*Adrik*
After the guys had gone back to their apartments after dinner, Aleksei retired to his room while Vitaliy remained in the kitchen for a few more minutes, talking to Sephie. Once it was just the three of us, she caught my eye, grinning slightly. She then looked at Vitaliy. “Have you been talking to Lena?” she asked innocently enough.
He still looked at her skeptically, but he nodded. “You said she’s resourceful and she can get messages to me but so far, I’ve heard nothing. I’m not sure it’s working the way you thought it would.”
She couldn’t hide her smile. “That’s because you’re being a cranky stubborn bastard about it,” she said matter-of-factly.
He looked at her, surprise evident on his face. “Explain,” he said, squinting his eyes at her, like he wanted to be mad at her, but was physically incapable of doing so. He looked almost mad, but his lips were turned slightly upward like he was fighting the smile that was threatening to show itself.
“You’re jealous that she came to me and not to you, but she only did so because she can’t get through to you. She’s been trying, but you don’t believe it’s possible. If you don’t believe it’s possible, then it’s not possible. She also said she’s been leaving you clues, but you’re not paying attention to those either, so she finally came back to me to ask for help. If you would get over yourself and be open to seeing her again, you could talk to her all night every night, but you’re too busy being cranky and stubborn. So cut that shit out,” she said, firmly.
Surprisingly, he looked at me. “Part of me wants to tell you to control your woman. The other part of me appreciates her waiting until no one else was around to tell me this,” he said, a sly smile across his face.
I laughed loudly. “Like I’d be able to control her if I wanted to. Which I do not, for the record,” I said, unable to hide my smile as she grinned at me.
He simply laughed, shaking his head as he got up to walk to his room for the night. She looked at me, still grinning. “He’s going to be so surprised when it works and he figures out I’m right.”
“I think he’s still getting used to having someone who isn’t afraid of him more than anything. It still surprises him,” I said, pulling her with me to the bedroom. “How did it go with Stephen?” I asked once we were alone.
“I think it went well. It took him longer to believe everything than the others, but his gift isn’t as immediately obvious. He did feel my anger today for the first time. That kind of freaked him out,” she said, trying not to laugh. “It was barely registering for me, but he felt it right away. Ivan caught on immediately to what happened. That guy. He’s so observant. He figured out Stephen’s gift before Stephen did. I’m always impressed with how well you and Ivan handle everything weird that happens. You two are always the best with everything. It helps me, if I’m being honest, so please never stop.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. I also think you help us more than you realize. I never really thought about it until you let Vitaliy touch you after you guys searched for Henry. He was shocked that we were able to feel your anger and not be consumed by it. It hit me that you also share your control with us when we feel your emotions. I think it’s similar with me and Ivan when it comes to everything weird that’s been happening. You share your capacity for taking it all in stride with both of us. Out of all of them, Ivan seems to have the strongest connection with you next to me. I think he gets extra perks because of that.”
“Your mother told me that the connections with all of you are about to get much deeper.” She stopped me from buttoning up my shirt that I had just put on her as we were talking. She grabbed both of my hands, looking me in the eyes. Her eyes were swirling. We still weren’t entirely sure what it meant when they couldn’t pick a color to stick to, but I loved watching it happen. It was like staring into the universe every single time I was able to witness it. “She said you’re going to struggle with being jealous at first when the connections with the guys deepen. You’re so good at sharing me with all of them. I want to make sure I always honor that. I want you to tell me when you feel like you need more time. I don’t ever want you to feel jealous, even though I think it’s adorable when you do.”
I smiled at her, still hypnotized by her eyes. “I know they need you, too. You’re very good at making sure I don’t have a reason to feel jealous, but I promise I will tell you if I start feeling that way. I try to remind myself that there’s only one of you. The odds are not in your favor. You have way more responsibility trying to take care of all of us than we do trying to take care of one of you.” She continued to button up my shirt, her eyes still swirling, with her heart-stopping smile across her face. “I’m beginning to think that your eyes swirling mean something specific, but I can’t figure out what that is. You don’t feel like you’re in complete turmoil right now. You feel happy, but your eyes can’t pick a color. I’m not complaining. I love it. It might be my second favorite thing they do.”
“What’s the first?” she asked, climbing into bed.
“When they turn blue.” As soon as I spoke the words out loud, I was hit with her warmth that meant she loved me. I looked in her eyes after lying down so she could lie across my chest and they were the deepest depth of the ocean blue. I sighed, feeling completely spellbound in her eyes. “I’ll never get tired of that.”
“Please don’t,” she said as she laid across my chest, her warmth still spreading through my body. I held her close as I listened to her fall asleep, thinking about how words were no longer adequate to describe the love I have for her.