Queen of the Underworld | Book 3

• sixty-nine •

//song: astronaut - sir sly

I ran as fast as I could down the cheerfully lit hallways. I held my book close to my chest, my left arm pumped at my side as I huffed.

It was early morning, nearing eight, and I was running late for my early class. I rounded the corner too quickly, balancing and bouncing on one foot so I wouldn't fall over.

A girl moved out of my way but not before giving me a piece of her mind.

"Sorry!" I yelled over my shoulder unable to stop.

I huffed as I continued, and only stopped when I was in front of the brown familiar door.

I pulled the door handle open and cursed out loud. "Oh, come on!"

The empty, unused classroom sat quietly with no lights on.

I groaned and all but threw the door closed in front of me. The door didn't move much and closed slowly due to the pulling mechanism on it.

I watched it slowly close and then finally click in place in the doorframe, annoyed. I couldn't even shut the door how I wanted.

The familiar notification sound of my phone went off. I reached for my back jean pocket and pulled my phone out.

Damien's recent text message was on the screen right above an e-mail from my teacher.

Class cancelled the e-mail subject read.

I sighed and focused instead on the text menage.

'Can you visit when class is over?'

I placed the phone back in my pocket as I went to the ladies room.

As soon as I confirmed I was alone, I spectered to the Keep. I set the book in my hand down on the desk in front of me as it materialized.

A bewildered Damien sat at the chair on the other side of the desk in front of me. A red box with the important documents that needed to be signed sat open in front of him.

He set down the quill in his hand down as soon as his eyes raked me over.

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. A cocky smile tugged a this lips. "Let me guess-"

I set my backpack down on the floor from my shoulders."Don't."

"By the looks of your book in your hands and you're annoyed face--you went to class but it was cancelled, wasn't it?"

I crossed my arms, annoyed. "Well, I'm not busy, if that's what you're asking." I smiled sweetly. "What can I help you with?"

He began to pick up the documents from the desk and put them away in the box. "The Council Meeting was delayed today. The Lord of Skryen was late."

I hid my smile. "Oh, was he?"

"Yes, he was. Maybe next time you can persuade him to be on time?"

How could I tell Damien that the reason Julian was late was not his own fault but because I couldn't tear myself from him?

"Sure," I smiled. "I'll try."

He shut the box. "You should reconsider my offer. I'd like you to be on the council, too. School is almost over, graduation is around the corner. You will have more time now."

I sat up on the desk, letting my feet hang over the edge. "Yeah, I know."

Damien approached me as he moved around the desk. "I want the woman who brought peace to the Underworld in the Council. I need the woman who brought together all Queendoms like no one else before her did."