Queen of the Underworld | Book 3

• twenty-six •

"He is overprotective of Damien. You didn't see Asmo when Robyn possessed him. You didn't hear the absolute disgust in his voice." I shook my head. "He didn't want to be king for the power. He wanted to be king because he wants—no, he craves stability for the people of Underworld." I sighed dropping my hands at my sides, exhausted. "He wants to do that for them. He wanted me to protect them. That's why he wanted to make me queen."

Julian watched me for a moment and was about to speak again when I interrupted.

"I was right about Damien still being alive. I am right about this."

He scoffed. "You'll believe anything he says, won't you? Just say you want him, Emylin. Then I'll just move on with my life."

I stomped my foot. "I don't want him, you butthead, I want you!" I groaned. "Even when I thought I wanted Damien, it was always you! Y-You stubborn, pig-headed boy!" I groaned again. "And that was because I didn't know what romantic feelings were and I was blinded with the need to save Damien and denying myself anything else." I sighed, defeated. "Even Damien knew that in the end."

He pushed himself from the door he leaned against and despite my small confession, he went back to something else I said entirely. His voice was smooth, and I could hear the taunt in his voice. "I'm stubborn?"

I almost laughed. Was that the only thing he was focused on? "Yes!" I took a moment. "Sometimes?" I bit my lip as I watched him.

He raised an eyebrow as he took a step closer. "Sometimes?"

I rolled my eyes, smiling. "All right, me. I'm stubborn."

He laughed as he shook his head. "It's your most infuriating and endearing feature."

My cheeks flamed and I couldn't meet with his eyes. I stepped forward, biting my bottom lip as I did. "Is it?"

"Absolutely."

Before I could say another word, I was in his arms, with his lips squarely on mine.

I inhaled deeply, reveling in the comfort of his arms. I smiled against his lips and it was all the encouragement he needed to deepen the kiss further. His arms held me firmly against him as I melted in his embrace.

His tongue moved against my lips and the fire I felt back in Tartus when we were alone, came back full force.

I was on fire again.

My fingers moved through his hair as he kissed me. I was soaring, flying in complete happiness. My hands began exploring and he chuckled deeply, making his chest reverberated against my own.

He pulled away, meeting my eyes as he traced his thumb across my cheek. "You bit your lip again."

I was in a haze. A very comforting, loving haze. I couldn't open my eyes. "Hmm?"

He laughed. "Go to sleep, Emylin," he finally whispered. "It's late. We'll talk about what we learned in the morning when everyone is awake."

I watched his grey eyes as he spoke. I wanted to capture the moment. I didn't want him to leave.

Ever.

I wanted to be with him. I wanted to stay with him. The thought of being away from him physically hurt.

I swallowed my sudden fear, gathering courage from the electricity singing in my veins from his kiss. "Don't go."

His eyes flitted across mine. His Adam's Apple bobbed. I had never seen him so nervous. "I will be in the room across the hall-"

I shook my head. "No," I whispered. I met his eyes, unwavering. "Stay with me tonight."

He smiled again. It was the smile he would always get right before he flirted with me. "If I stay," his teasing tone was obvious, "I won't be able to keep my hands off you."

I looked up at him, meeting his eyes. I nodded. "That's the idea." I licked my dry lips, finding courage in my conviction. "I want to be with you, Julian. When we defeat Mal, when I give Damien his throne back, when I am no longer queen, when we go back to the Underworld--I want to be with you in Skryen. I want you. Only you."

He paused for only a moment but I saw a small smile despite the dim light. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "I'm sure." I frowned. "I want to finish my degree when I do. Eventually." I rolled my eyes. "Here goes another flunked semester."

He laughed as he placed a hair behind my ear. "No longer living in the Human world?"

I shook my head. "No." I stopped. "Well, unless, of course, you don't want me in Skryen."

He pulled me close, his lips inches from mine. "That will never happen."

When he kissed me again, I pulled him to me, wanting to close as much distance between us as possible. In return, he deepened the kiss.

The sweet, slow kisses he was giving me slowly turned more passionate. It burned through me, until I was gasping for air. His lips trailed my neck and he bit my earlobe gently eliciting a small moan from my lips.

He gently bit my bottom lip as he wrapped his arms around me, lifting me off the ground. I giggled as he did it, and I felt him smile around my lips.

My heart was full. I couldn't hide my happiness or excitement. Despite everything that was happening back in the Underworld or even outside the walls of the bedroom, the moment between us was perfect.

I loved him. I was in love with Julian.

He had helped me. He rescued me in more ways than one. I owed him my life. I owed him everything that I was.

He never wavered. He was constant.

And I loved him.

I wouldn't fight it anymore.

I wouldn't stop him as I did once when I was confused about how I felt. I wouldn't fight the attraction between us. Magic bond or not, I came to love him.

He placed me on the bed gently and laughed as I fought to take off his T-shirt. "You're much too impatient."

I snorted. "Like you haven't been waiting since Tartus to do this."

He laughed out loud as he took off his shirt, meeting my lips with his own again as he tossed it to the side. He pulled mine off over my head and stopped cold when his eyes went over my chest.

He frowned deeply and his lips tightened as he concentrated on something in the middle of my chest.

I frowned, looking down. "What is it?"

As soon as I looked, I knew exactly what it was that stopped him.

He slowly reached out, his fingers tracing the contours of my bra where it met flesh, then resting on the new wound that burned in the middle of my chest.

He drew his fingers back as soon as he touched it. "Does it hurt?"

I shook my head. "No. I didn't even remember I had it."

I could see him hesitate with my words.

I grabbed his hand and placed it on the black mark again. "It doesn't hurt. I promise, it's okay." I gave a comforting smile. "It's all right."

I touched his cheek as I pulled him closer with the other hand. He closed the distance between our lips and he didn't hesitate again.