“They stay there, along with the demons. Sephie’s dad told me I was the only one that could grant them reprieve once I’d condemned them. I’m still not entirely sure what that means, but I’m guessing they have to go through me to get out of H ell,” I said.
“Yeah, that’s a heavy responsibility,” Viktor said.
“Exactly why I’m not planning on using it very often,” I said.
“Is this why you feel different?” Andrei asked.
“You noticed it too?” Sephie asked Andrei. He nodded his head. “What does it feel like to you?” she asked him. “I’m curious if it’s the same as me.”
“He usually feels hot, like you. Also like Ivan. You three are always hot. It’s still there, but now there’s like ice there too, somehow, I don’t understand how that could be, but that’s the only way I know to explain it,” Andrei said.
“Yeah, that’s the same for me, too,” Sephie said. “It’s doesn’t make sense, but I don’t know how to describe it either.”
“Both Sephie’s dad and Sephie said it’s the balance between good and evil,” I said. I had leaned against the counter where Sephie had previously been sitting and pulled her back against me. She was still facing everyone else as we continued talking-
Andrei looked at her, smiling. “Sephie agrees,” he said. I turned her around enough I could see her deep purple eyes. I smiled at her, kissing her quickly. “Even Sephie feels a little different now, too. Did something happen to her too?” Andrei asked. He was studying Sephie as he asked the question, much like she was studying me earlier.
“It’s because of him, I think,” she said.
“She’s right. Because she’s so connected to me, she’s gaining power too. She’s going to give Ivan a boost too. You three will soon become connected with your demons, much like we have because of this, too,” I said.
“What about Viktor?” Ivan asked me and Sephie.
“I asked the same thing. He’s going to need Stephen’s help one more time and then he should be fine with everything. Yesterday helped tremendously. Kostya has been helping him every night as well,” I told him.
He nodded discreetly. Stephen was the one who brought it up to the rest of the group, asking Viktor, “how do you feel after yesterday? Better this time? Do you think you need it again? I don’t want you to be freaked out if we all suddenly show up with black eyes one day.”
Viktor chuckled. “Yeah, I think one more time. Just to be safe.”
“I told you Stephen already knows most of what we’re talking about before we tell him, “I told Sephie. She pulled my arms around her even tighter.
“I think we should stay here for another night. Dario can wait until tomorrow. I think it’s more important we have one more night where we don’t need to worry about anything extra,” Sephie announced.
Stephen raised his eyebrow looking at Viktor, “After lunch then?” Viktor agreed with that plan.
“Then it’s settled,” Sephie said. She turned in my arms to face me, her eyes were deep blue. I could feel her warmth spreading through my body.
“I must be extra special to get two colors all to myself,” I said to her, pushing her curls back from her face.
“You are extra special. Don’t let it go to your head,” she replied, grinning at me.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said, pressing my lips to hers.
I could feel her relax into me as I held her tightly, enjoying the quiet moment with her.
God, I love her.
Adrik
While we ate lunch, the guys took the opportunity to talk to Sephie about her worry that she was condemning them to always feel what she felt.
“So, Boss told us all that you’re worried you’re condemning us to always have to feel what you feel because we’re so connected to you now,” Andrei said, after glancing at Misha and Stephen. Sephie looked surprised, but she didn’t deny it. “I don’t know how to turn it off without making it worse,” she said.
“Why would you want to turn it off?” Misha asked.
“Because you guys don’t need to be in constant emotional turmoil just because I am,” she said quietly. We could all feel her sadness as she thought about the situation.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.