Queen of Darkness WATTPAD VERSION [Inter-Universal Protectors: Book 3]

66

"I know what you're thinking."

Xix looked down at her girlfriend. "What am I thinking?" she asked with a smile.

Iris returned it. "You're thinking that this can't possibly last." She rolled onto her stomach. "You're wrong. This can last forever." A sly smile. "If you want."

Xix laughed. She pushed chocolate-brown hair from Iris' face. "I do want this to last." Her smile faultered as she glanced toward the covered window of their home. "But there are things I have to do."

"I know," Iris said. "It's a big day today. You have to be ready for it."

"Yeah." Xix rolled from the bed to her feet, moving slowly toward the closed window. She pulled back the curtains, flinching away from the light of the three suns momentarily. "It's a very big day."

Iris hugged her from behind, resting her head on her girlfriend's shoulder. "Are you sure you're ready?" she asked, concerned.

"I'm sure."

"What if they find out? About you, I mean."

Xix turned, meeting Iris' sea-green eyes. She pulled away from her grasp. "I have to go," she said, walking to the door. "I'll be late."

Iris sent her a soft smile. "Be careful."

"Always."

Xix twisted the doorknob. She pulled the door open and stepped outside.

The dark stone of her front porch became silver ice as Xix moved forward. She pulled her shawl around her shoulders for warmth, the temperature having plummeted suddenly. 

Xix glanced over her shoulder. Her home was so far away! She turned back to the sight before her. Frosted and frozen ruins of some an ancient castle. She frowned. That had not been there earlier . . . 

Footsteps crunched in the snow and ice behind her. Xix spun around. There was nothing there. 

She climbed the stairs to the entrance of the castle's ruins, holding her arms out to keep balance on the ice. She reached the top, cautiously pushing open what remained of the wooden door. Light streamed in from the holes in what used to be a ceiling. Xix closed the door behind her, picking a direction and walking in it. 

The sound of the door banging behind her made her spin on the spot. A shadow stood where she had been. Its red eyes - if those were eyes - landed on her. Xix ran. 

Hands grabbed her as she tumbled through one of the doorways. Ema hauled her to her feet. "Did you see what it was?" 

Xix shook her head. "A shadow. I think. I thought I saw it outside but there was nothing there when I looked."

"Shadows," the Fae nodded, unsheathing her knife. "Stay close." 

The two women moved through the everlasting room slowly. 

"Why is it after me?" Xix asked.

Ema stopped, facing her. "Because it knows who you are." She cocked her head to the side. "Did you really think you could keep it a secret?" When she didn't answer, Ema sighed and took her by the hand. "It's only a matter of time before everyone finds out. You might as well come clean." 

"I don't know what you're talking about," Xix started slowly.

Ema sighed again. She twisted on the spot, looking at something behind. "We can't fight it. Not yet." 

Xix dared to look. It was the shadow. It looked humanoid . . . 

The shadow lowered itself onto four legs, moving faster than any humanoid ever could.