King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

381

Sephie

“I don’t know about that, but I do know that your sisters were very wrong about you,” I said, putting Stephen to work washing a few dishes I’d dirtied.

“On some level, I know that too. There’s…” he started to say, but he didn’t finish. He was quiet for long enough that I knew he wasn’t going to finish.

“I know there’s more, Stephen. You don’t ever have to tell me. I know you’re struggling, but I won’t pry and I won’t fish. You know the best way to conquer your demons, Voden?” He shook his head no. He was still facing away from me, his shoulders slightly slumped. I knew this was difficult for him. “It’s to stop fighting them and make friends with them. They have no power over you that way. The more you try to ignore the monster you’re trying to keep locked away, the bigger and stronger it grows. You have to make friends with it before it consumes you.”

I went back to what I was doing, not wanting to force him to talk anymore than he wanted to. I heard him turn the water in the sink off, then he dried his hands, tossing the towel back on the counter. I felt his hand on my arm as he gently turned me around, then he pulled me against him so tightly, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to breathe. I heard him sniffle a few times. I kept my arms around him just as tightly and would do so for as long as he needed.

“I’ll be right here the whole time, Stephen. You don’t have to face it alone.”

I thought there was no way he could hold me any tighter, but I was wrong. I was so wrong. I knew he was struggling, but I didn’t realize it was this much. I heard him inhale sharply, like he was choking back sobs and my heart just hurt for him.

“I love you, Yoden. And as much as whatever you went through su cked and still su cks, it made you into my absolute favorite vampire of all time. Without you, no one would know what enabling is,” I said, trying to sound serious, but unable to hide my smile.

He laughed and his grip on me loosened. He wiped his eyes before he let me go completely. “I didn’t realize how much I needed that, Seph. I still don’t understand how you do it, but please never stop.”

at him, which made him laugh again. Now come here, I

the oven. “Henry will be here tonight. Viktor said Boss wants you at the meeting, so whatever we’re doing

very bossy today,” I said, crossing my arms across my chest.

that he was typing a reply to Viktor. “Sephie says you’re not the boss of

I could see you weren’t even touching the screen. He’s always so sweet about

tes it when you don’t cook. He’s just so nice that

he sees whatever we’re doing completed by 6, then,” I said, pulling the cookies out of the oven. “The question is, though, should

them?”

I think,” he

“What’s option 3?”

in his apartment. We never lock our doors. We don’t need to. But

have to hurry slightly to get whatever we’re doing done and down to his apartment and back to the office by 6. Oh my God, the pressure!” I said,

an extra baking sheet and fanning the cookies so they’d cool faster, which made me laugh.

my favorite. Don’t tell

finished up Viktor’s favorite cookies, then snuck downstairs to deliver them to his apartment and made it to the office with five minutes to spare. Everyone else was already in the office, waiting on us, but also still waiting on Henry to arrive. Just as we walked in, Viktor’s phone beeped, signaling that Henry was in the lobby. He walked out

could tell he was amused that I’d disappeared

going to

him to laugh when it was just the two of us, but he rarely laughed loudly in front of the group. It made me happy to see. “Seph has a mind for logistics. He was only defending Wallachia before, but now he can finally see the complete destruction.