“He can even tell the difference between you and your demon already,” she said.
I laughed. I hadn’t even told her that part. “I don’t know why it still surprises me that you read my mind, but it still sometimes does,” I said. She just grinned at me. She hugged Misha’s neck, explaining to him how the rest of us had progressed through this particular development in our lives. To say that Misha was excited for this would be an understatement. He looked like a kid on Christmas morning he was so happy this had happened.
Stephen looked at Viktor. “So, yeah. I think it’s time I helped you one more time. Just to be safe,” he said. Viktor just nodded and stood up to leave the kitchen without a word. I looked to Sephie, wanting to know what he was feeling.
“He’s not as worried as I thought he was going to be. He’s happy. He recognizes that it’s all something we want to happen and he’s happy for us. Stephen really is helping him. I think after this time, he’ll be fine with it and able to laugh about it,” she said.
There was an audible exhale from everyone still in the kitchen.
King of the UnderworldSephie
When Viktor came out from Stephen helping him one more time, he looked remarkably better. He’d looked better each time Stephen had helped him, but it looked like he was finally relaxed and happy this time. The rest of us were in the back room, on the couches, being ridiculous about something when they walked in.
“Papa Bear, you look much better this time,” I said, smiling at him. The smile I got in return was enough to tell us all everything we needed to know.
“Even I can tell you feel better now and I don’t usually pay attention,” Misha said.
“I think I got it all this time,” Stephen said. “I was somewhat concerned for my effectivity the other two times.”
“He’s been holding on to it for a long time. You could’ve asked for a boost, like with Sergei,” I said.
“I know. Maybe I wanted to see if I could do it on my own,” Stephen said, grinning at me.
“Independent. I’ll allow it,” I said.
“Okay, who has Andrei next or Stephen next?” Misha asked.
We all looked at both Andrei and Stephen. That was a tougher decision to make than I would’ve thought. They were both progressing at rapid rates. Andrei has had his gift for longer, but Stepher jumped in with both feet once he discovered his. It could go either way.
“My money is on Andrei,” Ivan said. Adrik agreed with him.
“I’m going with Stephen,” I said, which shocked everyone. “I know it should technically be Andrei that gets it next, but he’s been more cautious about his gift the entire time. I also think he’s more worried about controlling his anger when it happens, so it’s going to take him longer. Stephen has more experience with that. I think he’s going to be more willing to take that leap much sooner than Bubba,” I said.
“You know that feeling that I assume one has when they’re a kid and their parents tell them they’re proud of them? That’s what I’m feeling right now,” Stephen said, his uncharacteristic smile stretching across his face.
“She’s not wrong, Stephen. I agree with her. My money is on you, too,” Andrei said.
“Apologies for snooping, but I noticed your uneasiness when I told Misha to get angrier. I’ll show you what I showed him when you’re ready. You’ll be just fine, Bubba,” I said to him silently. “I know you’ll help. I’m more worried about not breaking anything. The few times it’s happened, I’ve always smashed something. Or someone. That’s what I’m most worried about,” he told me. “We won’t let that happen. But now you have to wait until Stephen figures it out so we’ll win the bet pool,” I said to him. I could hear him laughing along with me in my head, but neither of us gave any outward signs we were having this conversation. I did have to admit to enjoying my little private conversations with all of them probably more than I should.
We spent the afternoon relaxing and enjoying spending time together. They all got up and followed me to the kitchen while I started dinner. They all chipped in to help when needed, but continued on with the conversation.
Viktor’s phone beeped. He pulled it from his pocket, chuckling as he read the message. “It’s Trino. He wants to know if I can help him find a security team. He said he’s not having the luck he thought he was going to.”
“At least he can admit he was wrong,” Adrik said, laughing.
“We do need to figure out how we’re going to tell him about everything.” Ivan said.
“Let’s just spring it on him. Let’s wait until Stephen and Andrei can switch their eyes too and then just all show up one day like that. I feel like that’s the best plan,” I said, trying not to laugh.
Misha, who was standing next to me helping, looked at me. “It’s like you took the words right out of my mouth, gazelle,” he said, his handsome smile beaming at me.
Adrik laughed. “As much as I would like to see that, I think we are going to need slightly more fact than that. But let’s keep that shelved. I’m sure there’s someone we’ll be able to use it on at some point.”
Misha glanced at me, then looked to Adrik. “Are we soulmates now too? Did that just happen? Because I feel like it did.”
I I elbowed Misha in the ribs. “I don’t share. They all erupted into laughter as I finished up dinner.
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.