Chapter 3 - The Fortress of the Shadow King
I woke up to the smell of rain and strong coffee.
I was no longer in the SUV. I was lying in a massive, sprawling bed covered in dark gray linen, in a room that looked like it belonged on the top floor of a modern fortress. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a sweeping, panoramic view of the city skyline, obscured by the morning fog.
I sat up, instinctively resting my hand on my stomach. The baby was quiet, resting.
The bedroom door clicked open, and Nikolai walked in.
He had shed the suit jacket and the tie. He wore a black button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, exposing the edge of the scar I had drawn seven months ago. He was carrying a silver tray with a plate of fresh fruit, toast, and a glass of water.
"You slept for fourteen hours," Nikolai said, setting the tray on the edge of the mattress. "My private physician came in to check your vitals while you rested. She says your blood pressure was slightly elevated from the stress, but the baby is perfectly healthy."
I pulled the heavy duvet up to my chest. "You had a doctor look at me while I was sleeping?"
"A female doctor. The best obstetrician in the state. She is on retainer for us now," he said, pulling up a chair and sitting beside the bed. His gray eyes were intense, studying me with a hunger he made no effort to hide. "You missed several prenatal appointments, Serena. You have been working three jobs to pay for a tiny apartment in a bad neighborhood. You have been carrying my heir in poverty while that pathetic man laughed at you."
Shame flared hot in my chest. "I didn't ask for your money. I was taking care of her."
"I know you were," Nikolai said, his voice softening. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I am not criticizing you, moya dusha. I am admiring you. You survived. But you do not have to merely survive anymore."
He reached out and gently touched my ankle over the blanket.
"This is my estate. It is secure. You have a staff at your disposal, a medical team on standby, and me. You will never want for anything again."
"Nikolai," I whispered, the reality of my situation finally crashing down on me. "I don't know you. You're... you're the head of a syndicate. I draw children's books."
A faint, dangerous smile touched the corner of his mouth. "And yet, you are the only woman who has ever seen me sleep. You are the only woman who didn't want my money. You looked at a monster in a hotel bar and treated him like a man. We are bound by this child, Serena, but I would have moved heaven and earth to find you even if you weren't carrying her."
He stood up and poured me a glass of water, handing it to me.
"Rest today. Eat. Tomorrow, we will discuss the nursery. And the ring."
May you like
I nearly choked on the water. "Ring?"
Nikolai’s smile vanished, replaced by absolute, uncompromising resolve. "You are the mother of my child. Do you think I will allow the world to believe you are anything less than my wife?"
