A Crown Of Fire And Wrath (The Shadow Walkers Saga #5) - Sloane Murphy Page 0,68

met so very long ago, but I still love you. Who you were then, and the bad ass bitch you’ve grown into. Your heart is the same as it was then, and that is what fucking matters. You do not run.” His growl sends tingles straight to my core as his hand tightens in my hair, keeping my eyes on his.

“I have no intention of running again,” I tell him as I squirm beneath him.

“Good.”

Chapter Sixteen

It’s been a week since I got back from the Shadow Realm, and we seem to have found a relative peace. Even if it still feels like Roman watches me like prey. We’ve finally settled into a new sort of normal. One where people don’t walk on eggshells around me. Where we know that someone, somewhere, still pretty much wants me dead, but we don’t want it to take over our lives.

We now have such a big network of people, that its almost easy to feel safe. We know we’ve fucked with whoever it is that’s coming against us, or at least, their numbers. So the threat, in theory, should be reduced, I’m looking forward to a new normal where whoever it is that hates me this much, isn’t fucking with us.

I’m still pretty sure this isn’t all about me. I’m still convinced this has more to do with the factions and hierarchy. With someone wanting a bigger piece of the pie than they have and that I just threaten that somehow, but everyone else seems convinced someone is out to get me. Considering the attempts on my life in the last year, I shouldn’t be so remiss to throw their suspicions out, but I also don’t want someone else’s crazy to rule my life.

So in between Roman jetting off to the compound for two days, and calling me pretty consistently, and Kain still looking into leads for Amelia, things have been reasonably relaxed. Creek and Colt have been training with me since I levelled up with all of my memories, kicking their asses has been beyond fun. Fallon came and reset the wards around the manor, we did facials and pedicures after.

So all in all, pretty mundane. Which is why I’m so excited that today is Christmas Eve. I’ve spent the entire morning wrapping the presents I bought. I left the guys putting up the ridiculous tree I bought first thing, under the strict instructions to put the lights on before the baubles. Hearing them bicker about what goes where has been brilliant, and I totally snapped some ninja photos for the scrap book I got the other week too. Our first Christmas.

Nonnie has been in the kitchen prepping all day, I haven’t dared even go to that side of the house, and I’m not alone in that either. After Creek got chased out earlier by Nonnie with her wooden spoon, everyone has just steered clear. Though, I’m not going to lie, watching a grown ass, half-demon, man run from an old Dracul is definitely going to be a Christmas highlight that I’ll never forget.

I stash away the last of the wrapped presents and head back to the sitting room to see how badly they’ve massacred my tree.

“Wow,” I gasp as I enter the room. “You guys did this? Alone?”

I blink, fixed on the spot, taking in the fight before me. It’s freaking beautiful. The warm twinkle lights on the tree, with the white decorations. The garland across the fireplace also has twinkle lights and is sprayed with fake snow.

“Do you like it?” Kain asks, smiling brightly at me.

“It’s amazing.” I notice the gifts already under the tree, and my grin widens. Creek walks towards me and envelopes me in a hug.

“I knew you would.” His voice is so low as he embraces me, I’m sure the others don’t hear it, but it gives me goosebumps. The thought of spending our first Christmas together makes me giddy, especially after the shit show that was thanksgiving. The smells coming from the kitchen alone make my mouth water. I get the feeling that Nonnie isn’t letting me have my vision of pizza, instead, it’s a European Christmas for us. Which considering Kain, I’m not too bothered about. I’ve spent Christmas’ all over the world, the Europeans definitely eat like they’re my people.

I tug on Creek’s hand and get him to help me bring the gifts from my closet to put them under the tree. I might have gone a little overboard, but it turns out I