Chapter Nine

Dominic's truck was parked on the public road that ran along the front of my property. A few other homes had driveways off the same road, including the Host house, but he had parked closest to mine.

“I must have sensed you,” Dominic said as I stopped my car beside his truck—his shiny, black, expensive truck. “Even before we met.” He leaned in to kiss me goodbye. “Call me when you get home, and I'll come running, angel.” He grinned. “Like a good dog.”

“Okay,” I said with a shy smile. “I'll see you later.”

He grabbed his bundle of bloodstained clothing and got out. I waited, watching to make sure that he got in his truck and started it safely.

“I'm fine, Mom,” he teased, leaning out the window. Then the truck roared to life, and he waved me off. “Go on. I'll follow you into town.”

And he did. It was comforting to see Dominic's black behemoth right behind me the entire way. Only when I turned into the Hair of the Dog's parking lot did he leave, driving past with a wave. I waved back and then parked behind the building. I owned the bar, but the space was rented. I had lucked out and gotten the bottom floor of a seven-floor building downtown. It was a great location, but what was even better was that the upper floors were all rented by companies whose employees left by early evening. So there was no one there to be bothered by any noise coming from the bar, and we had the entire parking lot to ourselves. At this hour, between the closing of the companies above and the opening of my bar, the lot was empty. The building didn't even have a security guard since my bar stayed open late, and I had bouncers guarding the entire bottom floor. So that saved the companies money. It was a win-win for all of us.

As I unlocked the side door, I stared at the simple sign that declared it was the employee only entrance to Hair of the Dog.

“Hair of the Dog,” I murmured. “I guess I sensed you too, Dom.”

I went into the bar, leaving the door unlocked for my employees. They'd be arriving at any minute. Inside, the place was dark, but it was a second home to me, and my hand knew exactly where to go to flip the switch. Another few feet and I came to the control panel for the entire bar. I switched on the lights and power, then headed into the main room. The scent of rosemary welcomed me, coming from the prosperity wash I used on everything that was wood and needed polishing. It cleaned, polished, drew money to the bar, and had the bonus of smelling fresh. People often commented on how clean my bar smelled. It's not something you expect from a drinking establishment.

I didn't bother turning over chairs or getting glasses out of the dryer. That's what I paid people for. Instead, I checked on our supplies, starting with the alcohol and ending with my potions. The alcohol was good, but I had four potions to refill, including the one I had wasted on Darius.

“Darius.” I rolled my eyes. “Fuck. He's going to be back tonight.” I went into my office, leaving the door open. I'd start preparing the potions, but wouldn't get started enchanting them until someone else had arrived to look after the bar. “Or maybe Darius woke up this morning and realized what a mistake he made. Yeah, that's probably what happened.”

“It's not at all what happened.”

I spun around to see Darius standing in the doorway. Again.

“What the fuck are you doing here?!” I shouted.

Darius held up his hands. “I told you I'd be back.”

“I expected that to be later tonight. When we're actually open. Not for you to come skulking in through the employee only entrance like a fucking criminal!”

“I believe you open in twenty minutes.”

“Yeah, but no one comes in that early.”

“Then why do you open that early?”

“Because it gives us about an hour to prepare for the people who come in at eight.”

“Well, I wanted to be here before anyone else. And you left the side door open.” He shook his head. “You shouldn't do that. Anyone could come wandering in. Someone dangerous.”

I went still. Stared at him. It was astonishing how similar he looked to Dominic. Now that I had him before me again, and Dom was still so fresh in my memories, I could really see it. They could have been brothers. And both of their names began with D. Odd. Very odd. Speaking of odd, what were the odds of that?

“You mean like you?” I asked as I subtly reached behind my back for one of the ward potions I kept in my desk.

They were for emergencies. It was a quick barrier spell, one that didn't have to be set into the earth but instead set upon a person. It formed an impenetrable shield that lasted about an hour. Just long enough to get me to safety if need be. In fact, it was kin to the spell I had offered to protect Dominic with.

“I'm very dangerous,” Darius admitted freely. “But I'd never hurt you, Amélie. I promise.”

“Uh-huh. I think I'd like you to leave now.”

“What have I done to scare you?”

“Nothing besides come on way too strong last night, throw around my best bouncer, and then show up here tonight before anyone else has arrived.”

He grinned and shook his head. “Yes, all right, I can see how bad that looks. But I'm not a threat to you. I just want to talk. Cast your spell if you like.” He waved at the desk. “I know you're reaching for one.”

I sighed and went to sit down behind my desk. I had good instincts about people and my instincts told me that Darius, although a slut and dangerous, was a good man. He could have hurt Ralph, but he hadn't.

“Look, Darius, I'm just not interested.”

“It wasn't the potion, Amélie.” Darius strode up to my desk and planted his feet shoulder-width apart. He crossed his arms and stared me down, as if bracing himself for a fight. “The only thing your magic did was open my eyes. I want you. No one else.” With a sigh, he dropped his arms. “I'm doing this wrong, aren't I? Fuck, I should have brought flowers. Or chocolate. Or flowers and chocolate. That's the usual offering, right?”

I chuckled. “I don't think I've ever seen you this unsure of yourself.”

“Because I've never been like this.” He plopped down in the chair beside him. “I don't know much about romancing a woman. They usually, well, never mind that. It's just going to sound conceited.”

“Women usually pursue you? Is that what you were going to say?” I lifted a brow at him. “You don't have to say it. I've seen it. I've watched you literally crook your finger, and a woman got up and went to you. Frankly, it disgusted me. I was embarrassed for my sex. I mean, you're handsome, but not that handsome.”

He flushed. The color did him good. Made him more real.

“To be honest, it's nice to see you unsettled,” I went on. “I think this is good for you. Try to remember this the next time you go after a woman. Be more humble. Women like that, especially in men who don't have to be. Humility and even a bit of insecurity in a good-looking guy is sexy. Better than what you've been throwing out.”

I instantly thought of Dominic and how adoring he was. How vulnerable he'd made himself with me. I would have felt out of my league with him, but instead, he made me feel like a goddess. And that was sexier than any swaggering hottie. Dom knew he was handsome, but he didn't toss it in my face. He didn't use it against me. Instead, he acted as if he were nothing compared to me. And there was more to him than his appearance. Dom had layers that kept me interested when we were out of bed. Darius might have them too, but I doubted he'd ever show them to his lovers. He simply wasn't as brave as Dom.

“I can be humble.” Darius leaned forward. “You're humbling me right now.”

I gentled my tone to say, “I don't mean to. Truly. I'm sorry I doused you last night. And I'm really sorry it opened your eyes to me. I don't want to humiliate you, and I don't mean to be cruel. You're a beautiful man who has grown accustomed to women behaving in a certain way around you. You're not the only one at fault for your arrogance. But maybe don't shine a light on your confidence. Ease back on the self-love and you might actually find someone else to love more.”

“So, this is what a pure soul is like,” he murmured.

“Excuse me?”

“You, Amélie. You're glorious.”

“Don't start, Darius.”

“Oh, I'm going to start all right. And I'm going to finish. I'm going to say exactly what I want to say and this time, you won't be able to blame it on your potion.”

“Fine,” I huffed. “Say your piece, but know that it won't make a difference. I don't want to go out with you.”

“And yet, you still care enough about me to give me that advice.”

“Don't take it personally.”

Darius laughed. “Oh, I don't. I know you care about everyone. As I said, you're a pure soul.”

“Stop saying that. It's weird.”

“Let me ask you something. Did you open this bar to draw the broken ones to you?” He leaned back and crossed his legs as he stared at me in the way of a psychiatrist. “All the sad and lonely people. The depressed and the shy. The ones who think they'll be alone forever. And the ones who just want to end it all. You slip them a little something and change their lives, don't you? A little magic to make the world a better place. You don't hoard it as some would. No, you share your magic.”

“How did you . . . ?” I whispered. Then I mentally shook myself. “I told you; I'm not a witch. I'm an herbalist.”

“Right. An herbalist. Whatever.”

“I don't just give away my remedies,” I huffed, annoyed at his attitude. “I charge for them. I'm not some pure soul, do-gooder.”

“Just because you charge for your magic, it doesn't mean you don't want to help people. It just means you need money to continue helping. I get that. You have a bar to run. Staff to pay. Bills.”

I shook my head. “Who are you?”

“You want to help people because you have a pure soul,” he ignored my question. “You did so much good in a past life that when you died, you went to the Blessed Isles—the heaven of heavens. And there, you were given a choice to stay in that beautiful place forever or return for another go at life. This time with a few magical perks. And you chose to come back. Not for yourself, but for the good you knew you could do.”

My breath caught as emotions rushed through me. Something shivered up my spine. An awareness. That urge that drove me. The need to guide and protect. In the past, I worried that I was arrogant. Who was I to think I could guide others? But now, listening to Darius, I knew it wasn't arrogance at all. It was love. Love led me, and I wanted—no, I needed —to share that love with the world. I had so much love for everyone. When I saw someone struggling, all I wanted to do was help them. Even people like Darius. He was schmuck, but I still had hope for him. Was it because of a choice I had made in another life? No, in death. He said I chose to leave heaven to help people. This was insane, right? He had to be crazy.

The crazy schmuck uncrossed his legs and leaned forward to plant his forearms on my desk. “Did you know that all witches have pure souls, Amélie? You were born into a witch family, weren't you? The best of them are the ones with magic, right? I don't mean they're the best because they're magical. I mean they're the best people. Truly good. Pure souls.”

Grandma—my mom's mom—had been the kindest, most beautiful person I'd ever known. I had always believed that I inherited my need to do good from her. She's one of those people who believe in leaving the world a better place than it was when you arrived. And on my dad's side, there was my Aunt Lexi and my cousin, Beau. They were both practitioners of Vodou who had done great things for their communities. They were good people. Truly good. The kind of good that's unshakable. No one could taint their goodness. And yes, people had tried.

Shivers ran down my spine. The skin on my arms pebbled. Something inside me reacted to Darius's words in epiphany. A vision of buildings made of jewels flashed through my mind and then was gone.

“The Blessed Isles?” I murmured. “That's Greek mythology, right?”

“Well done.” He nodded. “You remember something, don't you? Did you see the Isles? The homes there are made out of precious jewels.”

“Oh, my God,” I whispered. And my shock wasn't just because he had just described my vision. It was also because of Dominic. My Hound of Hades. He was an immortal here to do a god's bidding. And now this man was talking to me about the Underworld. This man who resembled Dominic.

“You don't get to remember your past life,” Darius went on. “Not even I remember mine. But sometimes, people remember the Underworld and they think it's their past life. I remember being reborn in the Underworld.”

I blinked. “What did you just say?”

“If you were a normal woman, I'd ease you into this. But you're not. You're a witch. You understand magic, and I see that you believe what I've shared with you. I think you'll understand me and my packmates.”

“Packmates?” I froze.

“I'm not a libertine, Amélie.” He grimaced. “Perhaps my behavior can be seen as a bit slutty. But it's because I've been looking for my mate—the one Hades promised me. You see, I work for him. A very long time ago, when my soul was in the Underworld, Hades offered me another chance at life. Eternal life. But it came with a price. I'd be his soldier, protecting the world from any souls who linger too long or escape the Underworld.”

“All right, that's enough!” I shot to my feet, horror and epiphany warring in my head. Everything was clicking into place, and I didn't like the clicking. It sounded like the hammer of a gun hitting empty chambers in a game of Russian roulette. “I don't want to hear anymore. This is over.” I waved at the door. “Get out, Darius.”

“I'm telling the truth.” Darius leveled his startling stare on me and the light caught the metallic flakes of silver in his eyes. “Shall I prove it to you?”

Oh, I knew he was telling the truth. I knew it because I had finally figured out why he looked so much like Dominic. It seemed so obvious now. I felt like an idiot for not seeing it sooner. Darius was a Hound of Hades, part of Dominic's Cerberus team. His pack. But he was saying things that Dom had only hinted at. That's why I was upset. Not because of Darius. It was Dominic. I was falling for him, believing that he'd been utterly honest and vulnerable with me. Maybe he was, but he'd also been holding back some serious information. A mate? Hades had promised them mates? What did that mean? Magic? Most likely. But what sort of magic?

Dominic's phone conversation from that morning came back to me. How he told his packmate that I was the one. He'd said it to me too. He wasn't going anywhere because I was the one. He had to mean I was his mate. Then he told his packmate that he didn't care about the woman he'd met. A woman in a bar. Fuck! He'd been talking to Darius. And they'd been talking about the same woman. Me.

I processed more. That horrifying clicking came again. Empty chambers, but one of them would inevitably fire a bullet straight into my brain.

At breakfast, Dominic had behaved oddly when I told him about Darius. And he'd laughed at Darius for getting doused in my potion. He had laughed hard . As if it was personal. Did he know then what I'd only just figured out—that Darius was after me too? Is that why he'd been so gleeful? Because he'd gotten to me first? Was this a sort of friendly rivalry between them, and I was a prize that Dom had snatched away from Darius?

Nope. Not dealing with this. Not ready. My brain simply couldn't process it all. I needed more time to think things through. Possibly with alcohol. No, definitely with alcohol.

“Get out,” I said again.

And then Darius left.

Oh, he didn't leave the room. No, no, no. Darius isn't a man to give up that easily. He transformed. His body morphed into that of a huge dog, his clothing stretching around him until the dog went transparent. Then the clothes fell through him to pile on the floor. As I jumped back, bruising my ass on my desk, the dog sat down on his haunches and stared at me.

“Holy shit,” I whispered. “Darius?”

The dog gained color and substance, becoming physical, and barked at me.

“Holy shit!” I shrieked. “You really are a Hound of Hades.”

There was no greater confirmation than that. Darius was undeniably Dominic's packmate. They were shapeshifters. A Cerberus team. The Cerberus. From Hell. Well, the Underworld, but tomato-tomahto.

The dog made a huffing sound, and then it transformed again, turning back into Darius. Naked Darius.

I averted my gaze.

“How do you know that title?” A little shuffle, and then Darius said, “I'm dressed. You can look.”

I looked back at Darius. He was mostly dressed. He had his pants on—a nice tailored pair of tan slacks—and he was tucking in a button-front shirt as he slipped his feet into his shoes. I absently noted that his chest was just as amazing as Dominic's, but his clothes held more fascination for me. Dominic and Darius were so alike and yet so different. One dressed like a billionaire playboy and the other like a college boy. And why the fuck was I focusing on their clothes? Maybe so I wouldn't start screaming and breaking things. Yeah, I was mad. I just couldn't figure out who I was mad at or why exactly. Do you know what I mean? I was just really fucking annoyed, disappointed, and pissed off. Like, in general.

“I asked you a question, Amélie.” Darius narrowed his eyes at me. “How do you know what I am?”

“Oh, hell no, you did not just take a tone with me!” I snapped.

He cleared his throat but stood his ground. “The tone is warranted. You acted as if you didn't believe me, but then you used my title—a title very few outside of gods know. So, how exactly is it that you know it, Amélie?”

“I read about it. In a book.”

“Bullshit. No human book would have that information.”

“No normal human book would, but I read it in a witch's book. One passed down to me from my grandmother.”

I don't know why I was lying to him. Partly because I was angry. Information had been withheld from me, so I wanted to do some withholding too. I should have just told him about Dominic. That would have ended things between us immediately. No more of him rambling on about me being the one. It would have been satisfying to see Darius finally get smacked down irrefutably. But now I was looking at him differently. He was the same as Dominic. And he had told me something Dominic hadn't. Something important. So, I didn't want to end it yet. I wanted to keep him hanging on long enough to tell me everything.

“Isn't Cerberus supposed to have three heads?” I asked. Yes, I knew this part already, but I had to play dumb to get him to talk.

“So, your book didn't tell you everything about us.”

“No. Just that you protect the world from escaped souls.”

“Interesting,” he murmured in the same tone Dom had at breakfast when I told him about Darius.

The same response given in the same manner. The exact same manner. Had Dominic been mimicking Darius? Making fun of him without letting me in on the joke? Oh, I'm going to spank Dominic's fine ass when I see him later! Spank it and bite it and . . . ugh! Focus, Amélie! He is not getting sex after holding shit like this back. In fact, I should end things with him. But, oh, I like him so much!

“Cerberus is not a single dog with three heads,” Darius squished up his face. “Well, we can be. But that's only when my packmates and I unite.”

“You can unite ?”

“Yes. Most of the time, we're three men who work together. We can shapeshift into hounds and when we're in those forms, we can go spectral, as you just saw me do. That's how we collect souls. But in times of great danger, we can combine our hound forms and become one giant, three-headed Cerberus.”

“Holy shit,” I said. Yeah, Dominic had left that out too. “You and your packmates—are you brothers?”

He shrugged. “Not exactly, but it wouldn't be entirely wrong to label us as such. We were created by Hades together. At the same time. It's how he makes every Cerberus. A bonded pack. He put some of himself in each of us.”

Even as the memory of Dominic's brazen tattoo came to mind, Darius lifted his shirt to show me a duplicate. Well, the upper portion of a duplicate. The twin tips of Hades's bident poked above his waistband in back. I didn't have to see all of it to know what it looked like. I immediately imagined the spear points coming together to form a thick shaft—right over Darius's left ass cheek. Hades definitely had a sense of humor.

“Through his mark, Hades grants us some of his power, mainly that over the dead,” Darius went on as he shoved his shirt back in place. “We're bound to him, but also separate. Just as we are within our Cerberus pack.”

“Within the Cerberus,” I repeated, as if I was trying to process it. Because I was.

“There are three men in every Cerberus team and there are teams all over the world,” Darius said.

At least Dom had told me that much.

“And you protect the world from spirits,” I said.

“Yes, that part is accurate. Sometimes, a soul slips free of the Underworld, and we have to track it down. But we mostly deal with the newly dead who don't move on.”

Then something occurred to me. I snorted and said, “So, you're literally a hound dog.”

“Yes.” He scowled. “And?”

“And you think I'd be interested in you after you've rutted your way through my clientele?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Oh, that type of hound dog,” he muttered. Then he shook his head. “That's what I've been trying to tell you. I haven't been rutting. I've been searching for the mate Hades promised us. He cast a spell on all the teams so that we'd find our mates. To survive eternity, we need someone to love. Someone who will remind us of what we're fighting for. Someone special who will love us just as fiercely and be true to us forever. Without that, we will wither away. So you see, I go through women quickly because as soon as I know they're not the one, I move on. I have to. It's life or death for me.”

A shiver ran down my spine. In my mind, I heard Dominic say, “You're the one.”

Shaking off the memory, I said to Darius, “Don't say it.”

“I think you're the one, Amélie,” he said. “You're our mate.”