Page 55 of Rise of the Queen

“It’s not you, peanut. It’s his potential. That’s what scares him. He sees it in you but can’t see it in himself. It’ll come. You’ll help him, just as you’ve helped the others. But you have to start believing in yourself again. You got knocked down; almost farther than I’ve ever seen you get knocked down this last time. But you got back up. When you feel your fear and panic threatening to take over, remember that. Not once have you stayed down. Fear is just excitement, without the breath. Breathe into your fear, peanut. That’s what you’re missing. That’s what Adrik has been trying to help you with. You can channel your fear, the same way you’ve learned to channel your anger. You’re going to need it. Fear and anger are two of the strongest emotions there are, next to love. Use them to your advantage.”

I was quietly contemplating what he’d just told me. “What about my eyes? Why do they have a mind of their own now?”

He chuckled. “You were right, peanut. They’re your warning system. You used them correctly when Sal and Armando took you and Ivan. They’re the reason Sal never came back. He ordered Armando to take care of you because he was terrified of you. He still has nightmares where he wakes up in a coldsweat after seeing your face and your black eyes in that room. That’s also the reason Armando was so savage with you. He was terrified of you and tried to cover it up with his anger. You almost saw through it, but your fear was stronger than you realized when it was happening. Learn to control your fear and you’re unstoppable.”

“But my lung. I still can’t catch my breath and then I panic.”

“I know a certain acupuncturist who can help with that. Andrei was right, too. It’s more to do with your anxiety about not being able to breathe than it is your lung.”

“What about Ivan and Andrei? Was Adrik right? Ivan can see evil and Andrei can see good?”

“He was right. He’s becoming quite astute to all of this going on. The four of you complement each other, balance each other. Adrik can feel good and evil, just as you can. You just feel it in different ways. Ivan can see evil, just as Andrei can see good. They just see it in different ways. You can use this. Misha is there to tie it all together. Stephen and Viktor will fit nicely into the puzzle as well once they figure out their gifts. You all have a special role to play in what’s coming. The key is Ricardo. Sal is a pawn for Ricardo, peanut. Ricardo is worse than you could imagine and will become more so if you don’t stop him. Same for Martin. They’ve both made deals that have everlasting consequences.”

I chewed on my bottom lip as I thought about everything he was telling me. He smiled down at me sweetly. “It’s a lot, I know. But I’m always around. Ivan is doing a fantastic job. So are Andrei and Misha. They’re all more connected to you than I think you realize yet. Soon, Viktor and Stephen will be too. You need each other. But right now, you need to go back. Adrik is awake and can’t leave you. I didn’t look, but I know you’re not exactly decent so he can’t take you downstairs with him.”

He tried to hide his grin, but he couldn’t. “Dad!” I said, completely embarrassed.

“You’re an adult, peanut. You do adult things. But that doesn’t mean I can’t laugh about it,” he said, snickering.

I hid my face in my hand. “I can’t believe this,” I said under my breath, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I love you, peanut. And it’s obvious to literally every being in the universe that Adrik loves you now too,” he said, pointing to my ring.Huh, it showed up in my dream too.“Of course it did,” he said, like he was reading my mind. “It has special meaning to you, as well as them. Think of it like your pinky swears you have with most of them. Funny how you haven’t made a pinky swear with Stephen and Viktor yet …”

Just as I was about to say something, he disappeared and everything faded to black in front of me. I was aware of Adrik’s hand running lightly over my back. He felt me start to stir. “Good morning, love. Were you having a dream? You were laughing,” he said, his wide smile on his face when I picked my head up off his chest to look at him.

“Mmm hmm. I was talking to my dad who informed me that you were trying to wake me up because you couldn’t leave me since I was naked. Do normal people get embarrassed by their fathers in their dreams too or is that just me?”

“And what insight did your father have this time?” he asked, as he rolled us both over so he was lying on top of me. I could tell by his expression that my eyes were changing.

“Are they swirling?” I asked, curious. He nodded, but it was clear he was still fascinated by them. I giggled. “He said that we were right about them. They really are my warning system. He said Sal still wakes up in a cold sweat thinking about my black eyes. Not gonna lie, that makes me really happy.”

He chuckled. “Me too. It’s probably why Armando gets angry anytime your name is mentioned as well.”

I looked at him, my fingers running lightly over his face. “My dad did say that you’re becoming quite astute to everything that’s happening,” I said, grinning at him. “He said Armando was terrified of me and that’s why he was so savage. Apparently, he’s still terrified.”

“He should be,” Adrik said, his anger slowly rising to the surface. I put my hand on the back of his neck, pulling him down to me. I didn’t want to think about all that first thing in the morning. Especially not this morning. He buried his face in my neck, his rough facial hair rubbing lightly against my skin. “You’re right. We shouldn’t be thinking about that so early in the morning,” he said. His hand moved to my breast, squeezing it to illustrate his point.

“You’re getting better at knowing what I’m thinking without even having to search my eyes,” I said. He went to move his hand from my breast, but I caught it and put it back.

“I need to stay ahead of the guys,” he said, picking his head up and grinning at me.

“They’re about to give you a run for your money, apparently. I figured out the key to getting Stephen and Viktor to realize their gifts. That was why my dad came to me. He’s trying to hurry us along. He said we’re going to need them soon.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that, but I have total confidence that you’ll find the right things to say to them to get them to figure out their gifts. Just not right at this moment. First, I need to hear you scream. Then breakfast. Then maybe I’ll have you for second breakfast. We’ll see,” he said, his lips on my neck as his hand ran down my stomach to my inner thighs. He lightly ran his hands over my thigh, as he moved one of his legs in between mine, pulling my leg around his waist. I moved myhips against his, already wanting him inside me. I would never get enough of him.

“I like your plans for the morning. I approve of your plans for the morning,” I said, already breathing heavier as his lips were on my neck. I raked my nails over his back, eliciting a low groan from him.

He moved on top of me, wrapping my other leg around his waist. “I don’t think I will ever tire of waking up this way. We can do this every single day for the rest of our lives and I’d be very happy about that,” he said as he rubbed the tip of his cock along my folds, teasing me. I pushed my hips into him, trying to get him to slide inside me. “I love that you’re so eager, my love,” he said, his voice husky with desire.

“I can’t help it. I can’t get enough of you,” I said, breathlessly. He enjoyed winding me up.

“I hope you never do,” he said as he slammed into me before stilling to let me adjust. I moaned loudly at the intense pleasure of him filling me up. I moved my hips, grinding against him, loving the gentle friction. He groaned against my neck as my pussy clenched around him. His hand moved to my thigh, pulling my leg tighter around him as he bucked his hips into mine. Another moan escaped my lips, causing him to exhale. I knew he was slowly losing his control. I was happily waiting for it to happen.

I put my lips close to his ear, almost whispering, “I love when you lose control.” He sat up enough that he could look me in the eyes. He searched my eyes for a moment, then I saw his sexy smirk on his face. His lips crashed into mine, claiming every inch of my mouth as his. Every inch of my body as his. Every piece of my soul as his.

The guys were making breakfast when we finally made it downstairs. They all had very sweet smiles on their faces, as they knew what had happened the night before. It was kind of adorable to see these giant men excited that their boss had officially claimed his girlfriend as his future wife.

“Come on, princess. Let’s see it,” Ivan said, motioning for me to show him the ring. I held it up so they could all see it, a goofy grin on my face. They all moved to surround me, getting a closer look. They’d all seen it, I was sure, but they were acting like it was the first time. I might’ve loved them all a little more for it. Ivan put his arm around my shoulder. “You’re officially stuck with all of us now, princess,” he said, smirking at me.