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These are words I never would have imagined after the situation I found myself in.
Was I taken?
Yes.
Was I changed?
Of course.
I find myself smiling as Nikolai wraps one strong arm around my middle, tugging me all the way into bed with him, whilst Mikhail turns over to press a kiss to my temple.
This isn’t the end.
This is just the beginning.
And this—them, this life, this love—it feels like coming home.
Chapter Twenty One
Nikolai
The room feels different now—it’s quieter—but in the best way possible.
A few weeks ago, we broke down a wall in our wing, connecting two rooms into one big space for the three of us.
I didn’t realise how much we all needed that until it was done.
It’s ours now, completely and undeniablyours.
Our bed sits in the centre of the room, large and inviting, as selected by Chiara herself.
The linens are soft, mixtures of whites and pale blues that are peaceful, calming too.
The new wardrobe is massive, taking up one entire wall, and a vanity has been placed near the windows.
Every single thing in this room of ours has a woman’s touch to it.
It’s subtle—a knitted throw blanket, soft pillows, a vase full of fresh flowers to bathe in the soft morning light—but it’senough to have changed this space from something cold into something comfortable.
And she is here too.
Chiara is still asleep, curled up on our bed, relaxing. A small frown plays on her lips, one I now know so well, but it softens as she breathes out through her mouth. Her hair is spread all around her, and the way her skin glows under the soft light of our room is something I’ll never get over.
She looks like an angel.
I can’t helpbutwatch her sleeping.
It’s hypnotising, the way she breathes, the steady rise and fall of her chest.
She’s completely at peace like this.
I’m so lost in her, I don’t even notice as Mikhail steps out of the bathroom until he clears his throat, drawing my attention.
I glance over at him, seeing him dry his hair with a towel, his expression unreadable as his eyes move to her, in the exactly same way that mine do.
“She’s beautiful.”
He says quietly.