visible through the daylight that streams in through the crack in the curtains. “You’ll have to come and see.”

I narrow my eyes playfully at him, and he just laughs, helping me out of bed because this baby is taking up all the bloody room and I feel very whale-like right now.

He waits while I go to the toilet, obviously not letting me shut the door because it’s Daddy Hunt after all. After I finish and wash up, he takes my hand in his warm one and leads me out of our room.

My mouth drops open when I enter our main living space, which is full of rainbow decorations and even a balloon arch. The rest of the guys stand there, all in silly party hats along with Andrei, Dima, and Bubby.

“Happy birthday!” they all yell, Roman blowing one of those paper things that makes the noise of a dying duck. Fuck if I can remember what they’re called. He bounces towards me, pulling me into his arms and smacking a kiss to my lips. “There are presents!”

He’s so excited, like some kind of puppy, that a laugh peals out of me.

“Let her eat first, Baby Boy,” Hunt chides, and Ro blushes, placing another kiss on my lips before he leads me to our large wooden dining table.

I gasp when I see the enormous pile of presents sitting at one end, all wrapped in rainbow paper and huge ribbons. My favourite breakfast of pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and maple syrup is set at this end, enough for all of us plus jugs of juice, and a coffee and teapot.

“Happy birthday, Lamb,” Rowan says, taking me from his brother to wrap me in a tight hug. I inhale his scent, letting the lavender, bergamot, and patchouli engulf me in a comforting cloud.

“Thank you, all of you,” I say, my voice a little choked. I used to love my birthdays, mostly because I was completely spoiled by my father. I always felt so treasured, so loved on my birthday, even if it was the day before Christmas. I guess I didn’t think this year would be anything like that, even if they did say before we’d celebrate. We just have so much else going on, but once again, these guys, my guys, have surprised me and proved me wrong.

“S dnem rozhdeniya,Moye Solntse,” Nik whispers in my ear from behind me, and Roo lets me go so I can turn and step into Nik’s arms. “I’m so grateful I get to spend it with you finally.”

I smile, snuggling into his neck and pulling him as close as my stomach will allow. “I’m so glad you do too, Nik.”

---