Chapter 381


    Sephie


    “I don’t know about that, but I do know that your sisters were very wrong about you,” I said, putting


    Stephen to work washing a few dishes I’d dirtied.


    “On some level, I know that too. There’s…” he started to say, but he didn’t finish. He was quiet for long


    enough that I knew he wasn’t going to finish.


    “I know there’s more, Stephen. You don’t ever have to tell me. I know you’re struggling, but I won’t pry


    and I won’t fish. You know the best way to conquer your demons, Voden?” He shook his head no. He


    was still facing away from me, his shoulders slightly slumped. I knew this was difficult for him. “It’s to


    stop fighting them and make friends with them. They have no power over you that way. The more you


    try to ignore the monster you’re trying to keep locked away, the bigger and stronger it grows. You have


    to make friends with it before it consumes you.”


    I went back to what I was doing, not wanting to force him to talk anymore than he wanted to. I heard


    him turn the water in the sink off, then he dried his hands, tossing the towel back on the counter. I felt


    his hand on my arm as he gently turned me around, then he pulled me against him so tightly, I wasn’t


    sure I’d be able to breathe. I heard him sniffle a few times. I kept my arms around him just as tightly


    and would do so for as long as he needed.


    “I’ll be right here the whole time, Stephen. You don’t have to face it alone.”


    I thought there was no way he could hold me any tighter, but I was wrong. I was so wrong. I knew he


    was struggling, but I didn’t realize it was this much. I heard him inhale sharply, like he was choking


    back sobs and my heart just hurt for him.


    “I love you, Yoden. And as much as whatever you went through su cked and still su cks, it made you


    into my absolute favorite vampire of all time. Without you, no one would know what enabling is,” I said,


    trying to sound serious, but unable to hide my smile.


    Heughed and his grip on me loosened. He wiped his eyes before he let me gopletely. “I didn’t


    realize how much I needed that, Seph. I still don’t understand how you do it, but please never stop.”


    “Can’t stop, won’t stop,” I said, grinning at him, which made himugh again. Nowe here, I could


    use extra hands for this part.”


    Stephen’s phone beeped while we were waiting for the cookies toe out of the oven. “Henry will be


    here tonight. Viktor said Boss wants you at the meeting, so whatever we’re doing needs to be finished


    by 6.”


    “He’s very bossy today,” I said, crossing my arms across my chest.


    Stephen pretended that he was typing a reply to Viktor. “Sephie says you’re not the boss of her and


    you can su ck it. Send.”


    Iughed. “Even with your lightning fast vampire thumbs, I could see you weren’t even touching the


    screen. He’s always so sweet about ordering dinner when I need a break, but I seriously think it makes


    him grumpy when I don’t cook.”


    “Um, I thought that one was obvious, Seph. Everyone knows he ha tes it when you don’t cook. He’s


    just so nice that he’ll never admit it.”


    The timer for the oven went off. “He’ll be happy when he sees whatever we’re doingpleted by 6,


    then,” I said, pulling the cookies out of the oven. “The question is, though, should we take one to him


    before the meeting or make him wait until we’re done for the day toe back up here and find


    them?”


    “Option 3, I think,” he said.


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    “What’s option 3?”


    “I think you should put them in his apartment. We never lock our doors. We don’t need to. But I think


    he’s gonna need a minute and it’ll be better if we’re not watching him.”


    “Yoden, you’re so incredibly smart. That’s perfect, I would’ve tortured the poor man,” I said. I nced at


    the clock on the oven. “Okay, so now we have to hurry slightly to get whatever we’re doing done and


    down to his apartment and back to the office by 6. Oh my God, the pressure!” I said, dramatically.


    Stephenughed, shaking his head at me. He joined in the dramatics though, taking an extra baking


    sheet and fanning the cookies so they’d cool faster, which made meugh.


    “You’re my favorite. Don’t tell the others,” I said.


    Stephen and I finished up Viktor’s favorite cookies, then snuck downstairs to deliver them to his


    apartment and made it to the office with five minutes to spare. Everyone else was already in the office,


    waiting on us, but also still waiting on Henry to arrive. Just as we walked in, Viktor’s phone beeped,


    signaling that Henry was in the lobby. He walked out right after we walked in.


    “What have you two been up to?” Adrik asked. I could tell he was amused that I’d disappeared with


    Stephen and not one of the others.


    “Strategic nning. d’s army is going to be magnificent,” I said.


    Stephen surprised us all byughing loudly. I could get him tough when it was just the two of us, but


    he rarelyughed loudly in front of the group. It made me happy to see. “Seph has a mind for logistics.


    He was only defending Wachia before, but now he can finally see theplete destruction. of the


    Ottoman Empire. I can’t wait to tell him. Those Turks totally have iting.”


    Everyoneughed at his answer. Several of the guys looked surprised at how rxed Stephen looked.


    They all caught my eye at one point, giving me small, knowing smiles.


    “You shouldn’t fight sleeping in for so long next time, princess. You look much better tonight. Andrei


    does too. He’s prettier,” Ivan said.


    “He is a pretty, pretty princess, Squish. You’re absolutely correct. I think we both needed it,” I said. I


    heard the doors to the elevator ding, so I got up from Adrik’sp after kissing him quickly. He still had a


    very amused expression on his face.


    Viktor walked in with Henry and the mood turned more serious in an instant. Everyone went into boss


    mode.


    Adrik extended his hand to Henry as he walked to his desk. They shook hands before Henry sat down


    in front of Adrik’s desk. He nced back to me, smiling. “Sephie, you’re looking much better than the


    last time I saw you.”


    “I mean, that depends. Sometimes I want to be colorful,” I said, referring to the heavy bruising I’d had


    thest time. “But life is much better with two arms again.”


    He chuckled, shaking his head. He looked at Adrik. “What do you have for me this time?”


    “Your police chiefs. How well do you know them?” Adrik asked. He was now very serious. There was


    no trace of the amusement that was evident not two minutes ago.


    “Well, before you asked me that question, I would have said very well. Now that you’ve asked me that


    question, I’m wondering if that’s the correct answer,” Henry said, a look of worry on his face.