King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

Chapter Two Hundred Eighty-Seven

Sephie

I knew I was in a hospital by the smell. That’s a smell that you don’t find anywhere else. I could hear voices in and out. I knew the guys were with me. I felt Adrik’s hand in mine. I could hear Ivan telling them what happened. My body reacted when Ivan was going through the events while we were in that room. I heard Adrik talking to me, trying to calm me, but it wasn’t working. The shaking got worse. I could feel it, but it also felt like I didn’t have control over my own body. There was a disconnect between my brain and my body. I was trying to move, but I couldn’t.

I felt Andrei’s warmer than average hands under my shoulders and Stephen’s ice-cold hands on my legs, lifting me gently. I could feel the bed dip beside me as Adrik laid down next to me. I could smell him. I just wanted to be close to him. When Andrei gently eased me back toward the bed, I knew I wasn’t close enough to Adrik, but I couldn’t move right. I struggled to turn toward him, hoping they would see.

I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move. But I could hear. And I could feel. Andrei and Stephen did notice my struggle and turned me so I could be closer to Adrik. As soon as they put my head on his shoulder, my body relaxed and the shaking subsided. I wanted to be closer still, but this would have to do for now.

I was in and out of consciousness throughout the…day? Night? I had no idea what day it was. Or what night it was. It didn’t really matter, to be honest. My body stayed relaxed as long as I was close to Adrik.

I heard the doctor come in and tell Adrik that he wanted to check me. I felt Adrik shift underneath me and I knew I was going to start shaking again. I tried to tell him, but I still couldn’t speak. Whatever they sedated me with this time was taking longer to wear off. I didn’t like it. I couldn’t control my own body.

I felt the doctor’s hands checking me over. I felt Andrei and Misha move me. I felt the shaking start once I was, apart from Adrik. I felt Andrei and Misha put me back against Adrik, but then I felt a very weird feeling. It was much the same as when Sal was staring at my boobs and Armando was looking at me half-naked, I didn’t like it. It didn’t last long, however. I couldn’t see and I couldn’t hear him, but I knew Ivan was standing over me. Since we were grabbed, I’d been able to feel him much the same way I could feel Adrik, just not as strongly. He had his own energy signature. I knew he was standing over me, protecting me. It was a different feeling with Ivan. With Adrik, it felt like he was standing with me, beside me, anytime he was being protective with me, With Ivan, it was like a protective bubble that he put me in, while he stood guard against whatever he perceived to be the threat. The weird, gross feeling went away almost immediately and I knew it was Ivan silently daring the doctor to continue whatever it was that was making me have this feeling. I finally felt the doctor leave the room.

I also heard Ivan’s voice talking to the guys, but it was hard to hear anything except Ivan for a few minutes. I knew Adrik was still with me, but the protective bubble that Ivan put me in blocked everything else out.

was still as close to me as possible, his arm hoiding me gently but firmly. I knew he was asleep, because his hand was still. When he was awake, his hand would lightly run up and down my back. I tried to move my body to see if it would work yet. This time I could open

I tried to move my foot, then my

regretted it. Shooting pain through my entire body caused me to let out something in between a scream, a yelp, and a cough. Adrik was jolted awake, as

were open and stopped to look at me,

but nothing came out. My throat felt horribly dry. I ended up coughing once, which

he walked to a table next to another bed in the room. There was a small pitcher there, with water in it. He poured a small amount of water into a cup and brought it to me. While he fetched me water, Misha and Viktor helped move me and adjust

I smiled weakly at

have more,” Ivan said. “Can you blink?” I blinked my eyes to show

you in pain, solnishko?” Adrik asked. I blinked twice. He cursed

you breathe better now?”

nauseous?” Andrei asked. I thought for a minute, then blinked once. I wasn’t happy about not being. in control of my body for so long, but at least I wasn’t nauseous this time. He went to refill the cup with water? He poured a little bit more this time, then handed it back to me. I drank it slowly.

know who won the bet on how long it took them to find us?” Ivan asked, a grin on his

toward Adrik. Andrei refilled my cup yet again. This time, he filled it up completely. I drank part of it, but then handed it to Adrik, who finished it. I was sure he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink the whole time I’d been out. He drank it quickly, handing the empty cup back to

dare try to apologize,” he said. “I would stay here until the end of time with you.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead gently.

I whispered.

his watch. “Right about 24 hours this time, but