King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

King of the Underworld

478

Sephie

“You can crush souls now?” I asked, barely above a whisper. I know my eyes were as wide as they could possibly go.

He laughed. “Not crush them literally, no. But I can condemn them to H ell now.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Don’t worry, it was difficult for me to comprehend as well. Your dad told me that my demon is getting more powerful, which means so am 1. When I helped Stephen break Armando and I went full nuclear but was able to just switch it off, apparently that proved that I could handle more. I’m still in complete control of my demon. There are going to be times when even Stephen will be ineffectual, like with Ricardo and Martin. Their deals really are eternal, apparently. Even if Stephen breaks them, those souls still belong to those two demons. They would come back and still make the same mistakes each time because they’re always going to be tied to their demons. The opposite of us, I guess. Instead of that happening, I break the cycle by sending them all back to H ell.”

“What happens then? They stay there forever?” I asked. I could feel the goosebumps coming up over my entire body. I saw the look on Adrik’s face that meant my eyes had changed. I was guessing purple, but I was too curious about what he was telling me to ask.

“Your dad said I’m the only one that can grant them reprieve once I’ve condemned them to H ell. I’m still not sure what that means,” up to twirl one of my curls around his fingers.

he said, reaching

“It means you really are the King of the Underworld,” I said, watching his reaction. I knew I had goosebumps, but I could actually feel his spreading over his body when I said it. He was completely focused on my eyes, though.

that again,” he said as

the phrase, then asked, “why? What

purple as I was telling you everything, but when you said I really was the King of the Underworld, they started to change to a new

giggled. “Shu t up.”

you said it

face in his shoulder. I was just happy he was awake and responsive again. I

I understand why it needs to happen, but I never like it when it happens. How much did you get rapped

zapped?”

up here when it first happened. The glowing part kind of fr eaked me out. I could also feel your emotions, one by one, incredibly strongly. They all did too, Ivan thought it was me, so he checked on me and that’s when I asked him to come up here because I still couldn’t get you to respond. I tried looking in your head, but all

tightly. “I’m sorry I worried you. Your dad said you’d be able to see whatever it was he did

a thousand times brighter. It lit up the entire room. That was after your emotions went crazy. Ivan said you likely were talking to someone. We thought your m om or Kostya. Then Bubba came upstairs and said Kostya had told Viktor you were fine. They offered to bring me breakfast, but I was suddenly really tired, so I just went back

a boost through you, but you’ll get the most. The other three are also going to become connected to their demons very quickly,” he said. He felt me stiffen as I worried about

making him laugh softly. I was quiet, thinking about everything he’d just told me. “I think we should stay one more night, then. Dario can wait until tomorrow, I think. We can ask Misha to be sure, but I think

will not argue with you on that one. I wouldn’t mind another night here either. If we go back, I’m going to feel the need to go to my office and 1 don’t want to just yet. I do, however, want to send someone for Vinny’s. I’m starving,” he said as he flipped me onto my back. I could hear

me or something.” I said, laughing.

stopped to think about something and his face turned serious for a moment. “I do love you. I always have.

“Shu t up.”

he does. He very much does. I’ve never felt anything so clearly

him too.” I could feel the happiness exuding from him when I said that, which made me laugh louder,