I crossed my legs as I waited for Xyla downstairs, and I bopped my head to the slight music playing in the distance. One thing for certain was that the citizens in Jeradua were a lot more carefree than the ones in Heaven who worried about listening to sacrilegious tunes. Even some gospel songs were believed to have demonic undertones...which was probably true.

But ridiculous.

I glanced at my watch and rolled my eyes, sinking into the luxurious couch. If Xyla could see me now she'd go on about how someone of our stature should be an example in all things we do. Including sitting, eating...probably shitting too for all I knew. I didn't even know how she was able to sit up so straight with that humongous stick up her-

"Queen!" Xavier called as he walked down the stairs. I waved at him with a small smile until my eyes landed on Syn, who was following behind him and looking like he'd rather be anywhere else but here.

"Hey." They walked towards me and I sat up, moving my hair out of my face and clasping my hands into my lap. I didn't know where my new mannerisms came from, but I smiled inwardly.

Saving Xyla, one heart attack prevention at a time.

"What are you doing down here?" He asked.

"Waiting for my sister. We're going to hang out."

"Ahh, sounds fun," he said, glancing towards Syn who was still silent.

"Shit!" We all turned to look at the source of the noise and saw Jess struggling to push a cart of clothes. I wondered why she was doing it at all when she was so far along in her pregnancy.

"Umm, I'll be right back guys." Xavier jogged his way over to her, causing a smile to appear on her face as they laughed together. He took over the tasks she was doing and they got lost in a conversation as they disappeared into a hall, leaving Syn and me alone. Great.

"You look strange standing over me. Just sit." I said, gesturing at the empty spot towards me. He gave me a side-eye before sitting down as I offered, and I smiled, mostly shocked that he had done what he was told for once. "How's your day going?"

"Just because I sat, doesn't mean I'd like to talk to you."

"Can I speak freely for a moment without you going psycho on me?" I questioned. He removed his eyes from whatever he was staring at in the distance and swung his head in my direction, his dark hair moving aside.

"What about what I just said would lead you to believe I want you to speak at all?"

"I just need ten seconds, Syn. It's one question." His eyes locked onto mine for a few moments before he sighed and sat back into the seat. He shrugged, prompting me to go on and I took a deep breath.

"Ten, nine, eight-"

"Do you get turned on from being such a hard ass?"

He scoffed and I raised my brow in question as he gazed at the dove centerpiece on the coffee table in front of us. "You just don't learn do you? I didn't think it'd be necessary, but maybe I need to find physical remedies to subdue you."

Physical r-

I shook my head, clutching onto my purse a bit tighter and looking down at my bare thighs. "No need." My skin flamed as I recalled his words, but I tried my hardest to push it down and blame it on my nerves.

"May I speak freely for ten seconds now?" He asked.

"I have a feeling even if I said no you would."

"Is your heart beating so fast because of me?"

"What?..."

"Fear aside," he began. "Is there another reason your heart is beating so fast around me?"

"I-" his eyes locked onto mine again and I felt all the wind being knocked out of my lungs.

The books did right by not mentioning his eyes, otherwise we'd all be enchanted by the man. They shone like emerald crystals; the one aspect about him that wasn't so dark. Too bad they happened to be in the eye sockets of a man like him-they deserved better. He used them to manipulate people, and he knew that. What he didn't know, is that I was a pro at sleuthing and couldn't be tricked or compelled into anything.

"My heart is umm...it's definitely all fear. You're terrifying," I forced a laugh that seemed to come out as a nervous croak. Oh jeez. "I'm shaking just being here. Quivering and all."

He grabbed my wrist and a shot of what felt like electricity made my breath hitch as it traveled down my body. His calloused palms maneuvered my hand with his until he had both on either side of mine. "It doesn't feel like you're shaking."

"Inside," I blurted out before pulling my hand away from his. "There's a whole earthquake in my stomach right now." Syn raised a brow, making me realize just how horrible that sounded and I looked off into a plant, rubbing the back of my neck. "Is that a rose?" I said in a high-low tone voice, side eyeing Syn to see if he was still looking at me.

"You're very strange when you're nervous. You should work on that if you ever plan on finding a boyfriend. It's weird."

I frowned. "I'll have you know I have no issues finding a boyfriend. In fact, I have issues not finding a...boyfriend." Bingo!

"Is that so?"

"Mhmm."

"Then you should go see a therapist."

What?

"Queen, I'm ready!" Xyla called as she walked down the steps, her blonde curls bouncing with each step. "Can we le-" She glanced between Syn and I when she arrived at the bottom step, and I scratched my head, looking around as the already strange environment became frigid. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No, not at all." I stood up from the couch, stepping over Syn's long legs to get to her. "Are you ready to go?"

Her eyes lingered on Syn who was still on the couch and I frowned. Did something happen yesterday? Without so much as a goodbye to either of us, Syn glanced at his watch before standing up and striding up the stairs. Leaving Xyla looking after him like some lost puppy, and me confused as to what just happened.

"Am I missing something?" I asked Xyla. "Did something happen on your date?"

"Yes," she mumbled, turning back towards the front door and shaking her head.

"What?"

"He didn't show up," she said. "I waited an entire hour and he didn't come at all!"

"You waited an hour?" I asked. "What happened to your twenty minute rule?" She shrugged, not answering and I followed her out of the door. I had never known Xyla to wait for any man no matter who they were. She'd rather cut her arm off than grovel over a dude, and it was admirable yet she screwed herself over a lot in the past from exes calling her an emotionless psycho to God's robot.

"I just don't want to talk about it, Queen. He clearly doesn't give a fuck about anyone but himself, and I knew that. I'm just going to have to fly solo in this marriage."

I sighed, wrapping my arms around her shoulders and feeling her tense up. "You don't have to be solo with anything. I'll be here whenever you need me."

"I remember you said that years ago," she said, shaking her head and removing my arms. "Now look at us. I hardly know you." My brows furrowed at her words as I tried to recall an instance where I wasn't there for her, but I couldn't. If anything, it was the other way around our entire lives.

I wanted to talk about it with her, but when she got like this, there was no speaking. As soon as she turned her back, it meant that the conversation was over. You could try your hardest to get her to speak to you, but it would all be useless. She was the most stubborn person I'd ever met.

꧁꧂

I threw myself onto my bed face down and groaned as my body ached. If I had any idea that a day with Xyla would feel like I ran twenty miles, I would've never held it over her head. Granted she did get me clothes, but I had to work for it. In the end, it worked out in her favor as we didn't even get ice cream or dinner since I was so tired.

I groaned into the comfortable mattress, letting my purse drop to the floor and my legs dangle halfway off of the bed. My eyes began to flutter shut until they landed on the white gift bag still on the table in a lazy gaze. I propped myself up, sitting up straight and wiping my eyes. Sleep would have to wait since my curiosity wouldn't let me rest the way I wanted.

I walked towards the table, and grabbed the bag, reaching my hand into it. When it connected with an item, I pulled it out and frowned as I looked at it.

It was a Bible. Did I give Felix the impression that I needed one?

I laughed to myself and wondered what Xyla must've told him for him to give this to me as a gift. Flipping through the pages, I checked for anything else, but when there was nothing, I closed it and set the book down. My eyes caught onto a yellow piece of paper peeking over the first page of the large brown book and I opened it. I must've missed it.

I took the note out, squinting my eyes as I read it:

This book is borrowed. Please be sure to return it to the library. I hope you enjoyed your read. Maybe we can discuss it together someday.
-Felix S.

I scoffed and tossed the note into the bag. Not only was the gift shitty, but I couldn't keep it. Who does that? I made a mental note to add Felix's frugality to my research notes and I held the book in the crook of my arms before heading to the door.

If my lazy ass didn't return this book now, I never would.

I still remembered the directions to the library from when Genesis showed me, but the only issue was how dark the halls were getting there. A servant helped me carry my bags here so I wasn't alone, but now I would be.

I glanced back at the clock and saw that it was already eleven and I clicked my tongue. Damn. I could always wait until the morning, but knowing myself, I'd never go. I took a deep breath, throwing the door open and scurrying out.

My heels clicked against the floor as I held the Bible against my chest. I had no faith in God, but if he were to show up for me, now would be the best time since I didn't know what dark shadows were lurking in this place.

My eyes were half closed as I rushed to the library, and when I made it, I let out a breath of relief. I reached to open the door, but it was already cracked open like someone had been there. I pushed the door open and slowly walked inside, my eyes scanning the room. "Hello?"

"What the hell do you want now?" I heard a deep voice question, making me look towards the elevated corner in the room where I saw Syn seated. A glass of an amber liquid was in his hand as he flipped through pages in a book, and a pair of glasses were perched on his face.

Hot damn.

"I- umm," I began, my throat getting dryer as I continued looking at him.

"You umm?" He asked, setting his book down and looking at me. "Are you stalking me, Queen?"