Epilogue
I wake up slow, groggy, and uncomfortable.
My stomach churns, my body feels off, my limbs, heavy.
And of course, the first thing I feel is Viktor.
His arm is wrapped around my waist, thick and unyielding, his face buried in my neck, inhaling deep like he’s imprinting my scent into his lungs.
I shift, grimacing at the ache settling deep in my bones.
He stirs immediately, his grip tightening, voice low and rough against my ear.
“What’s wrong?”
I exhale slowly, pushing against his chest. “Nothing. Just tired.”
His hand drags over my stomach, slow and possessive.
I can’t see his face, but I can feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
He’s thinking. I don’t like it.
Before he can say something that will have me locked in our bedroom under twenty-four-hour guard, a knock echoes at the door.
My sister’s voice follows before I can protest.
“I’m coming in!”
The door swings open, and there she is—Tina, sassy as hell, looking me over before dragging her gaze over Viktor. Who said it was a good idea for Vik to welcome my family into our home?
She smirks.
“What do you want?” I narrow my eyes.
She leans against the doorframe, crossing her arms.
“Nothing. Just checking on my baby sister.”
Viktor lifts his head from my neck, his blue eyes sharp.
“Tina, your sister’s not feeling well. Maybe you could give us aminute?” His voice is low, impatient.
Tina grins wider. “Oh, she’s still feeling queasy?” She looks over her shoulder. “Yo, ruskov!”
Aslan, Viktor’s second-in-command appears. My sister takes pleasure in annoying him. She’s only been here for a week, “visiting”, and driving us all nuts. She’s lucky I love her and that Vik has a soft spot for our entire family.
Aslan appears. Cold. Stoic. As always.
He stands a few feet behind Tina, as still as ever.
Except—
His jaw is tight. His hands flex at his sides.
Then his gaze flicks to Tina, almost unreadable—except for the slight twitch in his temple. Hmmm.
She grins harder then turns, wiggling her fingers at him.
“Can you go grab this for me?”
She hands him a folded piece of paper.
He takes it without hesitation, glances at it—
And his body goes rigid.
His nostrils flare. His Adam’s apple bobs.
Then he levels her with a sharp look.
Tina’s grin only grows wider.
Viktor frowns. I frown.
What the hell did she just give him?
Aslan doesn’t say anything. He just turns on his heel and walks out.
Viktor’s gaze follows him before snapping back to Tina.
“What was that?”
She shrugs, winking. “You’ll see. I’ll leave you guys to it” Then she finally closes our bedroom door.
Twenty minutes later, Aslan returns with a plastic bag. I take it, confused. when I look inside, my stomach drops. It’s a bunch of pregnancy tests.
My mouth opens and closes.
I look at Viktor.
He’s completely still.
His hands flex. His chest rises slow, heavy. His jaw clenches so tight I think it might break. His eyes snap to Tina. She just smirks.
“Take it.” Viktor’s voice is low and commanding. Oh boy.
I snap out of my shock, clutching the bag to my chest. “I—Now?”
His eyes darken. “Now.”
Tina claps her hands. “Chop chop!”
I gawk at her. But Viktor is already moving.
He grabs my wrist, dragging me back to our bedroom. But I dig my heels.
“Wait, wait, I can do this alone!”
He stops, turning slowly, pinning me with a look that makes my breath stutter.
Oh, shit.
“Alone?” His voice is quiet and dangerous. “You think I’m letting you do this alone?”
I press my hands to his chest.
“Baby. I love you. But you’re not coming in the bathroom with me.”
His muscles flex. His lips curl.
“Printsessa.” His voice drops to a growl. “You know I can’t stand being away from you for five fucking seconds. You think I’m going to—”
I push him harder.
“You’ll live.”
He snarls but steps back. For now. If I know one thing about my man, it’s that he will fucking break down any wall that stands between us.
I step into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.
Knock. Knock.
“Marie.”
I sigh, leaning my head against the door.
“Honey, give me two minutes.”
“That’s too long.”
Shake my head. Then take the test.
My heart races. My stomach in knots.
And then, because I know he’s seconds away from breaking the goddamn door down, I take pity on him and open it. Viktor storms inside.
We wait. We watch. The seconds tick by.
My chest is so tight. A baby. Our baby. I’ve thought about it. Dreamed about it. Imagined a little boy with his dad’s dark blue eyes. A baby girl with my bright smile. I should have known it was just a matter of time with how vehemently this man has been at me from the moment I stepped inside his house.
Then— Two pink lines. Positive.
My vision blurs. My legs wobble.
Viktor catches me, breath ragged, hands shaking.
I whisper, “Oh my God.”
His eyes are wild. Dark. Fucking unhinged.
He cups my face, his voice thick and raw.
“You’re carrying our child.”
I nod, tears slipping down my cheeks.
And then—I’m on the counter.
Viktor grabs my thighs, yanks me closer.
“Gotta fuck another one into you, printsessa.”
I gasp, my body already on fire.
“Viktor—”
His mouth crashes on mine, his growl vibrating against my lips.
“No more talking, baby. Let daddy take care of you.”
THE END.
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