Chapter 499


    499


    Sephie


    “As long as I can remember. My parents think I’m crazy. My grandmother thought I special and would


    argue with my parents all the time in my defense, but she died several years ago,” she said, looking


    down at the floor.


    “You still see her though, don’t you?“


    Her eyes got wide and her cute little smile stretched across her face. “I do. I see her the time. She


    follows me around most of the time. That night at the fundraiser was the first time I’d seen other angels


    in the same ce at the same time usually only see one at a time. I was excited about it, but then


    everyone thought I was crazy.” Her bright face darkened as she thought about that night. “I’m not sure


    what would’ve happened if Ilya hadn’t heard themotion from the


    kitchen.”


    I nced at Ilya, who was watching her. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. “I


    have a feeling Ilya had been watching you for longer than you realize.” I said, winking at him.


    She looked up at me, surprised. She then looked at Ilya, who clearly had a guilty look on his face. “It’s


    true,” he said. “I had seen you earlier in the evening and kept an eye on you the whole night. When you


    didn’te out of the kitchen, I might’ve walked over to find out what was going on. That’s when I saw


    what was happening and went to get help.”


    “You were watching me? Really?” she asked.


    “I mean, not in the stalker kinda way. I was trying to see if I could catch your eye, but you kept your


    head down almost the entire time,” he said, smiling at her.


    “I don’t like attention from strangers,” she said quietly, ncing down at the floor.


    “I don’t either. It’s why I surround myself with giant men. They keep me hidden.” I said.


    She grinned at me, her cute face once again brighter. “That’s one of my favorite thing about Ilya.” His


    wide smile stretched across his face at her admission. It was official. They were adorable together. It


    was easy to see they both cared about each other very much, even after only a short time.


    I was watching them with each other for a moment when she looked at me very seriously. I chuckled.


    “You can ask whatever you’d like, Jessica,” I said.


    “How did you know I wanted to ask you something?” she asked me,


    her eyes


    wide.


    “It was written all over your face. What would you like to know?”


    “You’re…different from thest time I saw you. You look different to me,” she said, shyly.


    “You’re right. I am different. Can you tell me how I look different to you?” I asked.


    She looked around nervously, then took a step closer to me. “You have…wings,” she said. She was so


    cute, it was difficult not tough at her. I didn’t want to tell her Andrei had already shown us what she


    could see thest time we saw her. “They’re different colors now.”


    “What colors are they now?”


    “When I saw youst time, they were only white. Now, they fade to ck toward the ends,” she said.


    She nced over her shoulder, looking at Adrik. “His are almost all ck now.” She looked at Ivan


    next. “His are like yours, but they have red tips. I don’t know what it means, but every other angel I’ve


    ever seen has only had white wings. I don’t know why you’re all different.”


    “Can you see anything on those three men?” I asked her, pointing to the Wander Twar and Stephen.


    They were on the other side of the kitchen from Ivan and Adrik, so I don’t think she was paying


    attention to them before.


    Stae studied all three of them for a few moments “They’re like you werest time I say you, but it’s


    harder to see. It’s not as visible to me. I didn’t see thatst time. Are they different too?”


    “Yes, they are. We’re all different from thest time you saw us,” I said. I couldn’t help but smile at her.


    She was trying so hard to be bave, but it was somewhat overwhelming for her. I could feel her calm


    down every time Ilya touched her. It was very sweet to witness.


    “What happened?” Ilya asked.


    “That’s a bit of a long story. I’m not sure how much we should share right now, but it’s all necessary for


    what’sing,” I said in English. I switched to Russian and added, “everyone but your brother can now


    make their eyes go ck. I have a new col too. I’m not sure how much she can handle right away, so


    let’s take baby steps for now. She’s a very sweet girl, but she’s clearly overwhelmed.”


    Ilya nodded in agreement. He kept the conversation going in Russian as he added, “he is


    overwhelmed. She’s trying to understand everything. I told her a little bit about what happened to me.


    She’s fighting against wanting to believe it and believing her parents’ assessment that she’s crazy. She


    wants to believe everything, but she’s been told she’s crazy for long enough that she won’t let herself


    believe it.”


    My heart hurt hearing that she was struggling that much. I looked at him, his arm still protectively


    around her. “Ilya, you’re good for her. She’s good for you, too. I can see it clearly. Hell, even Vitaliy can


    see it. He told me when you guys first got here We can try and help her out as much as we can with


    epting that she’s different. She’s even different from all of us. Keep telling her that it’s okay she’s


    different and that you believe her. It’ll take time, but you can help her turn it around.”


    “I tell her often, but I will tell her more,” he said, looking down at her smiling sweetly at her. They were


    all kinds of adorable. I just wanted to squeeze both of them.


    She was somewhat nervous that she couldn’t understand what we were saying. “Don’t worry, Jessica.


    We were talking about how absolutely adorable you are. I don’t know how you’ve managed to do it, but


    he’s already wrapped around your finger,” 1, smiling at her shock.


    Adrik walked over, sliding his arm around my waist. Jessica looked up at Ilya, still shocked at what I’d


    just told her, but she kept her mouth shut now that Adrik was there. I could feel she was intimidated by


    him. It was amon reaction to him, even before histest level-up. Now, it was much more


    pronounced. He was aware of it, but he rarely tried to make anyone feel morefortable. With


    Jessica, however, he did make an attempt.


    He smiled at her, saying, “you look much happier than thest time I saw you.”


    She smiled nervously, which made Ilyaugh quietly. “She is much happier,” he said fer her.


    She inhaled deeply, held her breath for a moment, then said, “I want to thank you again. I didn’t realize


    how much money you handed me until I got home that night. I’m very grateful.”


    Adrik chuckled. “I’m d it could help you out.” Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    “She tried to get me to give part of it back to you. I wouldn’t do it,” Ilya said. He looked down at her as


    her face hardened as she looked up at him. “It was our first fight,” he said, stillpletely amused by


    all of it.


    I couldn’t help butugh. I knew Adrik didn’t even know how much money he’d handel her. It didn’t


    matter.


    “I don’t make that much in three months!” she said, still somewhat irritated that ly wouldn’t give part of it


    back. “I didn’t know it was that much money or I wouldn’t have epted it!”


    “Please, Jessica. ept it. Keep it. Do not feel guilty for it. You needed to not have to worry about


    leaving that situation,” Adrik said. Ilya gave her a very clear “I told


    you so look.


    Iughed quietly. “He looks quite intimidating, but he’s one of the nicest men you’ll ever meet,” I said,


    leaning my head on Adrik’s shoulder. He pulled me closer to


    him


    “Just don’t tell anyone. I don’t want that getting out,” he said, kissing my forehead.