King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

379

Sephie

I could hear Andrei snoring when I finally woke up. He was louder than Adrik, so I knew who I was sleeping on before I even opened my eyes. I would’ve been able to tell even if he wasn’t snoring. I wasn’t warm enough. It was almost warm enough, but not Adrik’s perfect warmth.

I opened my eyes, looking outside to try to get a feel for how late in the day it was. It was definitely afternoon, judging by the dim winter sunlight coming through the windows. I picked my head up to look at Andrei. He was pretty adorable when he slept. He was handsome anyway, but he had a boyish innocence to his face when he slept. I found myself watching him sleep for a few moments, enjoying his peacefulness.

He probably needed this extra sleep as much as I did. I hadn’t thought about it before now, but he had a new level unlocked between the match with Vitaliy’s men and what happened at the hotel. He was probably exhausted. I needed to check on Misha and Ivan to see how those two were doing after the last couple of days’ festivities.

I tried to get up as quietly as I could, but his giant arms were still wrapped around me. I knew he was trying to ensure maximum warmth as I slept. Poor guy must be having a heat stroke with me on top of him plus a blanket. He felt me trying to quietly move his arms and he woke up.

“I’m so glad you finally did this, spider monkey. I was exhausted too. You’re my favorite,” he said, letting go of me to rub his face in his hands.

I laughed. “i was just thinking about that. You got a new level unlocked. It always makes me exhausted when it happens. Are Misha and Ivan just as exhausted as you?”

“I think they’re okay. Boss said he’s never seen it affect Ivan this morning when he moved you out here.”

I thought for a minute. He was right. It had never affected Ivan the same way it did everyone else. “Huh. I never noticed, but you’re right. I knew he was a superhuman!” I said, laughing as I got off the couch and Andrei. I stood up to stretch, my joints popping like normal.

stood up next to me, looking at his phone that had been on the coffee table. He opened it and started typing. “I

me already,” I said. He grinned at me. He’d finally gotten over his nervousness with

around me, holding me to his chest. “I love you, spider monkey. But not

“It hurts, Bubba. It hurts right here,” I said, pretending

mood changes, just like Ivan. He was almost as good as Adrik, especially considering it hadn’t been happening very long for him. “Don’t be sad, spider monkey. It changes nothing. It was just shocking last night when we saw the whi te eyes. Boss was right. They’re scarier than your demon eyes. We just didn’t know what to him,

me back

to help us through it. You’ve had to deal with everything on

I laughed quietly. I looked up at him. “Nobody thought you were going

looked confused. “I’m older

older than Misha, but his soul is older than yours. Your soul is the youngest.” I

you know this?”

is a bit of a guardian angel, righ for Adrik’s mother. They’re around, checking in on us.” He nodded

he said, like he’d just

you fish that out of my head or

has a glow

seen that glow on?” I was curious if he’d picked up on

that day they tried to take you the first time. You and Boss do to but I don’t see it all the time on