"Where is she now?" Damien walked in stride next to me as Asmo took up the other side. Mehnit walked near my feet, no more than two steps ahead.

Azazeal followed Damien close behind.

It didn't take long for the four of us to leave the party as soon as Elvina spoke to me. I met Damien's eyes across the room and he knew immediately something was wrong.

"She's in the meeting room with her Guard," Elvina answered as she led us.

"This can't be good," Asmo replied. "I have no memory of the last time any of the queens visited."

I tried not to show my unease at Asmo's statement. Everyone thought the queens hated each other. When I met them I realized they didn't hate each other at all. They respected each other and seemed to be the oldest of friends. They seemed like four friends catching up over brunch.

As we rounded the corner, I felt Ix Chel's power. I felt the thrumming energy of Autumn through the walls of the Keep. I felt the nostalgia of the Fall of my childhood, the pumpkin picking and the holidays around it.

Despite the reason she was there, she didn't feel hostile, or worried for that matter.

The guards before the closed doors of the meeting room stood at attention when they saw us approach. Damien nodded towards them and they pulled the doors open for us.

Ix Chel was the first I noticed. Her long dark hair was pin straight down her back and sides. In her hair, she had woven stones and silver giving it an otherworldly look. Her earrings were turquoise gauges, stretching her earlobes to impossible lengths. Her dark eyes were accented with small painted white circles that began from her nose and reached outward to her hairline on both sides of her face. A deep blue paint line was below that, following the same pattern.

Large stone necklaces of various colors with gold and silver accents adorned her neck and reached down to her stomach in layers, covering her chest fully. A colorful wrap covered her from her stomach down but I could see the large slit that exposed her leg as she walked.

She smiled as I entered but I saw her eyes look at both Damien and Asmo next to me curiously. When she looked at me again, she smiled broadly but it wasn't friendly. It almost looked cruel. "The dark queen. Emylin, the role suits you more every day."

I was cautious in how I addressed her. "Ix Chel, how are the human sacrifices going?"

Chelie genuinely laughed. "Fabulously. I can't complain." She looked at Damien, her eyes raking over him. "I thought this would be a private audience. I wasn't expecting your men."

I looked at her own guards, suspiciously. "Define private."

She sighed comically. "And I thought we were friends." She shook her head. "Dismiss your guards." She nodded at Asmo and Damien. "Them too."

I shook my head. "I can keep Mehnit and dismiss the guards but I need Damien and Asmo, I trust them."

She gave a half smile. "All right. I will dismiss my men." She nodded at the cat at her feet. "But Maat will stay too."

I nodded. "I accept your terms."

As soon as I said the words, the guards in the room shuffled out and closed the door firmly behind them.

When the echoing of the closed doors subsided in the chamber, Chelie threw herself back into a chaise that wasn't there a moment before. "Oh, thank the gods, pretending we're enemies is exhausting."

I shook my head. "I don't know why you do it."

She shrugged, a plate of grapes appearing on her lap. "Tradition, of course!" She looked at her cat as it circled the chaise beneath Chelie. "Go on, Maat, say hello to your sister."

Mehnit chirped next to me quietly.

I nodded encouragingly. "You too, Mehnit."

No sooner did we say it, the cats ran to each other and began to lovingly bump heads.

Another chaise appeared next to Chelie and she patted it. "Come. Join me, Emmy."

Behind me, I could hear Asmo mumble. "What in the five rivers of the Underworld is going on?"

I stifled a laugh, hiding my smile behind my hand.

Chelie tilted her head. "They don't know. You kept our secret. Bravo, Emmy!"

I cleared my throat. "Chelie, what brings you to the Underworld? I don't think it was to pay me compliments."

She sighed as she stood. "You're right." She crossed her arms, the jewelry on her wrists ringing as they clashed against each other. "At King Damien's request, Autumn began the search to find enemies of the Underworld. Robyn's allies." She smiled. "We found some of them and we were going to only hand them over but we also found journals filled with plans and names of those still loyal to Robyn."

I frowned. "Still loyal to Robyn? He's dead. We've made sure everyone knows how and why."

"As did we." Chelie grabbed another grape from the bowl on the chaise. "All of us, all of the queens. We don't want another uprising. We cannot have a repeat of what happened before with the Light Fae. We don't want another contest for the Underworld throne."

Asmo growled. "I will kill them first."

Chelie looked at Asmo with a smile. "Emmy, you've already found your executioner. I'm impressed."

I shook my head. "I thought Aira and the others said there was no threat."

Chelie looked away, disappointed. "This only happened within the last week. There's more."

"More?" I asked, eyebrows raised.

"Your life is in danger. They're being led by a cult. Tenebrous is what they're called."

Damien cursed.

"What?" I asked him.

Damien shook his head. "There are always factions within the Underworld, that don't particularly agree with the rest of the general population. All realms have them. This group, the Tenebrous, helped Robyn with the Light Faes."

"He didn't need to use his Silvertongue abilities to persuade them," Asmo said when Damien paused. "They believe the Light held too much power. They don't think one faerie should have the say on who lives and who dies. They say its unnatural."

"It won't be enough that they would dethrone you," Chelie continued quietly. "You're the last pureblood of the light fae, the very last one. There might be half-breeds but they can't and don't hold life like you can. They want to kill you, Emmy."

I shrugged. "I guess if you see them, tell them they can get in line."

Chelie blinked, startled at my response.

I shrugged again. "I've had my life threatened more times than I can count in the last six months. It's just another day for me."

Chelie exhaled sharply through her nose, seemingly annoyed. She made up the distance between us and took my hands. Her hands were warm. "Come to Chichen Itza with me, at least. Until all of this blows over." She leaned closer to me. I could smell the Autumn season in her hair. "They can infiltrate the Keep, too," she whispered.

I shook my head again but smiled. "I'm done hiding, Chelie. I won't do it anymore."

She smiled sadly and stepped back, letting my hands go. "Fine." She waved a hand over the table and a document appeared with stacks of books. "The journals. I'm sure you can find something more about the traitors. Those that we found in Autumn were handed over from my guard to yours."

I looked at Damien.

He nodded. "I will have a talk with Oren about the prisoners."

Asmo stepped forward. "Alteaza, we should talk to the other queendoms about their own investigations."

I turned to him. "And the Magister, I wonder if he knows anything. Do what you need to do."

A dark grin spread through his lips. "Of course, my queen. I will leave no stone unturned."

Damien's smooth voice made me turn my attention back to him. "Queen Ix Chel, what can the Underworld do to pay back your generosity?"

Chelie smiled. "I will let you know."

"No," Asmo interrupted. "The Underworld will not be indebted to Autumn. Name your price."

Her smile broadened. "I know what you can do." She walked towards Asmo behind me exposing her long leg with the slit of her dress.

When I turned towards them, I found Chelie draped over Asmo, an arm over his shoulder despite her much smaller frame. Asmo didn't move while Chelie examined the lapel of his jacket, running a finger along the length of the hem of his jacket.

"Emmy," Chelie cooed. "Lend me this beautiful man. He looks to have a strong hand in discipline and it's been so long since I've been punished." She looked at Asmo with hungry eyes. "Tell me, have you had a queen beneath you?"

Asmo looked down at her with nothing but contempt. "No. I'm not interested."

I watched Chelie blink as if she had been slapped. Maybe her ego was bruised. She scoffed. "I beg your pardon?"

"No, thank you," he replied firmly.

Chelie turned to me, a scowl visible on her brow.

I shrugged, crossing my arms. "He said no, Chelie. Can I interest you in something else?"

She sighed, letting Asmo go as if he were suddenly on fire. "You must have him quite ensnared that he will not take a queen's offer." She crossed her arms like a small child. "I won't ask the Dark King since he is yours already." She looked away but then smiled. "Another book of poetry?"

I laughed. "I'm sure I can find something. I will send it over as soon as I have it."

Chelie smiled. "Perfect!" She turned on her heel and walked out of the room. "Come, Maat!"

As soon as she was out of the room and the doors were closed again, I sat down heavily on the chaise, throwing myself back on the cushions until I was laying down. "What a perfect way to end the day."

"You're all friends then?" Damien asked.

I shrugged. "I follow them on Instagram. Aira was in Norway last week. It looked like a nice vacation." I sighed. "I want a nice vacation."

Asmo growled. "Enough of this, Emylin. Go to Chichen Itza. You need to be safe."

I shook my head. "They don't scare me."

"They should scare you, Em," Damien said as he sat down next to me on the chaise. "You're an endangered species because of what they did."

"I refuse to live in fear, Damien. I'm done. Do you remember what that's like? It's nice."

Damien rolled his eyes, walking away. "I'm going to talk to Oren. We'll talk some more when we get back."

When I looked up, he was gone, leaving me alone with Asmo.

I sighed, straightening into a sitting position. I rubbed my temples, closing my eyes. I was so tired. So very, very tired. "Asmo, is there anything else you need?"

I heard him exhale sharply. "I wish you wouldn't throw your life away so needlessly."

I looked at him with determination. "I am not a child, Asmo. And I am tired of letting others dictate my life. I will not run away just because they expect me to."

I watched him swallow. He looked away. "Do you remember my home in Kingstown?"

How could I forget? He had offered it as a safe haven for my parents. "Yes, of course."

"If you're in trouble, it's yours. Only you and I can enter. No one else. You will be safe there." He looked at me again. "No one else knows about it either. Consider it."

He was gone before I could say anything else.

••••••••••••••••

Part two of the updates I promised will be posted tomorrow! No need to wait a whole week for it! ❤️❤️ Thank you for the support!