Queen of the Underworld

by Helen Scott

  26

  Poppy

  “Are you ready for today?” Knox’s voice drifted through the shower wall to me.

  “I don’t really have a choice, do I?” I asked as I rinsed off. The evening before hadn’t been as sexy as I had hoped, with everyone practically passing out, and apparently, we didn’t have time this morning, so I was left taking a cold shower and trying not to feel overly pent up.

  “Sorry, angel.”

  We had taken separate showers because the guys knew all I wanted was to stay in bed with them and would use any excuse to do so. The last thing I wanted to do was get dressed up and parade myself in front of the residents of the Underworld as their new queen.

  Life wasn’t going to be so kind as to let that happen at the moment. Besides, I had a representative of the Norse pantheon to meet who was going to take Hel off our hands, which was good, because I wanted her nowhere near me or my guys, or our realm, for that matter.

  As I walked out of the massive bathroom with a towel wrapped around my hair and a big fluffy robe on, I found a dress bag hanging from the closet door. None of the guys were in the room, so I wasn’t sure who had left it, but I was curious what was inside.

  I unzipped the bag, and a dark-red dress fell out from inside. The velvet looked so sumptuous that I couldn’t wait to try it on. I found my sexiest undies, which wasn’t saying much after the almost total destruction of my closet, and pulled them on, along with my best bra. I slipped the soft material over my skin, and it felt like a caress.

  The velvet was such a deep red that it almost looked like a wine color or maybe the inside of a pomegranate. It had a deep V-neck as it wrapped around my waist, and the sleeves were the perfect length. The slit up the side allowed me to show a little leg, while the slight bit of black tulle underneath prevented the dress from tangling around me. It was the back that was the big surprise, though. While the front was elegant but a little plain, the back was the centerpiece. Crystals or gemstones ringed the cut-out that perfectly displayed my bra.

  I sighed and shimmied out of the dress just enough so I could remove my bra before putting it back on. The keyhole back glinted in the light, drawing the attention . . . right down to my panty line. I cringed at the visible ridge in the dress and tried to remember if I had a thong anymore or if it had been in one of the bags that had been a casualty of getting to the throne. After pawing through my meager amount of clothes for a moment, I realized I was dangerously low on panties and there wasn’t a thong in sight. It was a good thing I wasn’t opposed to going commando. The last thing I wanted tonight was for the guests to think their queen didn’t know how to dress herself.

  The Helm of Darkness matched the dress perfectly as I looked at it sitting on the coffee table in the middle of the overly decorated room. I hadn’t expected the helm to transform the way it did, but now it was a stunning crown of gold with rubies and pearls dotted around the fancy metalwork. I reached for it, putting it on along with the necklace that I’d been wearing since this whole thing started. When I turned back to the mirror, I actually felt like a queen, after all.

  I quickly applied some makeup and brushed my hair in a way I knew would dry without turning into a tangled, frizzy mess, before I went to meet the representative from the Norse pantheon. I knew Knox would insist on coming with me if I told him I was leaving, and I wanted my warrior to enjoy his shower for as long as he wanted. As I exited the bedroom without a sound, I ran into Emmett in the hallway. He stopped and looked at me, his eyes gleaming with love before he dropped his head and said, “My queen, you look stunning.”

  “None of that, thank you.”

  “Where are you off to?” Curiosity sparkled through our bond, and I knew the question wasn’t because he was worried about me.

  “Meeting the Norse representative. I want to get Hel out of here before I’m officially crowned.”

  “Would you allow me to accompany you?” he asked, crooking his arm at me as he offered.

  “That would be lovely.”

  The two of us chatted as we made our way down to the furies’ cave where the meeting was scheduled to take place. Cin had offered to meet the rep in the human realm and bring them to the Underworld. We only had to wait a few moments after we arrived for them to show up.

  The woman accompanying Cin was stunning. Her hair was green on top and bled to a light blue at the tips, while bright golden wings protruded from her back. Her skin was as pale as milk and made the armor she was wearing look that much fiercer.

  “Your Majesty,” Cin said, winking at me. “Allow me to introduce Eir, sent by Odin himself to retrieve Loki’s troublesome daughter.”

  “It’s a pleasure, Your Majesty,” Eir said. She bowed at the waist and held her fist to her chest.

  “Thank you for coming.”

  When she straightened, I could see the clear blue of her eyes assessing the situation.

  “I feel I should tell you that I am planning on giving Hel some water from the river Lethe. It will cause her to forget the last few days. I do not wish her to remember my specific skill set, nor how close she came to claiming this realm for herself. I want you to know that we have not mistreated her in any way. This is purely a precaution for the future.”

  “Understood.”

  We made our way through the furies’ cavern and down through Tartarus. Just as we were about to approach, I paused. “Em, will you let Megaera know we’re coming?”

  He nodded and went on ahead of us.

  “When we get there, I ask that you stay out of sight until Hel has consumed the water.”

  Eir nodded, and we moved forward.

  Thankfully, Megaera and Cottus were ready and waiting when we appeared. Cottus was doing his best impression of a statue, which was surprisingly convincing, and when Eir didn’t give him a second glance, I had to wonder if she realized he was a living breathing creature.

  “I was just about to take her some lunch,” Megaera said.

  “I just need to add a little something to her drink,” I said as I uncapped the bottle of water, pouring it into the goblet resting on the tray Megaera held.

  When I nodded, the fury continued on, with Cin helping her open the door and leave the tray inside. We watched through the two-way mirror as Hel happily fed herself and drank her water. As soon as it touched her lips, it had a similar effect to the woman from Alpha. Hel’s eyes glazed over, and she became pliable.

  “She’s all yours,” I said to Eir.

  “Odin will punish her without mercy,” she said as she opened the door and picked up Hel in a fireman’s carry, and then using her great golden wings, she flew out of Tartarus and was gone in the blink of an eye. Emmett, Cin, Megaera, and I followed at a more standard pace.

  Once we were out of Tartarus I pulled the ring, Hunter had gone back to find for me out of the front of the dress and removed the necklace I had put it on completely.

  “Mabel?” I asked, feeling like a crazy person.

  The woman appeared next to me as though she’d been asleep, but now that we were in the Underworld she wasn’t a phantom, she was solid, as real as anyone else.

  “Poppy?” she asked.

  “Hi! I wanted to let you know that I found Bernard.”

  Her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, you precious girl!”

  “If you want I can take you to him, but I need to attend the crowning ceremony first. Is that okay?”

  Before Mabel could answer Megaera interrupted. “I can escort Mable to her husband if you wish, that way your Majesty won’t be distracted from your ceremony.”

  “Is that okay with you?” I asked, turning to the older woman.

  “I don’t mind either way so long as I get to my Bernard,” Mabel said.

  “Well, okay then,” I smiled and handed the ring and necklace over to Megaera. Who gave me a nod with a small smile. I suspected the fury had a soft side that she rarely let show.

  When we reached the palace once more, I could hear voices ringing down the h
allway from the throne room. I was sure that there was some fancy way this was all supposed to be choreographed, but the sooner everyone in there learned that I wasn’t into that kind of thing, the better, and I hoped it would lead to more open relationships with all the inhabitants of the realm.

  When I didn’t pause but entered the room with everyone else, I got some confused looks thrown my way, but I didn’t let it stop me. The other’s peeled off to the side while I quietly made my way to the throne. As I started climbing the stairs, the crowd grew quiet.

  I could feel them watching my every move. Analyzing. Preparing. Judging. As I spread my skirts and sat on the throne, Emmett shot me a smile and began clapping. Soon, everyone else followed suit.

  I raised my hand for silence and said, “Thank you. I know we’ve been through a lot these past couple days, what with Alpha and Hel both attacking. I wanted to reassure you all that they have both been dealt with, and neither will remember anything about their fight with us, thanks to Hypnos’s gift.” Another round of applause went up. “I know I am new and young, but I am here to take on the role of queen and everything that entails. As a public servant, I belong to you, so if you have any issues, please bring them to me or one of my court. Hounds, please stand.” I waited until all four of them were standing. “There are four heads of Cerberus in my court. Each of them has fought by my side and will forever be held in my esteem.” Applause sounded for the first group of my men. “Judges, please stand. These three men were fearless in their defense of a realm they only just discovered existed, and I could not be prouder to have them as members of my royal court.” Another round of applause went up, and I motioned for the guys to sit. “Finally, there is one last piece of business I wish to attend to before we get on with the celebrations.” I paused, doubting my intentions for a split second. “Charon, will you please stand?” I called out.

  The ferryman who had been skulking at the back of the room stepped forward, looking out of place in his tattered rags and large walking stick. He inclined his head to me.

  “Charon, you have been found accused of betraying the Underworld and all its inhabitants not only to a goddess from another pantheon but to a human group known as Alpha who wished to claim control of the realm while it was vulnerable. Do you deny these charges?”

  Gasps went up from the crowd, and the circle of space around him grew wider as people backed away.

  I waited to see if he would use the opportunity to insult me or to try to make a break for it, but he just stood and squared his shoulders. When he didn’t reply, I said, “Without any other evidence, I find you guilty of treason and remand you into the custody of the furies.”

  Two male furies stepped forward and took him by the arms, the three of them disappearing in a cloud of smoke and shadow.

  “I have fought for the Underworld, for you, as has everyone else in my court, and not just over the last few days, but the last few months. As we tried to get down here, we were attacked at every turn. While I am relaxed about almost everything, the one thing I will not tolerate is betrayal. So, now that we all know where we stand and the business side of the evening is over, let’s celebrate!” I smiled and stood, clapping my hands together.

  The room didn’t move, and for a second, I thought I had done something incredibly wrong. When a shout rang out from the back, I saw Thanatos raise his fist in the air as he called out, “Long live the queen!” The entire room followed suit, and soon, the roar of their voices filled my ears.

  I stood frozen, unsure how to show my appreciation for them and their strength as we started fresh together, so I curtsied. I pulled my dress wide and dipped, bowing my head to the residents of the Underworld. When I rose back up again, a cheer rose with me.

  “Let’s go eat!” I yelled over the noise of the crowd.

  My men rushed up the stairs to me. Knox reached me first and swept me into his arms, pulling me tight as he whispered, “I’m so proud of you, angel.”

  Each of them took a turn hugging me and kissing me until I was feeling dizzy with desire. I wanted to take them all to bed right in that moment, but we had to be social for at least a couple hours first.

  “Can we all sleep in a big puppy pile tonight?” I asked quietly. “I’m hungry and not just for food.” My succubus side had been pushing me the last day or so, and I knew I would need to satisfy her sooner rather than later if I wanted to keep my form under control and not sprout horns at the most inopportune time.

  “I don’t know about the others, but I hadn’t planned on sleeping all that much,” Hunter said, making my blood heat and my thighs clench.

  Dark chuckles resonated around me.

  “Besides, with the way you look in that dress, love, I don’t know if I’ll even make it through dinner at this point,” Shadow said, letting his eyes travel salaciously down my body.

  “So I guess I shouldn’t tell you that I’m not wearing any panties, then, huh?” I grinned and ran off down the stairs as their groans sounded behind me. We had our whole lives in front of us to play and enjoy each other, but that didn’t mean I was going to stop teasing them any time soon. That was half the fun. As for the other half, well, let’s just say seven was now my lucky number.

  The End

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  Don’t forget to check out Helen’s other series!

  The Siren Legacy

  The Oracle (A Siren Legacy Novella)

  The Siren’s Son

  The Siren’s Eyes

  The Siren’s Code

  The Siren’s Heart

  The Banshee (A Siren Legacy Novella)

  The Siren’s Bride

  Fury’s Fire

  Fury’s Valentine

  Wardens of Midnight

  Woman of Midnight (A Wardens of Midnight Novella)

  Sanctuary at Midnight

  Cerberus

  Daughter of Persephone

  Daughter of Hades

  Queen of the Underworld

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank you most of all, as the reader, for giving me a chance to entertain you and invite you into my world. Thank you so much. I hope you enjoyed it!

  Thank you to Amanda Munson for suggesting the awesome band name of Forsaking Midnight!

  A big thank you to my cover designer, Natasha Snow, for helping me bring these books to life, and to my editor, Courtney Umphress, for making sure that the readers get the best possible version of the book.

  Thank you to my family for helping me pursue my dream and putting up with my wandering mind.

  Last, but not least, thank you to my husband for pushing me to share my stories with the world. Thanks for putting up with me every day, babe. You’re amazing!

  About the Author

  Helen Scott lives in the Chicago area with her wonderful husband and furry, four-legged kids. She spends way too much time with her nose in a book and isn’t sorry about it. When not reading or writing, Helen can be found absorbed in one video game or another or crocheting her heart out.

 

 

 
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