Queen of the Underworld | Book 3

• sixty •

song: animal (stripped) - missio

I watched Asmo.

He was unaffected by the request--the same request that made my heart beat madly. The same request that made my magic want to cry out. Another Light Fae cut down before his time.

Another Light Fae dead--

Asmo was unfazed-- like we were all just friends talking about the weather and anything else that was unimportant. Was he used to hearing execution orders? Had he given any himself as Head of the Council?

He looked at us aloof, indifferent--like he truly didn't care. "I am not a dog. You cannot beckon me to do whatever you want."

Runith laughed loudly.

The hair on my arms stood on end from the sound. It was unnatural, like nails against a chalkboard. His yellow eyes glinted in mischief.

Gods, I hated to see Damien's form used like this.

"What I want?" Runith shook his head. "This is what you want, half-breed. Don't deny it. This has been what you most desire, isn't it? Now that he stands between you and your," he snickered, "happy ending."

Runith smiled widely, he was genuinely happy of what he was seeing before him. "The woman you love loves him."

Asmo's shoulders winced.

Runith continued with glee. "Doesn't that make you mad?"

Asmo's eyes turned to me.

The reaction excited the demon even further. He was excited at the mayhem. "Doesn't it make your blood boil?"

I said nothing.

Asmo sighed deeply and looked towards the ceiling like he was bored, almost like his old self. "Yes, of course. Kill him and then Emylin will hate me even more for the rest of her days." He looked at Runith. "How does this benefit me?"

Runith's smile fell. He wasn't expecting Asmo to resist.

Instead of admitting defeat, he continued. "Kill him or I will make you watch me torture her."

Asmo didn't flinch.

Runith looked at me. "Making her kneel before Mal is easy."

He lifted his hand towards me and as soon as he did, I dropped to my knees so hard, I felt my knees crunch under me.

Julian yelled out my name.

Pain burst through me and I bit back a scream. Tears crowded my eyes and my stomach rolled.

I looked at Runith again, not tearing my eyes away from his as I watched him with pure rage.

Fascination glinted in his eyes at my response. He continued to speak but kept glinting yellow his eyes on me. "But that means nothing if she doesn't give up the throne willingly." He looked at Asmo again. "The easy way to have her give up the throne is through him. She would do it to save him instead of herself."

When none moved, Runith sighed. "Fine. I'll just do it myself."

Runith's fist clenched and when it did, I felt I felt my wrists were on fire. The iron burned and seared the sensitive skin against my thin wrists. Waves of agony washed my nerves like lightning through my arms and chest. I bit my bottom lip against the pain, trying to focus on something else trying to push my mind frantically away from what I was feeling.

Where would I be if not in the Underworld, if I had never found out who I really was? I'd have a job, maybe I would be planning to go to a concert with Damien. Would Damien and I had dated, would I have actually had the feelings I claimed to once have?