Queen of the Underworld | Book 3

• forty-five •

I frowned but followed his instruction. I leaned against one of the posts of the bed as I pulled my shoes off. I whispered as quietly as he did before. "Where are we?"

"At the Keep. My room." He rolled his eyes. "The only place we can safely specter to without inciting any suspicion or bumping into a guard. I'm barred from spectering anywhere else. New rules since she took over."

I frowned. He definitely wasn't trying anything but just the thought of being in Asmo's room with Asmo gave me the creeps.

I placed the shoes quietly on the ground next to the bed. "Is that normal?"

He gave me a look.

If looks could kill...

"Nothing about this is normal, Alteaza." He turned back to the door, pressing himself against it as if listening to the hall again.

I moved to where he stood, standing beside him trying to listen to what he listened to.

He looked down at me with a stern look. "I don't feel any dark magic beyond these doors. I don't think there are any guards outside." He paused. "Listen very carefully. We're going to go rescue Mehnit."

My heart beat wildly in my chest.

"This is the only time we'll be able to do it," he said quietly. "We have one shot. Don't try to use your magic. It might alert guards. When I spectered, I was able to shield your entrance but I won't be able to do it again while we're here. No one can do magic here, not even me."

I frowned again. "Why wouldn't you be able to use your magic? This is your home, isn't it?"

He sighed frustrated. "Yes, and I have to sneak. It should show you how under lock and key we have been in the Keep while you and Damien were...wherever it is you went."

Inwardly I breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know where we went.

"The Guard has been instructed to stop everyone, even myself when I use magic inside the walls of the Keep. I can specter to my room but that's the only special privilege I've been granted." He rolled his eyes again. "And even that was negotiated." He paused as if in thought. He looked away. "We can do this but you must listen to me."

We were so close to each other. As much as I felt my stomach flip at the idea, I grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

Dark queen, I reminded myself. He wanted a dark queen. His equal wouldn't be afraid of him.

Startled, he looked at our intertwined hands.

"Your plan earlier worked." I gave him a small smile.

I watched a smirk tweak at the corner of his lips.

Resolution steeled my core. I made a point to bite my bottom lip as he watched before I spoke again. "I will follow your lead," I breathed.

He quietly sighed and pulling on my hand, he tucked my arm beneath his. "Stay close," he whispered.

I followed him closely as we exited and shut the door quietly behind us.

The hallway was one I didn't recognize and not guarded as mine had been one. It seemed that no one was concerned about Asmo's safety or they didn't think enough of him to sneak the true queen of the Underworld into the Keep again. A large stained glass window stood at the end of the hallway and cast an eery glow along what I imagined was the moonlight.

Asmo kept quiet as we moved through the unfamiliar corridors and rooms of the Keep. We moved silently through empty corridors. Everything was different from how it was before. The rooms would overflow with light and laughter. Things were returning to "normal" as Damien had put it.