Chapter Three

Kolton ran. Back in the Underworld, this time in the deserted wilderness that was the barren wastelands surrounding Lord Hades’ realm. His hound knew the lands well, not that he had any destination in mind. The wasteland was the home of monsters, but for the most part all Kolton saw was the dust pushed up by his four feet. Everything around him was red and dusty, the only breaks to the bleak horizon line being the occasional outcrops of high rocks and deep caves.

Why did such a good man have to die? Kolton couldn’t go to any of his packmates with his scattered thoughts. His pack would probably be brutally honest, saying things like, “He’s not your mate, don’t worry about it.” They weren’t mean by nature. It was just for the most part they saw things in black and white.

The mates - such as Blue, Ollie, Patrick, Cyril, or even Jason - would likely have a better understanding of how Kolton was feeling. Even when I don’t understand it myself. They would offer sympathy, sympathy Kolton didn’t believe he deserved, sympathy Kolton had no idea how to cope with… Running alone was the better idea.

The thing was, despite what Lord Hades had said about the hellhounds not having to face death, that wasn’t strictly true. Kolton had killed a few people himself in his time on Earth. Admittedly, they were bad people, people whose thread had been on the point of being cut when Kolton came across them. In that respect, Kolton had been a tool used by the Fates. There were also other incidences where he’d come across accidents, tragedies, times when mortal deaths were inevitable. So it wasn’t like he hadn’t seen a dead person before.

But never someone so young. Never one so damned good and decent and kind. Never someone I held in my arms. Someone I shared a bathroom with.

Hellhounds couldn’t cry – it wasn’t in their makeup. But the hound could cover mile upon mile of deserted wasteland, allowing the human side of his existence to weep in silence and total privacy. Kolton hadn’t loved Warner in a romantic sense, but he’d seen the young man as someone who needed his protection and help, and in that time, a bond had been formed. Not a partner… In fact, Kolton distinctly remembered when Warner told him about being ill. He said then that he’d loved Kolton like the big brother he’d never had. So why did I ever think Warner could be my mate when he himself admitted loved me like a brother?

Hope?

Wishful thinking?

Jealous of his mated pack members?

Any of the three reasons could be true. I even told the hospital Warner was my partner. Because for a short while Kolton wanted to be seen the way his packmates were – as someone who could care for and cherish a person who needed and deserved it.

Even though Warner was not his mate.

Didn’t mean he had to die like that, though.

As the miles flew under his feet, Kolton pulled himself together. Lord Hades had been right – typical ancient god. But Kolton had known the truth all along. He’d just never faced it. He’d never experienced a spark of physical attraction to the man, even before he knew about Warner’s illness. But while Warner could pretend for a few short weeks that he was well and living a great life being spoiled by an attentive partner, Kolton could pretend he was someone capable of loving someone else who didn’t smell like his pack.

Time passed. That was obvious although the Underworld didn’t have a sunrise or sunset like the Earth realm. The red sky never changed, but there came a time when Kolton was aware his paws were starting to ache and his nose was full of so much dust, he wanted to sneeze with it. He started to slow, awareness moving from his insides to where he was, and what he was doing. And that’s when he noticed something unusual.

Hooves? The hound tilted his head. Now that he’d stopped running he could feel the vibrations through the earth of something moving in his direction. There was only one species in the Underworld that had actual hooves, and they were Lord Hades’ horses – the ones that pulled his carriage. Turning, Kolton could see that same carriage hurtling toward him, Lord Hades’ four horses eating up the miles between them, making it look effortless. For them it probably was.

Unwilling to face his master covered in dust, Kolton shifted, checking he had boots on and that his face was clean and tear-free. As the vehicle got closer, Kolton could see it was Lord Hades and Consort Ali in the carriage and the moment the carriage pulled to a stop, Ali bounded out of his seat and ran up to him, flinging his arms around Kolton’s waist.

“I’m so sorry for your loss. Are you okay? Are you all right?”

Looking over Ali’s head, Kolton looked at his master who hadn’t gotten down from the carriage. Kolton knew the ancient god was pregnant again, but Lord Hades didn’t look annoyed at having to chase him down.

“Answer my mate,” Lord Hades said gently. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Kolton nodded and then patted Consort Ali on the shoulder. “Thank you for asking.” Apparently, shifters liked some form of physical response to their equally physical expression of concern. “You were right, sire, and Thanatos stopped me from making a complete fool of myself and ruining Warner’s last moments. I just… I couldn’t be there and thought I would just…I just needed to go for a run.”

“That’s understandable…” Lord Hades started to say, but Consort Ali interrupted him.

“Did you take your collar box to the hospital? I was right. Am I right? Tell me, did you take your collar box, like Hades suggested you do?”

“Yes. Yes, I did. I had it in the hospital room, but as I just said, Thanatos stopped me from showing it to Warner.” His cheeks heating, Kolton took a tiny step back. Consort Ali was enthusiastic . “Are you worried about the box? I’m so sorry. I must’ve left it there. I’ll go back and retrieve it, that’s no problem. It’s not like anyone can open it. Unless you already retrieved it, sire?”

“I intended to. I understood you were likely coping with an onset of unfamiliar emotions, and it was understandable that you would forget to take it with you.” There was nothing in Lord Hades’ expression to show what he was thinking. “However…”

“The box has been opened.” Consort Ali was jumping from one foot to the other. “It’s open. It’s open. Hades got the notification just about the time you landed back here for your run. Isn’t that exciting? I said, didn’t I say when Kolton was here before that his mate would be somewhere near poor Warner. The Fates are so clever in all that they do.”

Kolton felt the color drain from his face, and he barely stopped himself from leaning on Consort Ali’s shoulder when his knees went weak. “Someone has opened my box?” His voice was barely a whisper. “While I wasn’t there?”

Consort Ali was nodding, a huge smile on his face. “It had to be someone at the hospital, maybe someone who worked there. Isn’t that so romantic? On your darkest day, your mate opens your collar box.”

“How was that even possible if I wasn’t there to see it, sire?” Ignoring Consort Ali wasn’t easy, but Kolton focused on his master. The god had never steered him wrong before.

“I confess, at the time I created the boxes, I always believed my hounds would keep them safe. I never conceived a situation where one of my faithful hounds was so stricken with overwhelming emotions that they would leave their box unattended for their actual mate to find.” Lord Hades shrugged. “It’s not the end of the world. When you find your box, you’ll find your mate and you’ll already know that person is the one intended for you. Takes away the guesswork some of your packmates have been through recently.”

“Find it?” Kolton repeated, his brain disjointed, still trying to work out how his day had gotten so weird. “I have to go and find it?”

“Your mate wouldn’t leave it in the hospital room where you left it, especially once they saw what was in it. And it’s not like you can leave your mate with a box and nothing else.” Consort Ali laughed and slapped Kolton on the arm. “You’ll have to track that person down. That shouldn’t take you long. You hounds have wonderful noses.”

Kolton wasn’t sure he was ready for a mate, especially if the one intended for him already knew about him and Warner. “Can’t I just zap my box to me and find my mate later? Like, will the box just close up or…”

“You can’t do that!” The vehemence in Consort Ali’s voice made Kolton take another step back. If he upset Lord Hades, then he’d likely end up in the pits in Tartarus. Everyone knew that, although in fairness, it barely ever happened. But Consort Ali was an unknown element, likely to come up with some devilishly devious punishment that Lord Hades would support because…they were mates.

“You need to track this person down, explain about your collar box and what it means. Don’t you see, there’s a good chance that this person, whoever they are, will already know that you were mates. How do you think they might be feeling right now, after seeing you with your sweet friend in the hospital?”

“That they’d likely never want to see my face again?” Kolton felt completely turned about and looked to Lord Hades for help. But once again, Consort Ali was in his space, poking him on the chest.

“Paranormals love their mates. Your mate will be a paranormal. Hades sensed it. They will understand and just be pleased to see you again.”

Scratching behind his ear, Kolton looked around but nothing in the vast wasteland was proving inspirational. “I haven’t even got a clue of who the person might be,” he said at last. “I admit, when I was caring for Warner I really didn’t pay a lot of attention to anyone else.”

“That’s why you need to track them,” Lord Hades said firmly. “Start where you left the box and track it from there. It will be infused with your scent and my magic, so it won’t be difficult to find out where it ended up.”

Kolton knew a dismissal when he heard one, but he was compelled to ask, “Does it have to be now? Warner has just died and…”

“Your mate should be the one you turn to when times get tough. They will want to help you. That’s what mates do. All you have to do is communicate with them – use your words and things will be fine.”

Stuck between Consort Ali’s insistence and Lord Hades’ firmness, Kolton knew he would have to go and find his box. But I’m going to have something to eat first, he thought as the horses wheeled around, carrying Lord Hades and Consort Ali back to their mansion. A minor mutiny maybe, but if Kolton was ever asked, he’d just say he had to eat, otherwise the sound of his belly rumblings would likely drown out any conversation he and his still-hypothetical mate might have.