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,

and Misha were on the couches when I walked in. “Where’s Bubba and Yoden?” I asked as I walked to the windows to watch the storm clo uds outside. I pulled my hands in

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

him, grinning. “Do I need

if you’ve hit your head recently and have no clue what’s going on around you,” he said, laughing.

up to me, 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

it to me. He had one in his hand 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 going to happen later, I asked, “how bad was your

phone calls I need to return. It shouldn’t take too

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

asked, surprised that he wasn’t

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 kissed my cheek, making my mind race about

my extra strong coffee for a few minutes.

doesn’t make you nervous to be standing by the window while the sky is

“Nope. My m om told me I was born in the middle of a storm like this. I’ve always been fascinated by them.”

surprised. “My m om

Misha said, looking between Ivan and me. His

your m om tell you that children born in storms should never fear the dark because the light is always with them?”

breaking bones. She

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

nervous, gazelle. Maybe don’t stand so close to the windows while the sky is angry,” he said. He

warmer?” I asked, walking closer to the couches. “Never mind. I’ll run my own experiment,” I said, sitting beside Misha. I curled up next to him as he threw his arm over my