Page 146

Oz appears on my other side, his breathing still slightly labored as he recovers. His fingers tangle in my hair, turning my face toward him so he can claim my mouth in a kissthat's surprisingly gentle compared to the intensity of Talon's movements between my thighs.

“Our queen," Oz smiles against my lips. "Carrying all three of us inside her when she faces my uncle.”

I'm surrounded, claimed, marked by these three men who have become my world. The knowledge that I'll walk into Victor Petrov's domain bearing their seed, their scent, their bruises…it's both terrifying and thrilling. A secret power I'll carry with me into the lion's den.

Talon's pace increases, his control slipping as he drives into me with mounting urgency. My oversensitive body responds despite my exhaustion, pleasure building once more.

“One more.” His fingers find my clit with unerring precision. “Give me one more, princess.”

The dual stimulation is almost too much to bear, my nerve endings screaming with overstimulation. I writhe beneath him, caught between pleasure so intense it borders on pain and the desperate need for release.

“I can't,” I gasp, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as my body trembles on the precipice.

Oz's hand replaces Talon's between my legs, his long fingers circling my swollen clit with devastating accuracy. “Give us what we want, solnishko. What you need,” he urges, his breath hot against my neck. “Surrender to us.”

The combined assault of all three men, Talon's relentless thrusts, Oz's skilled fingers, Z's mouth and hands marking my body, pushes me over the edge into an oblivion so complete it feels like I’m shattering. My back arches off the bed, a scream tearing from my throat as pleasure crashes through me with devastating force. Talon follows immediately, his rhythm faltering as he buries himself deep inside me with a guttural groan, his body shuddering with release.

I collapse against the silk sheets, utterly spent, my limbs too heavy to move as aftershocks ripple through my oversensitive body. Talon carefully withdraws, pressing a gentle kiss to my inner thigh before moving to stretch beside me.

“Fuck,” Z breathes, his fingers tracing the marks they've left on my skin with possessive satisfaction. “If Sergei wasn't sure what we were doing in here before, he certainly knows now.”

A breathless laugh escapes me as I lie surrounded by the three men, their bodies forming a protective cocoon around mine. “Mission accomplished.” I rasp, my voice hoarse from screaming.

Oz's fingers brush damp strands of hair from my face, his touch unexpectedly tender. “Rest, solnishko. We have hours yet before we land.”

I nestle into their embrace, savoring the temporary sanctuary of their arms. Tomorrow we'll step off this plane and into Victor Petrov's domain, where every word will be a potential trap, every gesture scrutinized. But tonight, cocooned between these three men on Victor's own bed, I allow myself to relax even just for a little bit.

ALEX

Pain has a rhythm,if you listen closely enough. The steady metronome of agony keeping time with each heartbeat.

The guards yank us from our cell without warning, my broken ribs flaring in agony as I’m hauled upright. I catch Luca’s gaze for a split second, just enough to exchange a silent message before black fabric drops over my head, plunging everything into darkness.

“Move,” a voice snarls, followed by a shove between my shoulders.

I shuffle forward, relying on everything but sight. Ten steps straight, then a turn to the right. The floor shifts beneath my feet, from smooth tile to rough concrete. We’re headed toward the loading bay. I count thirty-three more steps. The air opens up, echoing differently now. Higher ceilings. The low rumble of an engine confirms it.

“Step up,” the guard barks, pressure pressing between my shoulder blades.

I lift my foot and feel the cold edge of metal beneath it—a van, judging by the height. Behind me, Luca stumbles, followed by a grunt as someone manhandles him up behind me.

“Sit,” comes the next command, and I’m shoved down onto a hard bench, the surface unyielding against my spine.

The metal floor vibrates beneath my feet as the engine idles. I count four distinct breathing patterns besides Luca and myself. least four guards are accompanying us. Heavy boots shuffle around as they position themselves. Something cold, metal clicks around my wrists—handcuffs. I test the restraints subtly, solid, no give. Professional work.

The van lurches forward suddenly, throwing me against the restraints. Pain explodes through my ribcage, but I swallow the groan that threatens to escape. Never show weakness. Not to these people.

“Alex?” Luca's voice comes from my right, low and cautious. “Any idea where they're taking us?”

I tilt my head in his direction, though the hood makes it pointless. “Could be anywhere. Transfer to another facility. Something worse.”

“Shut up back there,” a guard barks, followed by the distinct sound of a baton tapping against metal.

I fall silent, but my mind races through possibilities. The timing is suspicious. 24 hours since Vesper's meeting withMikhail. Is this part of his "proof of life" promise? Or something else entirely?

The van takes a sharp turn, sending us sliding against our restraints. Luca hisses in pain beside me.

“You okay?” I whisper when the guard's attention seems elsewhere.