King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

Chapter Two Hundred Twenty-Four

Sephie

I put on the warmest clothes | had at the house and was still cold, even after the hot showwer Adrik walked out of the closet with a sweatshirt. “Here, solnishko. Put this on. It will help. Let’s go get you something warm to drink, ton,” he said. He waited for me to pull his sweatshirt on, then grabbed my hand pulling me toward the door. “Do you want some tea?” he asked on our way down the stairs.

“The only tea I really like is what I use to sleep and I don’t want to sleep right now. Coffee sounds good, though. If nothing else, it might make me hyper enough that I warm myself up from not being able to sit still,” I said as I jumped down the stairs behind him, laughing.

“That seems like a good life choice for you right now,” he said, shaking his head at my shenanigans. “I will make you some coffee, love.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs, pulling me to him to kiss me.

“This is why you’re my favorite,” I said, smiling against his lips. “You don’t have to worry about not telling the others, though. They already know, trust me. It’s not a secret.”

He laughed, wrapping his arms around me. “I love you, Sephie.”

“Is it because you’re looking forward to me having endless energy later? Because I’d love me for that too,” I asked, laughing

He cursed under his breath. I could see where his mind was going “I’m going to make your coffee extra strong,” he said, a devilish grin on his face.

“Challenge accepted.”

Viktor was in the kitchen when we walked in. Adrik asked him what he’d missed while we were at the lake As they were talking

business and Adrik was making coffee, I walked to the back room to see who was there. The storm was still going strong outside and I wanted to watch the lightning as well. The back room had the best windows in the whole house,

the storm clo uds outside. I pulled my hands in the too-long sleeves and crossed my arms across my chest, trying to stay warm. I heard Ivan click his tongue, but he didn’t say anything, he just got

answered, “they’re playing video games. They’re playing against

at him, grinning. “Do I need

no clue what’s going on around you,” he said, laughing.

pulling it on my head. “Princess, you have to keep your head warm if you expect the rest of you to stay warm” I had braided my hair when we got out of the shower, because I just didn’t feel like dealing with having to dry it again. Ivan picked my still damp braid up and said, “especially if your hair is still wet.” He smacked me lightly with my braid as

as well, which made me smirk at him. He couldn’t help but grin at me as he took a sip. I felt my cheeks flush. In an effort to distract myself from thoughts of what was

a couple of phone calls I need to return. It shouldn’t take

had put on me. “Are you still cold, solnishko?” he asked. His eyes

you not?” I asked, surprised that he wasn’t cold in the

tongue. “Drink your coffee. It will help. I’ll be back soon,” he said. He leaned down, his lips close to my ear. “I have an idea to make you warm again. Several ideas.” He lightly brushed his short facial hair against my cheek, then

extra strong coffee for a few minutes. The lightning was almost constant. It was beautiful to

doesn’t make you nervous to be standing by the window while the sky is basically on fire, gazelle?” Misha asked.

m om told me I was born in the

looked surprised. “My m om told me the same thing.”

looking between Ivan and me. His wide, handsome smile stretched across his

you that children born in storms should never fear the dark because the light is always with them?” I

She did, however, tell me to stop breaking

Squish.” I looked at Misha, who was still smiling. “And you, my adorable Russian guardian, I’m convinced you got away with murder because you were so adorable. Your poor mothers,” I said, shaking my head, but smiling at the thought of both of them as rowdy little kids. I turned back to look out the windows. A giant streak of lightning stretched across the sky, immediately followed by a second, even brighter streak across the sky and a loud crack of thunder. It was so loud that I didn’t hear Misha get up from the couch. I felt his hands

close to the windows while the sky is angry,” he said. He walked back to the couch,

I asked, walking closer to the couches. “Never mind. I’ll run my own experiment,” I said, sitting