Chapter One

Itook the long way around the King of the Underworld’s palace, dragging my scythe along the stone path. I pulled along the stones until picked it up and set it in front of me again, hearing the pang against the cobblestone. The demons who tended the grounds glanced over at me and shivered, tucking in on themselves and scurrying away, trying not to gain my attention.

I kept my eyes straight to my destination, never veering off the path, even though the path was winding. The path got close to every patch of decent fake flowers filled with their faux perfumes. This entire garden reeked of magic. I doubt that the Queen of the Underworld could smell the magic that tainted them, or even cared. I’d seen her look at them longingly, with an emotion on her face I did not understand. I tried to think about what that emotion was, but I could only grasp a superficial understanding of it.

It wasn’t fear, sadness, or pain. The emotions that I knew all too well.

Joy had crossed my mind, but even that didn’t seem to fit. Each time I was left with more questions, so I had blocked it entirely from my mind. I had more important things to worry about than why she held a look at those damn flowers with an emotion I couldn’t decipher.

I just knew she was bound to the King of the Underworld, Hades. He created this garden for her. Everything about this garden appeared to be alive and vibrant. The fiery world they inhabited seemed almost distant compared to this garden of life, full of lush greenery, bright flowers, and sparkling streams. It was the perfect balance between a lasting reminder of her wolf-shifter roots, and a paradise created by her powerful king.

And it was all because of this bond. A string that held her and her mate together. A strange magic, a bond. A string so small and delicate yet woven between two people”s souls that many people had fought over in this world and in many others. I had spent many hours delving into the pages that described what this bond is, its intended purpose being to bring two lonely souls together and find companionship.

Love.

It was a word tossed around amongst the pages, but never a description given of what the word meant. I often thought maybe this was what Her Majesty saw in those flowers, but I couldn’t be certain. I didn’t understand what this love was.

All I knew was death, fear of the unknown, and sometimes peace when those who had lived good lives were brought to the Elysium fields. Only a few were fortunate enough to be brought there and spend the rest of eternity in blissful peace.

I scoffed and continued down the path. Small little foxlike fire creatures battled with a sphere around my robes of smoke and shadows. I stopped as they continued to growl and fight over the sphere that rolled into the grass until it popped up and over the cobbled stones and landed at my feet.

The creatures locked eyes with me, their mouths gaping open in shock at what they saw. A hood obscured my face, leaving nothing but darkness visible—a deep, impenetrable void that radiated a sense of dread and foreboding.

Cries and whimpers erupted from their maws, and they darted into the flowerbeds, letting the leaves burn in their wake.

I let out a sigh.

Emotions had turned this place upside down.

Before Hades had grown an obsession with Persephone, he ruled the Underworld well. Afterward, he grew a temper, anger, then an obsession to gather the goddess and bring her here. Only to be met with disappointment when the Goddess Selene, the matchmaking goddess, ripped her away and promised Persephone to Gabriel.

“A better match. They are soul mates,” Selene said.

For years, Hades sulked in the Underworld.

Then, of course, Ember, his true mate, arrived, and thankfully she calmed his anger. Mostly anyway. At least Hades was stable and continued to rule the Underworld, but still his moods fluctuated more than human females did . His mate and their children were to blame. They got themselves into trouble and caused scenes for all the three realms to see.

“Thanatos!” Ember waved from the enormous glass dome.

The glass dome allowed for natural light to consume the area. It illuminated the plants and flowers that filled Ember’s office. Despite its beauty, the dome was also a symbol of Hades’ protective nature. It kept Ember confined to the safety of their palace.

The guards stood at attention with stoic expressions, their hands tightly gripped the hilts of their swords. I lifted my gaze and entered the greenhouse.

Ember stood from her table. Her Sphere of Souls that Selene gifted her upon her departure years ago were placed delicately on its holder.

Where Selene went, only Rhea knows.

Ember stepped away from the table. Tiny star-like whisps dashed over the orb of darkness when she walked away from it. I swear I heard moans that beckoned her to come back.

She stared back and shushed it.

Ember turned back to me with her hands on her hips. “They never want me to leave. It makes me feel guilty, but I have other jobs too.” She put her hand on one hip and waved to a cream-colored couch for me to sit.

If I could’ve frowned, I would.

Sandwiches were laid out on the table, fruits, cheeses, wine, ambrosia. This would not be a short meeting, and if I had lungs right now, I’d be taking large breaths to calm my distaste.

“Your Majesty—”

“Ew, don’t call me that.” She made a face. “Come on, Thanatos, please sit.” Ember walked over to the couch and sat primly upon it. She flared her tea-length crimson dress and poured herself a healthy portion of ambrosia.

The shadows and smoke seemed to cling to me, reluctant to let go as I sat on the couch. They slowly dissipated into thin tendrils, my large black feather wings making room as I sat. Ember observed this with a curious expression. Her eye traced the movements of the shadows and smoke.

“I’d offer you something to eat, but I’m guessing you won’t?” She raised her eyebrows and grabbed a piece of toast. She buttered it and then added honey from a jar.

I watched her, her dainty hands working quickly, and she shoved it into her mouth. For being part werewolf, part god, she had an enormous appetite.

I only nodded in confirmation and held my scythe.

“While I eat, why don’t you tell me about the stats for this month?”

I held on to my scythe a little tighter. My bone fingers scraped against the magical bound wood with anger. Once Ember had become Hades’ mate many years ago, she also became Selene’s apprentice and second wielder of the Sphere of Souls to bind soulmates together. Ember’s time was precious.

She had many goals, and one of those was to protect humans from trafficking and, unfortunately, she couldn’t put her hand in it as much as she wanted. Instead, Hades allowed her to put together a demon team to hunt out evil souls, both human, supernatural, and deities that dared put humans in harm’s way.

After being in a human sex trafficking ring herself, it was important to her.

When it came time to find someone to head the demons, someone suggested my name. Why I wasn’t so sure. I was the bringer of death. I brought souls to the Underworld. Either for their last resting place or to the torture chambers. Well, I suppose my reapers did those jobs now. I was just the overseer.

Over time, I came to understand why they had chosen me, as my reapers and demon scouts uncovered the abhorrent living conditions of women, men, and children in certain areas. These humans were subjected to cruelty, with no access to food or water, lived in squalor, and were being forcibly sold.

By the time we rescued many, their bodies and minds were beyond repair, so I took their souls to provide them with relief in death to ease their mind and bodies. It was a harsh reality, one taken with special consideration, but the Fates deemed it so.

Ember once asked to accompany me on a rescue and retrieval in front of her mate. Hades pursed lips and the crease between his forehead was enough for me to know he wouldn’t allow for such a thing.

I’ve learned my king’s body language over the millennia, and I would not cross him.

I felt him enter my mind, and when he had seen past rescues, he forbad his queen for ever going with me.

“My scouts found two areas. One in Russia. They were luring female tourists to Hungary and shipping them to Russia’s capital. It was a small division and run by humans. My reapers are in the process of taking care of that one as we speak. Reapers and your demon army will bring those guilty of the trafficking to your son’s ward for their punishment.”

Ember pursed her lips and took a drink of ambrosia. “And the women?”

“All accounted for and alive. We will send them home, provide information to therapists, and give them the money you have graciously given to help them get back on their feet.” I bowed my head.

Ember nodded and put down her glass. “That’s wonderful,” Ember sighed. “I’m glad you found that one so quickly. Excellent work. What about the other one?”

“This one is deemed more complicated,” I said, gripping my scythe tighter. ,”It”s located in Ohio and disguised as a strip club.”

Ember shivered. “That sounds all too familiar.”

Of course it did. She spent years locked up in a strip club as a damn maid and a server, and watched countless women strip for money and then be auctioned off like cattle when they were done with them.

I gripped my scythe until I heard it crack.

Ember smiled and patted my boned knee. “Thanatos, it was a long time ago. Everything is fine now. I was the lucky one. I just worry about the other girls. I’m happy you have taken on this duty and are doing this for me, even if Hades won’t let me do much more.” She narrowed her eyes and gazed at their painted portrait on an easel she kept in her garden.

“It is an honor and privilege to serve you and His Majesty.” I bowed my head and my hood lowered, obstructing my view of her.

I knew she was smiling, a signal of joy and happiness. I didn’t understand it. I was just doing a job. Nothing more.

“Any other information on this club? How did you come to know about it?” Ember asked as she grabbed a thick roast beef sandwich.

I looked on, watching her as she took a big bite with her tiny mouth.

“An investor invited an alpha wolf shifter to the strip club called Fuzzy Bunnies for drinks and to conduct business. The alpha was wealthy, worked in lofty ranks in the human world. He thought it was just the average human strip club, but felt the magic immediately radiating once inside. Once he looked around, he could sense the fear in the women on stage, knew the bodyguards had glamours, and immediately called your home pack.”

Ember smirked. “I’m surprised my brother didn’t contact me directly. Or did you have something to do with that?”

“I did. His Majesty does not want you overwhelmed and asked me to take care of this side of your projects. I’ve handled it accordingly.” I waved my hand in dismissal.

“It’s my home pack,” she argued. “I’m telling you now, Thanatos. From now on, if you hear from my brother, you tell me.” Technically, she should be the alpha of the pack, but she came to live with Hades to be his mate and queen of the Underworld. She gave up the title to her brother, who can run it himself after their father trained him.

“Understood.” I bowed my head.

“Let me know of the alpha’s name who reported it, and we will send him a gift.” Ember set her glass down and leaned back into the sofa. “When do you plan to attack?”

I gazed around the garden, and then I heard high pitch giggles coming toward us.

“Isn’t so simple,” I replied. “Strong wards guard it heavily. I’m guessing a powerful entity shields it, and I do not believe this is the only strip club to their name. I’d like to gather more intel before I completely shut it down.”

Ember frowned. “And we let the women suffer while they are there?”

I tilted my head. “Wouldn’t they want to end any other women from being taken? If I could have more time, I could save more.”

Ember pressed her lips together, and the sphere grew brighter from the table. She tapped her finger on her leg. The sphere floated into her hand and sat on her lap. She gazed into it and let her finger roam across it. “There is one soul that won’t last the night.”

My boned hand ran up and down the cracked wood of my scythe. “It is one life, and she will be finally free of pain and suffering. She will be at peace. I will make sure the reaper that collects her soul will take her to the Elysium fields for her bravery,” I reasoned.

Ember narrowed her eyes. “No. Not this one,” she growled.

Her Majesty never growled at me. Yet here she was, her claws lengthened and her hair turned to fur. I tilted my head and saw this new emotion in her that I had never seen. Her anger.

I knew the emotion well, but it was different seeing it in someone so small and female.

“But why? What makes this female special?” I tilted my head.

Ember’s eyebrows furrowed, her hand running down her face. “I keep forgetting that you have such trouble with emotions, Thanatos.” She shook her head. “Each life is precious, and this one most of all.”

I lifted my skull and stared at her. Was it pity? Her eyes were too soft and leaking, but she wasn’t sad. I wasn’t sure what emotion she was trying to display, but it was enough to make me shift in my seat uncomfortably. I didn’t like the look she gave me. It made me feel inferior.

A breeze tickled my hood, and I heard a faint whisper. “She thinks you’re a compassionless dick.”