Chapter Thirty-Two

My anger was fierce as each second passed. Hades, his face contorted with frustration, exuded an intense aura. The air crackled with tension, as if a brewing thunderstorm loomed overhead. The scent of burned sulfur filled the room, which added to the suffocating atmosphere. I could feel the heat radiating off Hades, his fury palpable, as his demon cowered before him, the weight of disappointment heavy in the air. How could he be so foolish as to trust in a mere matchmaker to find his destined mate, for such a meager price?

My companion, a fragile mortal, laid vulnerable as Hades’ furious power that seeped into the room. The air crackled with an electric charge, carrying the weight of his anger. In response, Hypnos enveloped my mate in a profound slumber, offering respite from the overwhelming force. Although she appeared unharmed for now, the potential harm inflicted by his relentless turmoil lingered, a threat to her fragile form.

“Hold her?” I stood and cradled my mate in my arms. If there was anyone I was going to trust, it was my brother.

He knew the importance of a mate bond. Any jealousy I’ve had toward my treasure and his relationship instantly vanished since he has expressed his want to finding his own mate.

He nodded, gripped her tightly, and took her to the far corner of the room.

I stepped forward, flaring out my wings. Ember, already engulfed in the flames, tried to calm Hades down and not destroy the fucking furniture in his office.

“Hades!” I roared, my wings forcefully pushed back by the scorching blaze erupting from his infernal fire, engulfing his demonic form. The intense heat seared Andriel’s skin, leaving a lingering smell of burnt flesh in the air. However, it was not enough to claim his life. “Your power threatens to harm my mate. I strongly advise you to cease before I resort to more drastic measures.”

And I would fight the damn King of the Underworld. I could very well wrestle with his soul until I grew weary. I could very well hold his soul in my hand and strangle his neck. Doing that to Ember would, of course, upset her and it is the last thing I wanted to do, but when it came to my mate, I would go to the ends of all the realms to take care of her safety.

Hades cast a fleeting glance toward Hypnos, who tightly clutched my precious treasure. Even in the depths of slumber, her eyebrows furrowed, etched with the weight of either worry or pain. Fueled by rage, I clenched my fists, feeling the surge of anger course through me, as my scythe materializes in my hand.

“Stand down Hades,” I snapped. It was my last warning.

I felt Ares’ colossal figure behind me. He grunted in agreement. “We can’t hurt the human, Hades. Think about this.”

Ember nudged him, her hair winding wildly around him. “Please, Hades. Calm down. We are going to work this out.”

Hades’ jaw ticked, and he yelled, sending a blast of fire toward the demon. Andriel screamed louder than his previous cries and Hades” light lit the entire room aglow. Once the light faded, all that remained was the dust where the demon had been lying.

“Well, great,” Mariah stood next to Hypnos, helping to shield my mate against Hades’ wrath. “Now we can’t question him.”

Hades’ breath came in harsh pants and Ember stood on her toes to wipe away the sweat from his brow.

“I’m sorry. I–I don’t know what came over me,” Hades said with a frown.

Ember smiled softly, patting his cheek. “It’s alright. I was upset too. You haven’t lost your cool like that in a long time. I’m just glad it’s over. Maybe we need to work out some frustration, huh?”

Hades wrapped his arms around Ember and buried his face into her shoulder.

“And we can still question him,” Ember said as she rubbed Hades’ back. “Hades will respawn him from the pool. It might take some time for him to calm down, though.”

“We don’t have time,” I snapped, waving my scythe in the air. ”The next auction is soon, and I can only rely on my demons and reapers to do so much in making sure the innocent are protected,” I snapped, waving my scythe in the air. “Unless I buy Fuzzie Bunnies out.” I turned to Hypnos for confirmation.

“That could work.” Hypnos nodded. “I can send out a message for you.”

Hades shook his head. “No, that would look suspicious. New buyers buying up the lot? And we don’t know the owner or if they will even be present. We will lose the trail.”

“Then what else do you want me to do? We have a week and a half and no closer to finding the owner. I’m not having those women bought out!” My mate would be heartbroken.

My shadows danced and flickered, their movements quick and erratic. The overwhelming surge of anger and fury threatened to consume me entirely. I yearned for Juniper’s presence, the touch of her hand, the warmth of her embrace. With determined steps, I marched to the opposite side of the room, my footsteps echoing off the walls. Carefully, I reached out and retrieved my precious treasure from Hypnos’ grasp. A smile crept across his face as I cradled her in my arms, and I inhaled deeply, savoring the intoxicating aroma that enveloped me.

Damn, it was fucking calming.

“Did someone order an angel?” A sly voice came from the other side of the office.

Hermes stood tall, his arms tightly crossed, while a female angel, presumably Simone, stood beside him. The angel’s delicate wings were encased in white nylon, just like her bound hands and arms. A hushed silence enveloped the scene, broken only by the faint rustling of the nylon and the muffled sound of Simone’s futile attempts to speak through the rope keeping her from speaking. Her face contorted into a scowl, her eyes filled with frustration, while her nails fiercely clawed at the restraints around her wrists.

“Hermes!” Ares shouted, lunging toward the Messenger God. He opens his arms wide, and Ares picks him up into an enormous hug. “Where the hell have you been? I haven’t seen you in ages!”

Hermes chuckled. “Well, I’ve got my family to take care of. Besides, being the neutral god, I can’t just hang out in the Underworld all the time, I have to split my time. Next few hundred years I need to spend in the Celestial Kingdom. Believe me, my mate isn”t thrilled about all that damn sunshine.” He laughed. “But currently, I’m a fucking taxi right now.” He glares at Hades.

“Thanks, old friend.” Hades walked forward to shake Hermes’ hand. “I appreciate you bringing her here. Where did you find her?”

Hermes frowned. “On earth, dressed as a human looking in some woman’s window. I didn’t know angels were into peeping Tom business, but I guess they are.” Hermes’ lip curled into disgust.

Simone rolled her eyes and shuffled away from him.

My grip tightened on Juniper, her head lolling from side to side. She was waking up, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to or not. She was tired this morning, but I also know she wanted to be a part of this, to help find the rest of the women.

Hermes and Hades spoke for a moment longer before he disappeared, while I was left alone with my thoughts. The rest of the room stared at the angel, who only glared back, like she was the victim.

I guessed she didn’t believe she was in the wrong either, just as the demon, and I damn hoped Hades didn’t have another meltdown. At least I’d remained under control.

Somewhat.

Once Hermes was gone, Hades ripped the rope that was tied around Simone’s mouth. She spat on the floor and continued to wrestle with the rope wrapped around her. “I demand to know why I am being held against my will!” She hissed. “And Hades, you are not in control of me. I am not part of your jurisdiction.”

Hades raised an eyebrow, and I stepped forward.

“He may not be,” I said. “But being the taker of souls, I move through all realms, and we have questions for you.”

Simone scoffed, “I don’t have to answer to you. To none of you. Zeus is the only one who I answer to! Zeus! Zeus! I call upon you for help!”

The whole room chuckled until laughter echoed off the walls. Zeus would not come, he never answered a prayer. Or, at least he hadn’t before. Hera took care of all his prayers, but since she mated with Michael the archangel, I wondered if he had taken up more responsibility.

I try to stay away from much gossip of the Celestial Realm.

However, to my surprise, the door to the study groaned and opened and revealed none other than Zeus. We all paused our laughter and stood there stunned.

“Zeus! You’re here!” Uriel cheered.

Zeus gave her a small smile and waved.

He wasn’t his usual carefree self. The weight of sadness lingered in his eyes, casting a shadow over his usual bright expression. His dark hair was disheveled, as if ruffled by a gust of wind. Neglected, his beard has grown out, adding to his sloppy appearance. The top button of his dress shirt remained undone.

Hypnos came beside me and nudged me. “He’s depressed. I heard he found his mate a few years ago, a human, but she ran off and Poseidon wiped her memory because Zeus pissed him off. Zeus has been searching for her.”

I cracked a smile. I never knew Poseidon could be so devilish.

“Hades, why are you torturing one of my angels?” Zeus asked with disinterest.

Hades sighed and leaned against the desk.

“And why are there charred remains of a body on your floor? That’s kind of gross, man. It smells.” Zeus waved his hand in front of his face.

Simone stomped her foot and shimmied in her bindings. “Please, Zeus, can you help me?”

Zeus sighed and scratched his beard. “I’m assuming you have a good reason, Hades? What did Simone do?”

Simone huffed and glared at Hades. “They haven’t told me.”

I stepped between Hades and Simone. “Simone has been seeing a matchmaker. She’s been returning services to this supernatural match maker to find her mate, and in return for payment has been sending innocent humans to a fucking sex trafficking ring. This matchmaker would not find their mates at all!”

Simone gasped. “I have been doing no such thing. I’ve been helping her find mates for other supernaturals while she finds mine!”

Zeus rolled his eyes. “Are you that dense?” He slapped his forehead. “No one, and I mean no one, can find other people’s mates except for themselves. Mother Rhea, what the fuck?!” Zeus sat beside Uriel on the couch and she automatically put her hand on his forehead. It soothed the tension from his body, and he became lax.

Simone stuttered, shaking her head. “N-no, that isn’t true. She’s helped many. I’ve talked to them. They said she found their—”

“Lies,” I snapped. “People can fucking lie. If you had questions, you should have asked a higher power. Scheduled a meeting with a god who would know.”

Simone’s lip quivered. “We are just desperate—”

The dark shadows slithered silently around me, whispering sinister thoughts, like how I should suck Simone’s soul from her body. Andriel or Simone, one of them, could have been the culprit who stole my mate from me all those years ago. I clenched my teeth, feeling the tension coursing through my body, aching to sink my teeth into her flesh, to obliterate her existence. But as I held my mate tightly in my arms, a sense of calm washed over me, urging me to approach this situation with a clear mind.

“All are desperate to find something so precious.” I gazed down at my mate. “Some of us have lived longer than you, Simone, and before you pay for your sins, you will answer every question truthfully or suffer the consequences. You don’t want to end up like Andriel, do you?”

A piece of ash fell from his scorched body.

“Z-Zeus please,” Simone begged.

Zeus shook his head. “My hands are tied. You are in Hades’ realm and even I know the importance of mates, Simone. Answer them truthfully.” Zeus hung his head.

“Now,” I began. “Who did you meet? Who is this match maker?”

Simone shuffled her feet. “I-I know this will sound strange, but I don’t remember her face. I believe she had magic or something. If I see her, I know it’s her but when I walk away. I cannot remember. I just remember her clothes. A pink pencil skirt and blazer–”

Juniper yawned loudly. “Are we talking about the owner of the club? Miss pink suit wearing, big blonde hair, lady?” My mate stretched her body in my arms, her breasts rising right in front of my face.

Fuck, don’t get hard.

“I-I don’t remember her hair.” Simon said, shaking her head.

“I do. Man, she was a piece of work. She was dressed like a really young version of Dolly Parton’s evil twin sister. I love Dolly Parton, don’t get me wrong. But this lady was evil. I swear her eyes were of the devil. No offence Mr. Hades, sir.”

Hades raised a brow.

“Dolly Parton is fucking hot,” Ares said. “Baby, you should dress up like Dolly.”

Mariah turned up her nose. “I’m not blonde. I’d have to get a wig.”

“Yeah, it sure looked like a wig. A big teased up wig. She kept pulling pencils and pens out of her hair to write on her clipboard,” Juniper said.

Damn it, she saw the owner’s face?

“Juniper?” I turned her chin toward me. “You remember seeing her face? You know who she is if you see her again?”

She gave me a confused look. “Uh, yeah. I was there?”

I turned to the rest of the room. “When I was in her mind, I couldn’t see the owner. Just as Simone and Andriel. I could only see her gods awful pink clothing and that it was a female. Why can Juniper see?”

“The glamour may only work on gods and supernaturals,” Uriel spoke up. “It is a powerful magic but not well planned out magic. This person using the magic sounds like they do not have the correct foundations of witchcraft. That’s probably why Juniper can see them, and we can’t.”

I turned to Juniper. “Damn, I was too busy trying not to let you live out your past. I should have asked you.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s okay. You were trying to make me feel better. Make me feel comfortable.” She wrapped her arms around me. “If I had known you were looking for a description of the owner I would have told you.”

“But we still don’t know who that is,” Ember interrupted. “Do we know of anyone that fits that description with big hair with an evil Dolly Parton look?”

Zeus shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

“I bet Mother will know!” Uriel waved her hand in the air. “Mother knows everyone.”