Page 159 of Rise of the Queen

“Are you talking to someone else?” I asked, before we left the bedroom.

She giggled. “No. You were right. I’m watching you. You feel different.”

“Different how?” I stopped her from leaving so I could hear her answer first before we shared everything with the guys.

She inhaled, thinking of how to word it. “Before, you were always hot. Like me. Even more so than me, I think. It’s one of my favorite things about you, if I’m being honest. Now, you feel hot and cold—”

“At the same time?” I finished for her. She grinned at me.

“You can feel it too?”

“I did when your dad zapped me. Normally, my anger is always present. It’s always hot, to varying degrees, like you said. But when your dad zapped me, everything got turned up. My fire wasa raging inferno, but it felt cold at the same time. But the kind of cold that will burn you,” I said.

She chewed on her bottom lip, her eyebrows scrunched as she thought about what she was feeling and what I’d just said. She looked up at me, her eyes changing to purple as I watched. “You’re the balance between good and evil now.”

“Did you look in my head for that answer?” I asked.

She looked confused. “No. It just popped in my head. Were you thinking it just now?”

“No, but that’s what your dad said to me. You, me, and Ivan. Eventually the Wonder Twins and Stephen too. We’re all the balance between good and evil.”

“Side note, we need to come up with a new nickname for the three of them. It feels awkward to always say ‘and Stephen,’” she said, grinning at me.

I pulled her to me forcefully, making her squeal. “I just love you,” I said, laughing along with her as I gave her a quick kiss. I went to open the bedroom door and she used the opportunity to jump on my back to hitch a ride downstairs. Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything I would’ve loved more in that moment.

Ivan was the first one we saw when we came downstairs. He was in the kitchen, looking for something for lunch. “Have somebody get Vinny’s for everyone, if you guys haven’t eaten,” I said. “I’m starving.”

“On it,” Ivan said, pulling out his phone. He typed a quick message, then put his phone back in his pocket. “It’ll be here shortly,” he said. “Do I have to wait until the food arrives to hear what happened to you?”

Sephie giggled and hugged me tighter. “I think you should make him wait,” she said.

“Why do you hate me now, princess?” he said, clutching his heart.

“You didn’t let me finish! I think he should make you wait until the rest of the guys are here,” she said, innocently. He looked at her skeptically, knowing full well that is not what she meant when she first said it, which made her laugh again. “You love me, Squish. Don’t even try to lie.”

I deposited her on the counter, grabbing a glass from one of the cabinets. I filled it with water, drank half, then handed the rest to her. She finished it, handing me the empty glass along with her sweet smile.

Ivan was watching our exchange with a devious grin on his face. “You two are extra disgusting right now. And by disgusting, I mean fucking adorable.”

Sephie looked at me, trying to be serious. “Squish feels left out!” she announced. She opened her arms toward him, but did not make a move to leave her spot on the counter. “Come here, Squish. Bring it in. Come on. You know you want to,” she said, trying so hard to not laugh but failing miserably at it. Her laughter was what brought the rest of the guys to the kitchen.

Ivan heard them coming and walked to Sephie quickly, wrapping his substantial arms around her. “Gotta get in here before everyone else shows up,” he said, laughing along with her.

“You’re my favorite,” she said in a very loud whisper as everyone else walked in the kitchen. She knew she would cause objections from everyone else. She might’ve enjoyed that part.

“Why is it that Boss is the one who got zapped and likely has a new level unlocked, but you look like it was you?” Misha asked, looking at Sephie clowning with Ivan when they walked in.

“It’s new level by osmosis. It’s this new thing we’re trying out. I don’t know how it’s going to work with the red pandas though. Pancakes and water don’t mix,” she said.

“I thought you said you hated school and never paid attention?” Stephen asked in his usual thoughtful way. “You have impressive range.”

She laughed. “I said I hated school and never paid attention. I didn’t say I wasn’t still a straight A student.”

“Touché,” Misha said as he walked to the fridge to look for something to eat.

“Don’t bother, my adorable Russian guardian. Vinny’s is on the way,” she told him.

“I love you so much right now,” Misha said.

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