Page 139

It’s barely a whisper that leaves my mouth.
Everything has shifted in the blink of an eye, and I’m still trying to catch up, and to make sense of this entire situation.
The ache in the back of my head isn’t doing much to help me either.
As Mikhail’s hand moves lower to my back, he rubs soothing circles against my body.
When Nikolai speaks again, his voice is calm, almost tender even.
“It’s not about how this happened, Chiara, it’s about what happens next.” He swipes his thumb along my cheek, pressing it gently to the corner of my lips. “Mikhail and I are back now, and we’re here to take care of you. Properly, this time.”
Nodding, Mikhail speaks, turning slightly so his body is pressed to my back so I can feel his hard length against me.
“We’ll treat you like our Queen.” He promises me, his voice a soft murmur. “We’ll claim you, and we’ll make sure that everybody knows it.”
A heavy sigh escapes me as I tip my head back against his chest, and place my hand above Nikolai’s hand.
How has it ended like this?
I still can’t understand it; going from being taken to being theirs.
Willingly.
Freely.
But it doesn’t matter now.
The only things I care about is their warmth around me, the strength of their words, and the quiet promises in their voices.
I wrap my arms around them both, pressing myself even further between their bodies.
Together, the three of us stand together in this quiet room, and it’s everything that I’ve ever needed.
I close my eyes for a moment, resting my forehead against Nikolai’s chest, trying to collect myself.
“I don’t know what is expected of me.” I admit slowly. “I have no idea how to handle all of this, but if you both are here…I’ll try. I want us to be together.”
Mikhail only presses further into me, leaning down to whisper into my ear.
“We’ll be here with you every step of the way. We’re in this together, and we’ll figure out whatever happens next.”
I nod, pulling away from Nikolai, and take a small step backward so I can look at both of them.
They watch me like I’m theirs, because I am.
Nikolai’s gaze is dark and possessive, a silent vow thatnothingin this world will ever take me from him.
Mikhail’s is different; it’s hungrier, wicked too, like he’sdaringme to run just so he can chase me, pin my body beneath his, and keep me trapped.
There’s a small part of me that says I should be scared of them, of the way they consume me whole, but instead, I feel worshipped, like I was always meant to belong to them.
Together, they reach forward again, cupping my face in their hands. They lean down, both whispering soft words to me in Russian, and although I have no idea what they’re saying, I can feel the affection of their words in the way that they’re holding me, and in the way that they’re speaking to me.
I realise that it’s almost like a vow, the words that they’re saying.
I swallow hard, trying to steady myself as we all stand there, the weight of everything now rushing back in.
The tension…the pressure…the history that ties us all together…