“I just heard her tell me they were fine. Like she was standing next to me. Except she’s not. She’s asleep.”
Stephen, in his normal serious way, said, “it was only a matter of time before she was able to communicate telepathically with you. You guys have been doing it silently for a while. Maybe she’s learning how to talk to you now
Viktor’s phone beeped, alerting him to my next meeting. He looked to me. “Tell them I’ll be a few minutes late. She said she’s fine, but I still don’t like that she’s not awake. I’m going to stay a few more minutes in case she wakes up.”
I stayed, kneeling in front of her, my hand on her cool cheek, watching her sleep in Ivan’s protective embrace. Neither of them looked troubled. They both looked like they were sharing a joke that the rest of us knew nothing about.
I finally heard her say, “miam, there’s the warmth I love,” as she opened her eyes, revealing the deepest depth of the ocean blue that I adored. Once again, her lips never moved. She reached up, placing her hand on top of mine. I’m fine. He’s fine, too. I’m sorry I worried you. I forget time is
2/3different when talking to my dad.” Ivan started to stir as well. She sat up, still fighting to wake up completely. “Your next meeting is waiting for you. He’s irritated that you’re late, for the record. Go. I’ll come down after you’re done with this meeting and fill you in. Especially since you’re wondering how I knew that,” she said, grinning at me.
Sephte
I felt Adrik stir underneath me, but I couldn’t bring myself to wake up. Normally, I wasn’t aware of when he woke up when I needed to sleep longer. This time, however, I could hear his thoughts as he watched me sleep.
It was like his internal dialogue was now in my head. I heard him thinking. I heard him wishing he could stay with me.
I felt him pick me up, wrap a blanket around me, and carry me out of the bedroom with him. Before the guys made the decision on who was going to stay with me, I knew it was going to be Ivan. I knew he’d been zapped, but I didn’t know why yet. I could feel his exhaustion. Wait, I can feel him without seeing him.
I heard him tell Adrik why he’d been extra tired. How he could see not just when a person’s demon consumed them, but now when they were looking for ways in, too. That’s gotta be slightly comical, in a twisted sort of way.
As everyone left for the day, I felt Ivan fall asleep behind me. His massive arms were holding onto me, keeping me safe while we slept. I found myself back in the darkness. Only this wasn’t my darkness. It felt different. It sounded different. I could hear music. Piano music. I recognized the song. It was Ivan’s song.
I felt him before I could see him. “Princess?” I turned to find Ivan, looking very confused as to why I was in his darkness.
“Squish,” I said, smiling at him. “Did you leave your phone on before you went to sleep with me on the couch?”
“How do you know we’re on the couch? You were sleeping?” He said the last statement like a question, as he was beginning to question what his eyes
53w.
“I was. I am. But somehow I’m still aware of everything going on around me knew it was you that was going to stay with me today. I could feel your exhaustion when Adrik walked out with me.” “This is new, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Very much so, yes. I could also hear Adrik’s thoughts before he got out of bed this morning. I kind of woke up when he woke up, but I didn’t move. But normally I’m incapable of not reacting when he touches me, so I wasn’t really fully awake. Just aware.”
He looked at me thoughtfully, like he was trying to come up with an explanation. “You have been very aware of things happening that you can’t see lately. Maybe this has to do with that?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I dunno. When were you gonna tell me you can see demons all the time now?” I asked, trying to fake outrage to make him worry.
“I was gonna tell you, princess. I’m still getting used to it. Do you know how hard it is to keep a straight face when you see some little demon riding. around on someone’s shoulder like it’s their pet dragon? I’m trying my best to keep it together right now. You always amplify things, too. Maybe I was worried you were going to make me hear them too.” He laughed as he said it. He just wanted to give me a hard time. “Okay, you can make it up to me,” I said, cutting my eyes over at him like I was irritated with him. He raised an eyebrow at me. “At some point, once I get a handle on how exactly I borrow everyone’s gifts, I’m gonna need to see this for myself,” I said, grinning at him.
“Deal.”
“Now answer my original question. Did you leave your phone playing?”
He shook his head no. “No, I’ve listened to the recordings of you playing so much that they started playing on their own now when I come here. I like it. Makes it nicer,” he said. I couldn’t help my smile. “The bigger question, I think, is why you’re here, princess. Not that I mind, but this is definitely new.”
As soon as he asked the question, the scene in front of us changed. His darkness faded away to reveal the very familiar path, in front of the very
I/3 familiar house. I smiled at Ivan, taking his hand, and leading him to the house. “You’re in for a treat, Squish.”
We walked into the house, hearing the familiar song my dad was playing while he waited for us. Ivan looked down at me skeptically as we walked into the room where my dad was. As the song ended, he said, “I know this is a little strange, Ivan, but I needed to talk to both of you and this saved me some time. I’ve joined a new aerial acrobatics team and we have practice later. I’m on a time schedule,” my dad said as he turned to face us.
I laughed as I went to hug him, leaving Ivan still somewhat stunned and slightly confused. I turned to look at Ivan and as soon as he saw me standing next to my dad, he figured it out. “You’re Sephie’s dad,” he said. “You look like him, princess.”
My dad looked down at me, raising an eyebrow as he studied my face. “I think her mother helped way more than I did on her looks, but I’ll take the compliment anyway. I plan to tell everyone about this, in fact,” he said, grinning at me.
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.