King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

481

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.

Stephen cleared his throat, but paused for a moment before he spoke. He’d been hanging around Ivan a little too much. His flair for the dramatic was growing. “Seph, I’m not sure I could describe the level of He ll that it is to be completely numb to everything and everyone day in and day out. It’s effective for survival, sure. But it’s not living. What you think of as emotional turmoil is really just a kickass reminder from you that it’s better to live than to simply survive. I will take your emotional turmoil over being numb every day of the week and twice on Sundays,” he said, in the serious manner that only he could deliver.

She chewed on her bottom lip, thinking about his words,

“It’s true, spider monkey. I also don’t think you’re taking into account the ri diculous control you have of your emotions. You share that with all of us To you, it might feel out of control. To us, you’re very much in control. You’re also showing us how to do it each time it happens. That’s not something that most men know how to do. I definitely did not. I just shoved everything down and then eventually blew up when no one was around. I prefer your method, if I’m being honest,” Andrei said.

“Same,” Misha said. “Except for the blowing up part. I chose to make jokes about anything and everything. Mostly inappropriately.”

Sephie giggled. “I mean, it’s effective. I still do the same.”

choose the connection every single time,” Misha said. I was honestly surprised he was so sincere. I didn’t know that kid had it in

a way to apply it to normal,

would not be the worst thing in

like Stephen, I spent most of the time just being numb or angry before we met you. I

your demon agrees with that, Ivan,” I

we’re going to need to start looking for weirdos like Sephie. What normal person is going to be okay with a statement like that?” Misha asked, laughing at the absurdity of it all. His laughter was infectious; we all joined

me that you would show me the best parts of myself if I let you. She was absolutely correct. But

what she told me yesterday when we were gone. That if I needed someone to ha te, it should be her

too. Her eyes turned black, causing mine and Ivan’s to also go black. We all sat in stunned silence, brewing in our own anger

face was starting to turn red, even. I expected Sephie to get angry in response to his tone, but i could easily feel her happiness.

looked at Misha, his eyes were much darker than his usual green.

Her statement caught him by surprise, but Andrei caught on

are changing,” he

the first time. We all did.

It felt as clear as anything I got from her. She was right, too. There was an element of f**kery behind his anger. Like he was already looking for ways to

everything just as clearly as I

from him as it does you or Ivan

head. She brought Ivan into the conversation, asking him

and Boss now. You two are still stronger, but he’s very similar now,” Ivan told us.