Prologue

From the epilogue of Cooking With Magic

At least the view is nice. Kolton sighed. He was sitting on the edge of the roadway that ran around the side of the hill that overlooked the Elysium Fields. There wouldn’t be many people who’d consider the Underworld to be a peaceful place, but for Kolton, who’d been created in that space, it was home.

The Fields were the final resting place for those souls who had lived a selfless life. Those who’d fought for their country, their community, their people, and who deserved a peaceful place for their souls to rest.

I can’t fight for the one I care for, Kolton thought glumly. I don’t even know if he’s mine, and I’m too chicken-shit to find out. He’s got so little time left…

Kolton’s hellhound alerted him to a presence that appeared beside him. Jumping to his feet, he bowed low. “Lord Hades, I trust I’m not blocking your way?” Gods, I can’t even look at him. He’ll know something’s wrong.

Surprisingly, Lord Hades chuckled. “I hardly see how you can be blocking me when the road is wide, and I’m capable of going around you. I only stopped by because I can sense there is something bothering you, and my beloved consort says I should take a more active interest in my hounds’ lives. Are you having issues with something in your life on Earth?”

Shit. Kolton absolutely could not lie to his master. For one thing, that was hugely disrespectful, and secondly, Lord Hades would know the moment his words left his mouth. “I’m always grateful for the opportunities offered me,” he said, effectively sidestepping his issues. “Being granted shifter status, having the right to experience life on Earth in all forms…”

“Hmm…and death, too, I imagine.” Lord Hades was looking over the fields, but Kolton was acutely aware of his scrutiny. “One of the strange concepts of living in my realm is that we don’t experience death or the process of dying. Ironic, don’t you think? No one ever dies here – the souls we torture are already dead, and my demons and hounds were always meant to be immortal. I imagine death would be a difficult topic to navigate when living among mortals with a defined lifespan.”

He already knows. Kolton didn’t know why he was surprised. Lord Hades was a god. It was their job to know things.

“I sense you are conflicted. Do you believe this person on the edge of life is the one chosen for you?”

Yes. No. I don’t fucking know. “Do you think he is?” Kolton took a chance. “I mean, he looks like the other mates my packmates have. He’s small and cute and looks like he’d fit in my pocket, and my hound wants to protect him.”

“Raoul’s mate Jason might take offense at being considered small or cute,” Lord Hades chuckled. “But if you’re asking me for some sign from the divine, and whether or not the person you want to protect is your fated mate, I can only offer this one observation. If the person you care for is dying, as I sense from the turmoil in your soul that he is, then he’s not the one.”

Kolton spun around, his eyes wide. “How can you even say that?” Shock forced the words from his mouth. “I mean…I apologize. I don’t doubt…shit,” Kolton groaned, covering his face with his hands. “I’m so sorry.” Just strike me down now and send me to the Pits.

“Take a deep breath,” Lord Hades instructed, his hand a comforting weight on Kolton’s shoulder. “Let it out slowly, and then tell me why you believe I am wrong in my assessment of your situation.”

“Ancient gods are never wrong,” Kolton muttered, rubbing his face with his hands before letting them drop to his side.

“Ancient gods’ consorts suggest otherwise.” Lord Hades was smiling. “Your heart is invested in this man?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure what that feels like. I feel like it should be. The man…he’s like a redheaded Blue. Sweet. Lovely. So kind, even in the hospital, even when I know he’s in so much pain…”

“I can’t take this away from you, although I wish I could. There are times on Earth when people we care for have to follow life’s natural progression. Death is inevitable. You know this.”

“But if he were my mate, then he’d be immortal and wouldn’t have to die,” Kolton insisted.

“Then what do you have to lose by showing him your collar box?” Lord Hades suggested.

“But…” Kolton had thought about doing that a hundred times in the past month. “If I tell him about me, share what he could be to me, and what that would mean, you know, about living forever, and then he couldn’t open the box…that would just be cruel to give him hope and then snatch it away.”

Lord Hades shrugged. “Don’t tell him the story. Have your collar box in a backpack or something and see if it reacts or changes in his presence. You can even say something like, ‘Oh, this catch is sticky, can you open this for me?’”

“Oh, yes, and then when he opens it, I can tell him all about me then, and he’ll be well, and… and…I’ve got to go. Thank you so much, Lord Hades. Thank you.”

Kolton bowed again and then disappeared, leaving the ancient god standing on the path, looking out over the fields.

“You did try and tell him. That dying boy’s not going to be able to open that box, is he?” Consort Ali slipped in under Lord Hades’ arm, hugging him around his waist.

“Kolton answered his own question. Any person born to be immortal would not be in a hospital dying. I see such heartbreak in my hound’s immediate future.”

“I’m not so sure.” Ali snuggled close. “You heard your hound clearly say he felt protective over this person, but he wasn’t sure that was the love that you and I, or your other hounds, enjoy. I’m thinking if he’s drawn to this man, there’s someone else nearby who could be the one Kolton is intended for. Likely, Kolton is distracted because of who he thinks he should be looking for and perhaps impacted by this man’s suffering. But I’m sure Kolton’s forever would have to be nearby. The Fates are canny about things like that.”

“Let’s hope they find each other soon, then.” Lord Hades closed his eyes as a shaft of pain ran through his soul and he shook his head. “Because Kolton’s questions have just been answered. May the poor man’s soul finally find peace and freedom from pain, wherever he may be.”

Across the top of the Elysium Fields, a tiny shining streak fell from the sky, landing to rest among the flowers.

“I guess it did.”