Embrace The Shadows (Shadows Ascending Trilogy Book 3)

by Jenn D. Young

  “Perfect,” I muttered, the perfect smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

  Vincent let out a short laugh and pressed soft kisses over my mouth, nose, cheeks, and eyes. “You’re perfect, Theera. My perfect.”

  My heart melted and I clung tighter to him, feeling his love ignite a fire in my soul.

  33

  Vincent

  My eyes cut across the room, taking in Lorelei’s form as she put on her makeup in the stage mirror. We were backstage at Vamps, getting ready for the show tonight. I should be getting ready myself. I had a stage image to uphold. But I couldn’t take my eyes off my sexy as fuck mate.

  She was standing on the tips of her toes. Her mouth open as she applied a thick layer of eyeliner to her top eyelid. All her attention was focused on that one specific action; she didn’t even realize how intently I was staring at her. My lips parted and my tongue slid across the sharpened point of one fang as I watched her ass move while she hummed a tune.

  “You really need to stop staring at me,” Lorelei commented without missing a beat. She finished the stroke of eyeliner with a flourish, giving her the perfect cat eye look and eyed me through my reflection in the mirror. Her icy blue eyes sparkled with mischief. If we didn’t have to be on that stage in the next ten minutes, I would take her, bend her over the counter, and fuck her until she couldn’t walk straight.

  “Promises, promises,” she taunted while shaking her head. She turned on her heel and whirled around to face me.

  Fuck. She was absolutely gorgeous. Dressed in a tight DemonFall shirt that hugged her soft curves, it was modified and cut off to show off just enough of her luscious breasts. Breasts that I longed to bite and suck on right at this very moment. A short skirt, held up with a metal studded leather belt, and leggings adorned with sugar skulls completed her outfit.

  My perfect goth Nephilim mate.

  I growled, the sound low and menacing in my throat as I cross the room and backed her against the counter. My body loomed over hers, but she just smiled.

  As if on cue, Nicolae burst in the room and yelled “Five minutes, boss. We don’t have time for your kinky games.”

  “Fuck you, Nic.” I flicked my hand toward him with a flourish and sent the box that sat upon a shelf above him, careening down right on top of his head.

  The box—filled with random paperwork—split and rained down around Nicolae. Several small yellow sticky notes stuck to his clothes and hair. A receipt that had to be at least a foot long hung from his shoulder. “Seriously?” Nicolae look up to the shelf. “Why does Ivan have a random box of receipts for—” he plucked the paper off his shoulder and read over it quickly. “—fucking toilet paper!”

  Nicolae grumbled under his breath as he tore the papers from his body. Layla poked her head through the open door and gave her mate a confused look. “What the hell Nic?” she asked, fighting back a surge of laughter.

  Lorelei didn’t hold back her humor; it bubbled out of her until she held a hand over her middle and doubled over with the force of her laughter.

  “I came back to say that Ivan needs you on stage ASAP. The crowd is getting restless,” Layla said behind her palm, still fighting from laughing at her mate. Nicolae was still plucking at various papers, throwing them to the ground and then stomping on them in his anger.

  “Throwing a temper tantrum now are we?” I laid an arm across Lorelei’s shoulder and drew her close into the shelter of my body. My muscles relaxed as she melted into me, taking my comfort. This moment was perfect. Surrounded by love. With my mate, my brothers, and my music. It was perfect.

  The concert was flawless in every way. Lorelei and I performed one of her original songs that I had adapted. Our chemistry was explosive, and the crowd ate it up. Unlike the first show she performed with me, she had left no nerves stepping on to that stage. It was as if she was born to be in front of a crowd.

  After our final song, I drew her into my arms and kissed the living daylights out of her—much to the crowd’s delight.

  Now she was leaning against my chest as we sat in a round booth with Nicolae, Layla, Damius, and Kaniul. Ivan and Angelo hovered close by, helping to keep the crowd at bay. Lorelei was quiet, her face peaceful. Serene as her eyes fluttered closed and a smile spread across her full lips.

  “They’re here,” she said softly, her voice rough with emotion.

  “Who?” I asked as I ran my fingertips up and down her arm in a gentle caress.

  “Mom and Dad.”

  My eyebrows lifted into my hairline while I looked around the room, catching the eye of Akakaios and Morgana as they stood in the corner of the darkened room. Their presence was cloaked. Their essence dim in comparison to what it was when they appeared in the council chambers just last week.

  “Holy shit,” Nicolae spat his drink out all over the table as he saw the Archangel approach us.

  “Damn it, Nic!” Kaniul bit out as he wiped droplets of soda from the side of his face.

  Lorelei rose to her feet, embracing first her mother then her father. Light radiated off her as she stood before them. Since Adrianna’s death, something about Lorelei had changed. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, but she positively glowed.

  Akakaios’ pale colorless irises slid in my direction and gave me a knowing smile. Of course, he had heard my thoughts. “That’s actually why we’re here,” he proclaimed in his booming voice.

  “Why what, huh?” Lorelei cocked her head to the side and regarded her father. Then she turned to me and blinked in question. “Did he read your mind again? Man, I hate it when he does that shit.”

  “Indeed.” I rose and my feet carried me effortlessly to Lorelei’s side. My arm snaked around her waist and I drew her close to me. Pressing a kiss into her hair, I looked at Akakaios in question. “So, are you going to enlighten us as to what has changed about your daughter.”

  Smiles spread over both Morgana’s and Akakaios’ faces and their eyes fell to Lorelei’s stomach, giving it a pointed look. I narrowed my gaze, confusion radiating over me. Why would they be looking so intently at her stomach?

  Unless….

  The palm of my other hand splayed out on Lorelei’s still flat belly and I closed my eyes. My senses reached out and then I felt it. The heartbeats. Two of them.

  Oh shit.

  “Vincent, what are you doing? Someone please tell me what the fuck is going on right now?” Lorelei tried to wrench herself out of my grip, but I held her tightly to me.

  I opened our connection, merging my mind fully with her and urged her to feel what I was feeling.

  The moment it dawned on her, the muscles of her body went tense. Her spine stiffened and her fingers curled around mine as they gently caressed her torso.

  “Congratulations, Lorelei,” Morgana exclaimed excitedly, her green eyes lit up with happiness and glassy with unshed tears. “You’re going to be having twins in approximately eight and a half months.”

  “I’m pregnant,” Lorelei muttered in disbelief and fell backwards as she fainted.

  Epilogue

  Lorelei

  Eight months later

  Pain radiated throughout my entire torso, making my vision go black as I cried out in pain. “Vincent!” I was barely able to shout before all the breath left my lungs. My body collapsed, luckily I was still close enough to the bed that I landed on top of the soft mattress. I laid my palm out over my overly distended belly. Where our twins rested, happy and content to stay where they were… until today.

  Vincent burst through the door with so much force the knob embedded in the wall behind him. “It’s time?” he said, his eyes frantic as he looked over me. “Shit. It’s too soon!”

  “No, it’s not.” I groaned as another contraction swept through my body. Damn, they were already so close together. I guess these babies were ready to make their impression upon the world. I panted and tried to regain my composure before I spoke. “Adreon said they could come up to a month early. They’ll be fine. Now grab
the bag and let’s go.”

  My mate looked at me as if I held his very world in my hands. As if I held the power of his life and death. Everything was reflected in those red and black depths and my heart swelled within my chest.

  “Vincent, please,” I said softly. As much as I loved seeing that look upon his face, these babies were going to come whether we were at the clinic or not.

  All throughout my pregnancy, Adreon had been the only one responsible for my care. Vincent didn’t trust anyone else with the lives of his mate and children. Once we got over the shock of the pregnancy in the first place, the tests and care began. Adreon was thrilled for new hybrid children that he could care for and new samples to add to his collection.

  Vincent was glad that Adreon had studied from the top medical schools in the world. Multiple times. Over multiple centuries. He was well versed in medicine and in the unique genetics of our kind. Even though I was in a class all my own, we were able to muddle together a plan that ensured a healthy and happy pregnancy for myself and the babies.

  “Right.” He shook his head and snapped out of his haze. Rushing through the room with his preternatural speed, he grabbed my large bag and slung it across his back. “Are you alright, Theera?” he asked the question with so much reverence in his voice that tears sprang to my eyes.

  “Contractions hurt like a mother fucker so why don’t you help me get up and let’s get to Adreon, right? Then we can finally be parents.”

  Vincent let out a shaky breath but smiled and took me into his arms. “I can’t wait to meet our little ones.”

  “Me neither.”

  Alexios and Sophie Flane were born just a few hours later, after I screamed and cursed their father’s name. Plus, almost ripped off his hand from squeezing it so hard.

  But it was all worth it as I held Sophie in my arms. Vincent held Alexios, whispering softly to him as he rocked him back and forth. Never in my entire life had I ever thought I would see the day where my strong and powerful demon prince. My mate. My everything. Would be holding one of our children in his arms.

  He caught me starring and shifted his gaze to mine. I was a wreck, tired and still dripping with sweat after the intense pain of giving birth to twins. Yet, Vincent looked at me like I was the sexiest thing in the entire world.

  “Because you are, Theera. You and our children are everything. I will never let any harm come to you. Ever. You have my solemn vow.” His voice shook with conviction and emotion. He sank down slowly into the chair at my bedside. I made a motion for him to hand me Alexios, and he placed him gently into my other arm.

  “They’re so perfect,” I said in utter awe as I gazed down at our little miracle babies. Alexios had a perfect mop of dark hair on his head, but he looked just like his daddy, even having his two-tone red and black eyes. Sophie had beautiful soft white blonde hair and the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.

  “Yes, all three of you are.” Vincent cleared his throat and swallowed. Tears glimmered in the depths of his eyes—not so unique now that his son had them too. “I never imagined my life would ever turn out this way. Thank you, Theera. For everything.” He closed his eyes and pressed a kiss into my hair. When he drew away, his hands touched each of the babies with a gentleness that you wouldn’t think a demon would possess.

  “I love you, my demon prince. Thank you for rescuing me from the shadows.”

  Vincent shook his head, a smile tilting those perfect lips. “No, Lorelei. There was no rescuing you. You embraced the shadows and now… you’re their queen.”

  The End…

  About the Author

  Jenn D. Young is a native of Washington, currently living in Arizona. She has always dreamed of writing about the characters that have been floating around in her head. Ever since the age of 14, she has been obsessed with romance novels and reading them as fast as she can get her hands on them. Her first love is Paranormal Romance, but she enjoys stories from all across the genre. You can typically find her listening to music or an audiobook, reading, or hanging out with her dogs Hermes and Loki.

  She loves to hear from her readers, so please give her a follow below:

  Website: www.jenndyoung.com

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  Also by Jenn D. Young

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