Song: Ghost of Mine - Kailee Morgue (A/N: This song is my current obsession)

"I know what you're doing."

I didn't look up from the book in front of me as I read.

"You don't fool me."

I tried to hide my annoyance but failed. "You're absolutely right." Sarcasm laced every word. I sighed as I flipped the page of the book in my hands. "I want to fool you, Asmo. Nothing makes me happier."

He chuckled. A deep, quiet laugh in the back of his throat. "You've kept busy."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "How observant."

I felt him shift in the chair next to me. "Does this have anything to do with the Lord of Skryen?"

I slapped the book in my hands closed. It echoed loudly in the empty room. I moved from the large table we sat at. "Have the Guard find me when-" I stopped as I walked away.

What were we waiting for? When did I make it to the Underworld?

I'd been avoiding as much as I could for weeks. I had dived into my school work as much as I could so I didn't have to go to the Underworld at all if possible.

I looked around the room. I recognized it. It was the room I had first met the Council of the Underworld. The large ebony table was as I remembered it. A large fire crackled in the far wall of the room and the daylight from the large windows illuminated the ominous space.

But something was... off.

Shadows seemed to creep in every corner of the room. Daylight streamed into the windows but it shouldn't have been so dark. It was as if rainclouds had crowded the sky but when I looked, there was none. It was clear like a summer day.

Asmo laughed as he stood from the table. "You're queen, Emylin. You can't play favorites with the lords and ladies."

I snorted but it came out as a wheeze. "That's not what's happening at all."

Asmo didn't look convinced. "You're looking for a Consort. You need someone impartial."

I frowned to myself. Consort? I wasn't looking for a Consort. I was perfectly fine on my own.

"You need someone to help you with this burden. Someone experienced."

I shook my head. "Gods, what are you, Asmo? Tinder?"

A handsome smile touched his lips. "I mean me, darling."

I was at a loss for words and he took the opportunity to walk over to me from the table. He moved like a cat. Every step deliberate, smooth like a stalker to his prey.

Panic gripped me immediately but as soon as it appeared, it was gone. Like it was never there to begin with.

Maybe it hadn't been.

Panic? Did I feel panic around Asmo? That couldn't be true. He was the only one I could trust, the only one who hadn't lied to me or kept secrets from me.

I felt rooted to the spot as he reached me. "It didn't work with Damien but he didn't deserve you." His hand reached for my hair. "Let me help you, Emylin." His eyes moved from my lips to my eyes. "I can help you."

I pushed him away as hard as I could and stepped back. I turned away and promptly fell off my bed. I landed on my back and groaned in pain as I stared at the ceiling fan in my studio apartment. "Ow."

I rubbed my sleepy eyes then my tired face. I didn't move from the floor making Mehnit peak her feline grey head over the side of the bed. "Mew?"

I looked at her from the floor. "He has to be a Dreamwalker. There's no other explanation."

She purred as she sat down. She tilted her head as her tail curled around her small body. "Mew."

I growled in frustration as I got up from the floor.

My phone sat somewhere on my nightstand. I reached for it blindly and eventually was able to find it. I sighed as I looked at my phone. My eyes lingering on the date.

I could avoid the Underworld as long as I wanted but I couldn't avoid the party just hours away. It was for Lord what's-his-name who was passing his title over to his daughter who would now be a Lady in his place. He was also stepping down from the Council and giving his place to another faerie. I also had to give a speech and swear him into the Council.

Faerie parties and their intricacies, I decided.

I hugged my knees closer to my chest. Despite that I was a temporary queen, I still had to go. At least Julian wouldn't be there so it settled me somewhat. After what happened in Skryen, I wasn't sure I could face him again.

Mehnit sensed my uneasiness and jumped down to the floor. She approached slowly and pushed her head against my hands.

I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Mehnit. Hopefully, this will be over before we know it."

Perri had chosen a beautiful black ballgown with lace sleeves that reached the elbows for me for the party.

I chose a dark blue simple dress and black heels.

We had a standoff that lasted about three minutes before I stated I would wear jeans instead.

Perri and I settled on a simple black dress that reached the knees and had an open back.

I took most of the day to practice the lines that were written for me by Damien. It was while I was going to the party that I finally ran into him in one of the nearby rooms of the Keep wearing his usual tailored look.

He looked more himself than before. I could see some of the light in his eyes and the dark circles he had beneath them seem to have lightened. He cut his hair. It was back to his usual style--a little longer in the front so that it fell slightly over his eyes but close to his ears on the sides. The bright smile he gave me was genuine.

Damien would always be one of the most handsome men I ever met.

I smiled back. "You look great."

"So do you." He laughed as Mehnit sprinted towards him. He scratched her under her chin. "You too, Mehnit."

I laughed as I approached him. "You should have seen what Perri had picked out for me. A corset and a ball gown." I made a face and shook my head. "Not my thing at all." I frowned as I noticed something on his jacket. "You have something there. Here, let me." He didn't move as I reached up to the lapel of his jacket.

He watched me as I began to brush away the spec of white on his otherwise immaculate jacket. "How did it go in Skryen? You've been ignoring me."

I bit back a sigh. "It was fine," I lied.

He sighed, taking my hands gently. "You're lying."

I bit my lip as I met his eyes. "Am I?"

He looked unconvinced. "You've been avoiding the Underworld and working yourself to exhaustion with school."

I frowned. "How do you know that?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I know you, Em." He shook his head. "Remember what keeping secrets from each other did to us." He didn't let my hands go. "Tell me, what happened?"

I sighed again. This time, I stepped away and began to gnaw at my fingernails. "Well, first of all, I shouldn't have been there. Julian is with Vyssen now and I respect it."

"Did he tell you that?"

I shrugged again. "He doesn't need to. I saw it myself."

When I turned I found him leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. "Have you asked him?"

I groaned. "Didn't you just hear what I said?"

"Em, you're probably jumping to conclusions-"

"Seeing Vyssen in Julian's house with nothing but a see-through robe doesn't leave much to the imagination, Damien," I snapped.

Damien shook his head. "I don't believe that."

I frowned. "You don't believe what I saw?"

He pushed himself off the wall. "You need to talk to him."

"I don't need him to tell me to my face what I already know."

He sighed. "You'd be surprised, Em. Sometimes something as simple as talking helps."

"Is the honeymoon over already?"

I froze when I recognized the voice of the man entering the room. My hands froze at my sides and my shoulders hunched in apprehension.

I heard his dress shoes step on the floor as he moved around us. "Such a shame, I thought the love you two shared was boundless." His words were thick with sarcasm. I could hear the sneer in his voice.

Without hesitation, Damien and I answered him, "Shut up, Asmo."

"Ah," he chuckled. "I see I was wrong."

I could feel Damien's anger starting to rise from him. His fists shook at his side. "It's because you're the Head of the Council that you're here. Otherwise, you would have been banished to the farthest city in the Underworld, Asmodeus. I swear it on the Styx."

Asmo shrugged his shoulders. "And you're not king. Until that time comes, I will do as my queen demands. And she needs me here." His dark eyes looked at me. "Don't you, Emylin?"

Gods above, I couldn't even look at him without thinking about my dreams. I only let out something between a squeak and a failed attempt at a half-shrug.

Damien stepped forward and I had to grab his arm to keep him from moving any further. "Don't presume to know her, Asmo." A nearby window cracked creating a spiderweb effect as it split down the middle.

Mehnit stayed close, placing herself between Asmo and Damien and me. She watched him as she stalked in front of us but didn't transform into the large fearsome lion she would when she thought I was in danger.

Asmo had a small smile of triumph. "I will see you both inside." He turned away and disappeared through a door that I assumed went to the party.

I let out a long uneasy breath. "Don't let him get to you. He's harmless."

He scoffed. "He's not harmless, Em. I don't need to remind you of that bargain he won't release you from."

I would usually suppress a shudder when someone mentioned it. I was his if he was ever king. Like I was his property. But lately, the prospect seemed further and further away from ever happening. And if the dreams were anything like the real thing, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. At least he wanted to help me.

Oh, gods, what the hell was I even thinking?

I tugged in Damien's arm. "Is Asmo a Dreamwalker? Like Robyn was?"

He turned to me with a frown. "No. He's not. Why?"

I shook my head. "Just-never mind. Let's get this over with."

Not my best work but I wanted to give everyone an update. :) I hope you like it anyway. I promise it's going to pick up real soon.