King of the Underworld by RJ Kane

King of the Linderworld

475

Adrik

Once we finally made it upstairs, I was exhausted. I didn’t even need to tell Sephie I was exhausted. She felt it. She didn’t waste the opportunity to tease me about it, though.

“You definitely got new level zapped. Fighting it never ends well, either. I know this from experience,” she said, her sweet smile across her face. She walked back to me, unbuttoning my shirt for me.

“Is this from being able to feel all of them the same way you do? That doesn’t seem like it should’ve zapped me,” I said as I watched her undressing

She chewed on her lip, her mind trying to come up with solutions, “I don’t know. Maybe there’s more and we just don’t know it yet?”

I put my hands on either side of her face, gently pulling her to me. I kissed her softly, wanting so much more, but I had zero energy. She smiled against my lips as she pushed my jeans off my hips. She pulled back, pointing to the bed. “Go to bed,” she said sternly.

I gladly climbed into bed, waiting for her to turn off the lights. She climbed in next to me, after stealing my shirt to wear. She laid across my chest in her favorite spot. I might’ve lasted 30 seconds before I was out completely.

I found myself completely awake in my own darkness. Haven’t been here in years. I rarely remembered my dreams, if I even had them. I assumed I had them, but because I never remembered them, I couldn’t be totally sure. I looked around, trying to see if I could see anything, other than my own body. I could still feel Sephie, just as strongly as I always did. I knew she was still happily sleeping on my chest.

Gradually, the darkness gave way to a path ahead of me that led to a small house. I’d never seen the house before, but I decided to explore anyway. When I opened the front door, I could hear someone playing the piano. I recognized the song as one of Sephie’s songs she regularly played.

I walked further into the house, trying to be quiet so as not to disturb whoever it was playing the piano. After a short hallway, there was a large room where I saw a man playing the piano. I looked around the room, trying to find clues as to who he was or why he’d be in my dreams. I also wanted to know why he’d be playing one of Sephie’s songs. I was so busy looking around, I didn’t notice when the song ended.

“I can play her song because I’m the one that gave her the melody,” he said, as he stood up from the piano. He turned to face me, a pleasant expression on his face. There was something familiar about him, but I didn’t feel like I’d ever seen him before. He watched me, watching him for a few moments. Finally, a smile stretched across his face. That’s when I knew,

Sephie’s father,” I said. He nodded. “She has your smile.”

she has from me, but I find it’s one

“Mine too.”

extra angels on standby when you two first met because your heart threatened to stop every time you saw her smile. Did she ever tell

extra angels. She did tell me she

about you. You’ve handled everything like a champ. Better than anyone expected. Seriously. You cost quite a

but laugh again. “Clearly her smile is not all she has from you.”

“I can’t really take credit for her love of the wager. She discovered it well after I was gone. But it does seem to run in the family.” He paused for a moment, contemplating how to proceed. I knew if he’d brought me here, there was something important

you for all the times you’ve helped us. You’ve proven to be a very valuable resource for us through all of

very happy that Sephie has

It’s because of you that she has the right people around her now. I owe you thanks for that, too. Between you and Ivan, I really have nothing to worry about. I mean, I still do. Fathers gotta lather, you know. But you two will always make sure

new happening to me? Is that why I’m so tired

deeply. “You’ve felt your connection get stronger with everyone lately, but especially with Sephie?” I nodded. “And you’ve also felt your demon getting restless, so to speak? Especially when Sephie was gone with Viktor earlier?” I nodded again. “Your demon is growing stronger, which means

me

make you nervous?”

getting news delivered this way. Not to worry, I can manage,”

crushing it?” I asked, completely

because your particular demon is as powerful as it is and because you are who you are, you now have the ability to condemn souls, both human and demon straight to H ell. You

the soul

only one that can grant it

something I’m going