Lord Xenon glanced back while still strolling away. He merely raised an arrogant eyebrow. The look told the whole story. Even if I became queen, they would still be above me. They had done their time as rulers, and I hadn’t done shit except exist long enough to be called on as a possible candidate for rule. He turned his attention back to where he was walking, all five of them disappearing around the corner.
My fangs descended. I shouted, “Fuckers!”
They may be egotistical. But so was I.
Perhaps we would be a perfect match to work together.
Adelie bumped my shoulder as she groaned, turning back around to start our trek to the elevator once more. She muttered softly, “Try to keep yourself somewhat under control, Gwen.”
I snorted. “If they had been close enough, I would have punched one of them.”
“That’s quite Queenly of you,” she grumbled, full of sarcasm. “You might as well not unpack if you go in with that attitude. You’ll be leaving sooner rather than later.”
I turned and trudged behind her, attempting to catch up. “Fine. I’ll keep my fists to myself—as much as possible.”
“I really should have stuck a therapist in with that group.” She sighed.
“Live and learn, my friend. Live and learn.”
Adelie bent at the waist and used her nose to press the button for the elevator.
My eye twitched. “I think we both have a few things we could work on.”
Her laughter softened my heart. “Oh, Gwen. There aren’t enough lessons in the Bible to help us.”
The elevator dinged, and the door opened.
It was full. Of overlords.
I blinked in confusion, not moving.
Then the door shut after Cato—my father—pressed a button.
Adelie choked on air. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
I dropped all my bags and banged on the elevator doors as it traveled up…and up. “You motherfuckers! That was not funny!”
My friend snorted. “It kind of was.”
“Traitor,” I hissed.
She merely stared up at the numbers. Patient. “You should probably start picking all that stuff up. The elevator isn’t that slow. It’s actually relatively fast.”
I bent and started grabbing items off the dusty concrete. “I’m pissed.”
“Yes, I caught that.”
I grumbled and wobbled to my feet, trying to hold all of my goods again.
It took five minutes for the elevator to come down.
Why? Because the numbers danced up and down. Up and down. Up and down.
Only fifteen floors above us. Still in the enormous parking garage.
I was seething at the overlords’ antics. My fangs glistened in the horrid lighting.
Adelie barely contained her mirth as we—finally—entered the elevator.
