Syn

I heard her as soon as she stepped into the building, quiet murmuring and praises as she neared the elevator. I sighed, slouching in my chair wondering what she was doing here. I was always happy to see her but her coming here would only complicate things for me. I'd have to spend the next few days shutting down rumors of her return. My chest rumbled in annoyance at the disappointment I'd see in their eager faces.

I flipped the pen in my hand, watching the seconds on the clock in anticipation as she neared. I had no idea why she was here. With the way she had been acting these past few days, I was surprised she wanted to see me at all. Granted, it was my fault...I shouldn't have lashed out at her the way that I did.

I had a ton of things to say to her that I had been holding in for weeks. The day of our argument truly tested my nerves. I had just gotten back from the meeting, the news of the death count weighing heavy on my mind.

Eight hundred and twenty-three Underworld Creatures dead.

The majority of them were children and even worse, more than half of them were unidentified and some were still missing. My head throbbed and my mind raged with the thought of the families I couldn't bring peace. My mind was set on putting a stop to this, even if it killed me. But I didn't think it'd cost me Queen in the process.

It felt like I was being forced to make a choice. Either stay on Earth and work on us and my problems or save my kingdom. I hated that I couldn't do both and my anger was directed toward her that day as resentment filled me. It left as soon as I left the house but my words were already out in the open. I couldn't just take it back. It was a bitter truth that I planned on burying until it didn't bother me anymore. But clearly, I failed.

There had been so many times in the past few days where I almost cornered her and begged her to speak to me- to just look at me. But she was far too stubborn and I was just too tired to have the conversation we needed. So I opted for silence- stealing glances at her when I'd get the chance and speaking to anyone but her just to get a reaction.

It was immature on my part, but I missed her.

My focus moved back to the sound of her heels when the elevator doors opened and I waited, listening. "Mia?" I heard.

Fuck! I shot up from my desk, forgetting the information I still hadn't told Queen. It wasn't like it was a secret, I just hadn't gotten the chance...

I opened the thick door, stepped toward the reception desk, and looked between the both of them. I cleared my throat, Queen's eyes falling on mine as a questioning expression bore into me. "I can explain."

For the first time in a while, I felt nervous- maybe a little bit afraid of what she'd say. This wasn't a small secret that we could laugh about...it was fucking huge. Not only had I killed her friend, but I let the person who witnessed so much of her pain occupy her body.

I knew this moment would come eventually, but I truly forgot about it. I let my mind glimmer over lying and saying that I resurrected Mia and got her some real therapy, but that was selfish and would put D in a tough spot. Besides, I had enough secrets on my plate, this one just needed to come out.

"This isn't Mia," I said cautiously.

She crossed her arms, looking between the both of us in disbelief. "Are you serious—"

"Listen," I stopped her. Damn. Our first interaction in the past few days and it was about this of all things. My plans when we finally did speak against entailed fucking her attitude out of her and making her think twice about ignoring me again, not this bullshit.

She stayed silent as I explained everything to her, her eyes moving to D every few seconds. When I finished, she was nodding slowly, chewing her bottom lip between her teeth. I could see the wheels behind her eyes trying to make sense of everything happening and I almost reached out and kissed her.

She had a beautiful brain and it was even more fascinating when she used it.

"Oh," she finally said. "I get it...I think."

"I know it's...unconventional," D spoke, glancing up at me. "But he saved my life. I'm sorry if it causes any friction between the both of you."

Queen shook her head, her eyes studying her. "No, no, it's fine," she said. "I...umm..." Queen tilted her head in thought, trying desperately to find the words to say. "How would you prefer to be identified...?"

"Mmm," she smiled. "Just call me D. And if you mean pronouns, it doesn't matter to me. But recently I've been good with she/they. I don't know if that'll change in the future...but for now, it's okay."

"Okay." Queen smiled. "Just let me know if it does change."

My chest warmed at Queen's quick acceptance. I would've understood if she was upset, but a part of me would've been concerned about D's mental state afterward.

"Of course." She smiled.

"So." Queen smiled. "You were leader of the vampire faction, and now you are Syn's...receptionist...are you happy?"

"You know," D spoke up. "I didn't choose to be the leader...the path was chosen for me far before I was even born. A lot of decisions were made for me..." Her eyes darkened. "It feels nice to be the one in control of my life for once. So yeah, I'm pretty happy. And I'm damn good at my job."

"No, you're not," I corrected. She swatted my chest with the back of her hand and I winced, sending her a scowl. My irritation however was lifted at the sound of Queen's laugh and I straightened, rubbing the sore spot.

"Anyways." D reached over to the desk and grabbed her purse and coat. "I'm off."

I looked at my watch. "You're still here for another two hours."

"Right." She looked between us. "But I don't want to be here for...whatever is about to happen. And I have a date I need to get ready for."

"Oh, who's the unlucky bastard?"

"Not telling you." She shook her head before turning to Queen. "I'd love to have lunch one day. Only if you're interested of course..."

I paused, crossing my arms as I looked between the both of them.

"I'd like that," Queen replied, a sweet smile on her full lips.

"Fantastic. You two enjoy the rest of your evening." She smiled at the both of us and walked toward the elevator, humming a tune.

"You as well. Make sure you and Hades use protection, you can get pregnant now."

I heard Queen chuckle as D stopped walking and slowly turn on her heel. "How'd you know?"

"I know everything."

She narrowed her eyes. "Right. Well, there will be no sex. We're not like you, Syn. We are taking things very very slow."

"What is Syn like?" Queen crossed her arms, an amused smile on her face.

"Mm. He's the male equivalent of a Jezebel. Do what you will with that information."

Wow. Queen found it funny as she burst out into laughter and I rolled my eyes. I may have slept with a few people but I wasn't some fiend like she was making it sound.

She stepped into the elevator as soon as it opened, giving us one final wave before the doors closed, leaving us completely alone.

"Hi." She gave me a small smile, keeping a couple of feet of distance between us.

"Hi," I replied.

"I came to see if we could talk..."

"You didn't want to wait until I came home?" I asked.

"No, I wanted to come to you," she said. "Besides, I didn't know when you'd come back." I nodded, crossing my arms and she cleared her throat."I wanted to apologize."

"For what?"

"Can we sit?" She shifted on her feet before gesturing at an empty table near us. I nodded, taking a seat at the table and her following. She sunk into the chair across from me, setting her purse in front of her as she continued. "I love you, Syn...I hope that you do know that."

"Are you breaking up with me right now?"

Her eyes widened and she shook her head, the loose tendrils of her curly hair bouncing around her beautiful face. "No, no, that's not what this is."

I sighed, leaning back against the chair as a relieved breath left my mouth. "Then come here." I held a hand out. She stood up, pulling her lavender dress down, and adjusting it on her legs. My eyes trailed down her curvy figure as she walked toward me and my cock stirred. I clenched my jaw, willing myself to simmer down as she placed her hand in mine and sat on my lap. "You can continue now."

She shot me a nervous smile before looking down at her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "I'm sorry for ignoring you."

I nodded. "I'm sorry for letting you ignore me."

She glanced up at me for a moment before looking down again, her long lashes resting on her cheeks. "I know I don't make it easy sometimes, but I really do mean it when you say you can talk to me. I might say the wrong things sometimes- most times, but I swear my intentions are never to upset or hurt you."

"I know."

"Good." She nodded. "Then tell me what's going on. What you said in the closet—"

"Don't worry about it, I was just having a bad day."

"Maybe you were, but you did mean it, Syn." She looked into my eyes. "Talk to me."

I was quiet for a few moments, searching her eyes. I was tired of us always ending up in this position. Where I was the bad guy or she thought she was; when the situation was a lot more complicated than that. We both had the best intentions when it came to us, but we always seemed to miss each other and end up at odds with one another.

I loved her way too much to let it continue, but I had no idea where to start. Fuck the universe for giving us so much love and passion yet denying us the tool to understand each other when we needed to. I suppose that was their plan. That was where the madness was supposed to stem, but they missed a couple of crucial adjustments;

I was way too obsessed with her to let her go anymore, and she was too in love to leave.

That left us here. Deeply and maddeningly craving and needing one another yet unable to just...get it right. I wasn't sure we ever would but I knew I'd never stop trying.

"I..." I began, looking for the words. She waited patiently as I thought, not saying anything else or rushing me. My mind and mouth were failing me, the only thing flashing through my mind was the number I had been thinking about all day. "Eight hundred and twenty-three."

"What?"

"That's how many deaths were counted for the Underworld in the past five months," I said. "In all of history, we've never passed one hundred. We're supposed to be fucking immortal."

She frowned, biting her lip in thought as she waited for me to continue. "I was born to do this, Queen. This is all I know yet it feels like I just keep fucking up. All of those deaths, are on me. And I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. It's like, I kill the people responsible, and ten more spawn in their place and I can't breathe." I ran a hand through my hair. "I feel so guilty for feeling so tired when it feels like I've done nothing at all."

"It's not your fault, Syn," she said. "The only thing you can do is your best and things beyond your control happen. I think you forget that your enemies aren't normal. They're not beings you can just go up to and snap their necks. They're fucking ruthless and powerful. And they hate us. They won't stop until you give up, and you can't do that."

I let out a bitter laugh. "If me stepping down is what would make them stop, I think I'd do it."

"Even if it was, I'd never let you do it," she lifted my chin. "This is who you are. You belong on that throne, Syn."

I nodded slowly, my chest aching as I looked at her. "I've tried so hard to do it alone," I said lowly, a part of me hoping she couldn't even hear me. "I thought I could. But every single death is screaming at me to set my pride aside and..."

"And what?"

"I need you," I admitted. "And I fucking hate to ask, but I need you down here with me. I can't do this shit without you anymore." I despised hearing the desperation in my voice but Queen's eyes softened and I continued. "I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to. I would never. But the Underworld has never thrived more than when you were on that throne. And I can't stop imagining the things we'd be able to do if we did it together."

"Okay," she whispered, the word falling off her lips and lingering in the air. I looked at her, watching her nod as a smile spread across her face at my reaction.

"Okay?"

"Yeah." She nodded.

"Yes you'll do it?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Syn, you never have to beg or talk me into doing anything if it'll help you," she said. "When I married you, I took on the responsibility of everything that came with it. And that means Hell and the Underworld. It wasn't fair of me to let you shoulder all of this alone."

"So you'll come back..."

"I have a life on Earth, Syn. I want to go back..." she said slowly and my chest caved in at my misdirected hope. She smiled, studying my expression before speaking again. "...at least to tie up a few loose ends."

꧁꧂

It's about damn mf time.