Queen of the Underworld | Book 3

• fifty-five •

This was another chapter that was hard to write. I honestly can't believe I actually did it.

•••••••••

Everyone bowed as I passed them in the halls.

I was smiling from ear to ear, my head held high as I placed my hand on my stomach. The physician had said she was healthy--strong, was the word he'd used. She would be due any day now.

He'd never seen anything like it.

She was stronger now than before. I felt her kick every day as she grew in my womb.

My child.

My daughter.

My Mal.

"Queen Tianna, is she all right?" A woman whispered to her companion as I passed them.

"This pregnancy has taken its toll on her," the other whispered.

I didn't pay attention to them, purposely blocking out their words.

Yes, Mal was growing. In exchange, I was waning.

I wasn't a fool. I could see what my pregnancy was doing to me. I could see the physical effects every time I looked in the mirror.

My magic was less than half of what it used to be. I was losing weight rapidly. My eyes were sunken into my face. My wrists bony and incredibly delicate.

But our child was thriving. She was living. She was strong.

Robyn had to know the good news.

As soon as I entered our private quarters, I blinked.

It was impossibly dark. The curtains were drawn closed barely letting any light in. Only the fireplace burned quietly in the corner of the room.

I closed the door firmly behind me. "Robyn?"

"You're not keeping your end of the deal, queenie."

My blood froze in my veins. My heart hammered in my chest. He was mocking me, I could tell from his tone. He knew this would happen. He knew I would be sick through my pregnancy.

He had to know.

"We've kept your child alive. Gave her our power to ensure she is born and this is how you repay us?"

"No," I half-whispered.

"A half-attempt to complete your part of the deal. We can take back our arrangement very easily."

My stomach plummeted. "I-I'm working on it. I've already started--"

"Ah yes," the demon sounded half amused. "You killed Fayne."

My heart twisted and I felt my eyes water. "That was meant for Warren--" My voice cracked.

The boy scoffed. "We do not care for who it was meant for, the wrong person is dead. Your husband is still alive as well."

I shook my head. "He doesn't need to die. He will give up his throne for her just like I will."

A mysteriously mischievous smile spread over his unnatural features.

Despite trying to keep a somewhat altogether composure, I stuttered. "I-I just have to talk to him. It's the others, they will question us and our motives." I swallowed trying to keep my throat from drying. "Asmodeus especially."

The boy laughed out loud. His razor-sharp teeth sent shivers through me. "The half-breed. He's such a failed experiment."

I raised my eyebrows in stunned disbelief. I didn't know much about Asmodeus. He'd only shown up at the Keep a couple of years prior at the request of the Magister after our last loss. Somehow, through a long, complicated history of several generations, he was related to Robyn. He would be next in line for the throne after Damien. "Asmodeus?"