26. Victoria

"Well, glad to be of assistance,"I mutter and chuck the USB drive back in the hole.

Luke, bless him, bends down to cover it back up. "At least they didn't get it. That could incriminate your dad in all sorts of shit."

"Yeah, not just my dad," I murmur, glaring at the floorboard as Luke pushes the carpet back. "Wait. Let's burn it."

"No need for dramatics," Luke says with a grin. "I can wipe it clean of every trace. I promise, no one will be able to pull anything off it."

"Not even Sorcha?" Cian asks with a too-smart grin for his own good.

Luke sticks his middle finger up. "Fuck you, asshole."

"Okay," I say, touching his shoulder as he retrieves the USB. "I trust you."

He grins and stands up again after replacing the board and carpet. "I'll get on this. Then do the security, and then we can do the ceremony."

"What a day," I sigh. "How long do you need?"

"Two hours," he says.

"Okay," I say. "I'll get everything ready for the ceremony."

"I need a fucking nap," G murmurs.

Giggling, I go to him and wrap my arms around him. "Are you ready to make me your Princess, Your Highness?"

He grins down at me and kisses the tip of my nose. "Fuck, yeah."

Pulling away with a smile, I shoo them all out of my room. I have preparations to make. As soon as they leave me alone, I open my drawers, pulling out all of my lingerie, looking for the perfect item for sharing blood with my lovers and then the dirty sex I was promised afterwards.

I lay out the light pink lacy baby doll on my bed, knowing the colour will shock them. It gives me a slight thrill. Heading for the shower, I crank the water as hot as it will go. Steam fills the room, enveloping me in a cloud of warmth and expectation. As I wash my hair and body, I let the tension of the last few weeks drain away. The water scalds, but I welcome the pain. It's a reminder that I'm still here, still fighting.

The steam fills the bathroom, making it almost hard to breathe, but I need this moment to collect my thoughts. Everything is falling into place, and I finally feel like I can move on with my life instead of being stuck in this next gen limbo with Asher Quinn's shadow looking over me. It's liberating. The fact that I've found three men who know my darkest secrets and still love me and want to be with me, to make a future with me, brings tears to my eyes that I allow to fall and mix with the shower water. I didn't think I would be so lucky to find anyone. Even Cian. I was never really sure of his intentions. Was I just a passing obsession for him, or something he wanted to conquer? We never really talked about shit like that. I never wanted to because I didn't want to get hurt if the truth was he didn't love me and was just using me. I shouldn't have doubted him, but I did. I didn't have the bandwidth to process a relationship. But now all that has changed. We have progressed into something fierce and worthy.

As the hot water cascades over me, I close my eyes and think about what the blood ceremony means for us. It's not just some ritual; it's a bond—a promise that no matter how twisted our lives get, we stick together. Blood oaths aren't for those who are half in. They are a commitment that goes past convention.

After scrubbing myself clean, I step out and towel off quickly, knowing time is ticking. Wiping the condensation off the mirror, I stare at my reflection. My eyes are shining brighter than usual—maybe it's adrenaline or plain insanity—but I feel ready. More ready than I've ever been for anything.

I slip into the delicate lingerie, feeling its softness against my skin as I get to work drying my hair and fluffing it out around my shoulders. Slipping my knife between my breasts, pushed up into mounds by the lingerie, when I look in the mirror, I look both innocent and deadly.

Turning from my reflection, I head downstairs, seeing Luke hard at work with wires and his laptop, a look of concentration on his face. He doesn't notice me as I slip by, so I leave him to it. In the kitchen, I search the cupboards for a bowl and come up with a black porcelain one that fits the bill. Then I grab a black, fluffy tea towel from the cupboard to lay out, and I'm all set. It's off the cuff, but we don't need fancy shit. This is us. Raw and unfiltered.

Crossing over to the living room, I place the towel and bowl down on the coffee table and then draw the curtains and light the few half-used candles scattered about.

Cian is the first to arrive. His eyes darken when they land on me. "Fuck," he whispers, stepping closer. He runs his fingers along the lace, his touch making me damp.

"Do you like it?" I ask coyly.

"Like isn't strong enough," he murmurs, leaning in to kiss me hard, his hands gripping my hips with possessive force. He fills my senses, and I lose myself in him for a moment, forgetting everything around us.

Gianluca and Luke enter next, their eyes widening at the sight of me. G whistles low while Luke's expression melts into something darker and more heated. They close the door behind them, shutting out the world outside.

"It's time," I say softly, pulling away from Cian's embrace. I walk to the table where everything is laid out and kneel, pulling the blade out.

We form a circle around the makeshift altar. The candles cast an eerie glow on our faces as we stare at each other.

"Me first," I murmur and slice my palm open with one quick movement.

Cian grips my wrist gently and lowers his mouth to my palm. He flicks his tongue out and drags it over the wound. I gasp at the intimate act and bunch my hand into a fist when he pulls back to draw more blood up to the scratch. Cian takes his own knife and slashes his palm open. He presses it against my palm, his eyes never leaving mine.

From our clasped hands, our mingled blood drips into the black bowl, a tribute to our unbreakable bond. Cian's eyes bore into mine with an intensity and devotion that makes my heart race.

When he releases my hand, Gianluca holds up his knife. Holding my gaze when I turn to him, as he slices open his palm. He then presses his palm against mine with a wicked smile. He is highly aroused by this, and I know that will translate to filthy sex in a few minutes.

Luke is next when Gianluca drops his hand from mine, his face a mask of control, yet his eyes betray how much he wants this—wants us. He doesn't hesitate when he cuts himself and presses his palm to mine. My hand is aching now, but I barely notice it when Luke leans forward to kiss me softly.

I look around at these men who've become my everything and feel a fierce protectiveness rise up from the depths of my soul. It's not just me anymore. "To us," I whisper.

"To us," they repeat.

The moment hangs in the air like a spell, broken only when G pulls me up from where I'm kneeling and crashes his lips against mine. It's hungry and desperate, his hands roaming over my body like he's trying to memorise every inch. I moan into his mouth, feeling the heat between us rise.

Cian and Luke are right behind me, their presence a dark promise of the depravity that will come. Gianluca breaks the kiss, leaving me breathless, and I find myself being guided to the couch. They're all around me, closing in like predators that have found their prey.

Cian grabs a candle as Gianluca's hands are already working on removing my lingerie. Luke's fingers entwine through my hair, pulling my head back so he can kiss me deeply as Gianluca strips me.

My body shivers as Gianluca's lips trail down my neck, sucking and biting until he reaches the swell of my breasts, where he lingers for a moment before moving down to my pussy.

Luke breaks away from me, his cold exterior cracking just a bit as he starts peeling off his clothes. His eyes never leave mine, filled with something darker than desire—ownership. He wants to claim me again and again so I never forget who I belong to.

Cian grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. "You ready for this?" His voice is rough, ragged with need.

"More than ever," I whisper back.

He smirks wickedly and holds the candle above my naked body, tilting it to the wax splats hotly against my skin.

"Ah," I gasp, the sensation both painful and electrifying. My back arches instinctively, pressing my body against Gianluca's mouth. His tongue aggressively circles my clit, Cian's eyes never leave mine as he continues to drip the hot wax over my body, making a masterpiece out of his desire for me.

"Fuck, you look amazing like this," Luke murmurs. He's completely naked now, every inch of him hard and ready.

Gianluca's tongue plunges into me without warning, making me cry out in pure pleasure. Luke holds me firmly in place by my hair as Gianluca devours me, his fingers digging into my hips with possessive strength.

Cian sets the candle aside and strips off, his eyes taking in every inch of me.

"I want you all to fuck me," I whisper breathlessly.

Luke's grip tightens in response. "You're going to get what you want," he promises. "Your pretty little cunt will be raw by the time we're finished with you."