*Sephie*
I inhaled deeply, thinking about what she’d just told me. I sat down on the end of the bed. She sat down next to me, placing her hand on top of mine. “I know it’s a lot, sweet girl, but you can handle it. You all can handle it. You’re the strongest group of people we’ve ever seen. Just what you’ve all lived through while still holding onto the good inside you proves that. You’re all meant for such great things.”
“I know. I’m actually glad that you told me this. I think Stephen is still struggling with everything, but this will help him. It helps me too. I still think his sisters deserve everything that happens to them, but I’ve found myself feeling the slightest bit guilty over what happened. Battista made me wonder if maybe it wasn’t their fault.”
“Everyone has a choice, Sephie. Remember that. Every single person, no matter what happens to them, can choose good or they can choose evil. You can be influenced, of course, but it’s still your choice. It’s only your choice. They made their choices and now they must live with those consequences. As you’ve told at least two of the guys, Karma will use you to deliver justice. You didn’t decide their sentences, but you delivered them, Sephie. And you saved their souls in the process. So that’s enough of feeling guilty,” she said. Her tone was very maternal, almost like she was chastising me.
“Dammit. Scolded by a ghost,” I said under my breath.
She laughed. “You’re so much like your father. But you’re also very stubborn. I need you to believe in yourself, sweet girl. They all need you to believe in yourself.” She paused, looking at me like a mother would look at a daughter. She smiled sweetly at me, taking my hand, and inspecting my ring. “He is quite possessive of you and I think it’s one of his best qualities. You’re going to need to be patient with him. Your connection with him is going to get even deeper, but it’s going to also get deeper with all of the guys. He might find he struggles with jealousy at first.”
I looked down at my hand, smiling. “I kind of think he’s adorable when he gets jealous. I don’t want to make him jealous on purpose. He has nothing to worry about, but I find it very endearing when it happens.”
“He does have to share your time with five other very attractive men. It’s understandable, but you’re also quite good at making sure he knows he has nothing to worry about.” She brushed a curl back from my face, her sweet smile still on her face. “I do miss him. I know I talk about Vitaliy more than Adrik, but I miss Adrik just as much. He just doesn’t need me as much. Especially now that he has you. You’re so good for him.”
“He’s good for me, too. I can’t live without him now that I have him,” I said.
“You two are meant for great things. But for now, it’s time for you to go back. Adrik is trying to wake you up. I seem to have caught you when you’re not decent as well, so he can’t move you.”
“Jesus, again?! How do I keep getting embarrassed in my own dreams??”
Her laugh was the last thing I heard as everything faded to black in front of me. I felt Adrik’s hands on me, lightly running through my hair, over my back. I heard his voice softly urging me to wake up. I took a deep breath, picking my head up to rest my chin on his chest so I could see him.
His sweet smile was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. “Were you talking to your dad again? You were laughing,” he said, his fingers lightly running down my face.
I shook my head no. “No, this time it was your mother. She still feels bad for how she came to me when we were in Panama, so she learned how to come to me in my dreams like my dad does. She had a message for Vitaliy and she gave me insight about Stephen.”
He raised his eyebrow, curious as to what information I now had. “What message for my father?”
I was actually surprised he asked about that first, but I grinned at him. “I get to tell him to stop being a cranky stubborn bastard.”
He laughed. “Please let me be there when you do.”
“I would never deny you such a pleasure,” I said.
“What insight about Stephen did she give you?” he asked. I explained everything she’d told me about Stephen’s gift. As I talked, he moved so I could see the goosebumps on his arms and across his chest. I laughed quietly. “We’ve always said he was the best at knowing how to mindfuck someone. We just didn’t know the part about saving them. It’s so much better once you know that part. I know we were all strangely okay with the possibility of him being a serial killer, but I adore the kinder, gentler vampire that he’s become. I’m glad he gets to stay that way.”
“Me too. You should tell him today. I can keep the others busy so you can have time with him.”
“Can you spare Ivan, too? I think he’s going to prove helpful for Stephen in this.”
“Of course. I’ll make sure the Wonder Twins don’t get too jealous,” he said. He rolled us both over so he was on top of me.
“This. This is why I love you so much,” I said, pulling him down to me so I could press my lips to his.
He smiled against my lips. “All this time I thought it was my giant cock.”
“That is also why I love you so much,” I said, laughing. I wrapped my arms and legs around him as we both laughed at our silliness. “You’re my favorite. Tell the others,” I said, in between laughs.
“You’re my everything,” he said, smiling down at me.