Chapter Thirty-Seven

That night, my mate and I slept underneath the stars, created by her soul. It was peaceful laying beneath them, along with the crimson leaves that swayed with the mountain’s fresh breeze.

The following day, we found solace in each other’s company beneath the comforting shade of that familiar tree. The gentle rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere. Occasionally, Juniper would inquire about the women who used to frequent the club, but I assured her that everything was under control. Gone were the days of encountering humans, demons, angels, or any other supernatural beings seeking entertainment from these women. The club had transformed into a realm solely occupied by those who were now in my employ.

My reapers and demons didn’t make the women uncomfortable. Even some demons managed to manipulate the weak minds of the human guards, leaving the women with nothing to do but wait. They knew help was coming. They just had to play the part a little longer if the owner came back. So far, she has stayed far away.

By mid-afternoon, I felt the nagging pull in my chest, meaning my brother was looking for me. We’d always had that connection since we were infants, and I wasn’t about to ignore it. With great reluctance, we gathered ourselves and away from our oasis and traveled back to the chaos.

Once we arrived back at Hades’ palace, I walked through the doors with my head held high and my chest puffed out. I confidently walked through the doors. My mate, who was wrapped around my arm, also appeared rather pleased with herself.

Things were going smoothly, and soon I would have her soul connected to mine.

As we stepped into the conference room, a sudden hush enveloped the air, broken only by a deep, exasperated sigh emanating from across the room. Instantly, I recognized the familiar sound. Her luscious blonde curls cascaded gracefully over her shoulders, accentuating her radiant, sun-kissed complexion. The room seemed to shimmer in her presence. She stood there, delicately pinching the bridge of her nose, a subtle gesture that conveyed a hint of frustration.

“Nice of you to join us,” Hera rolled her eyes. “Now please sit so we can get this over with.” She waved her hands dismissively, and I gripped hold of my scythe.

Hades leaned over the heavy mahogany table, fire at his fingertips. ”Hera, we have been fucking waiting for you to end your vacation while women on earth feared they could be killed, raped, or subjected to even worse atrocities at any moment; don”t give us that attitude.”

“Bad word.” Uriel mouthed to Juniper from across the table.

Juniper failed miserably as she tried to hide her smile back at her new friend.

Hera sighed and dropped her hand into her lap. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have snapped. But by the Fates, we have said we are not to interfere in the lives of humans. It’s been a law for centuries and here you are eradicating sex trafficking rings. You are breaking codes, Ember. You know this, right?”

Ember straightened her shoulders and leaned forward in her seat. “Technically, yes, but we have special circumstances. Demons, Angels, and deities seem to run the rings that we have broken up lately, so I hardly think that breaks the laws the gods have set in place.”

Hera’s eyes widened. “Angels do this too? I could see Demons doing this, but angels?”

Hades huffed in annoyance and let his eyes roll to the back of his head.

”Why didn”t anyone inform me about this?” Hera squealed. “Uriel? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Uriel shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t know there were angels a part of the trafficking ring. Ember and Thanatos usually work on it. I’m just here to help because I made a new friend–Juniper!”

Hera was still the queen of the Celestial kingdom, with Zeus as its king until he can find his mate. Hera’s duties have become less and less with Zeus taking on more of a permanent and stable role since the gods are now being blessed with mates. He’s been trying to prove to all the gods he takes his job seriously now, thank the Fates.

“Zeus is knowledgeable of this,” Hades said, sitting down and motioned for Ember to sit on his lap. “You don’t have to be notified of every movement that we do.”

Hera huffed and crossed her arms. “My mate is in charge of the angels. I think he has a right to know he has some rogue angels out there.”

“Gabriel and Michael both know.” Hades swirled his glass of whisky.

I could tell just by the way he tilted the glass he was over Hera. They haven’t gotten along since Uriel lived in the Underworld so she could be with her mate, Lucifer. Hera loved Uriel with all her heart, but it broke her to know that she lived here and away from the sunlight.

But Uriel thrived here–gave life not just to Lucifer but I believe the whole family.

Hera cleared her face of emotion and sat up in her chair. “Is that so? Why is that?” She tilted her head.

“Because you are overworked. You have told Michael over and over you are so he came to me and asked me if there were any problems to give it to him. He’s known about the angels for twenty years now and our cause. Now, can we please get back to why you are here and get you on your way and back to your sons?”

Hera”s eye twitched. If gods could age, this woman would have had a full head of white hair. It wasn’t her fault she was like this. I, like many others, blamed Zeus. If he didn’t play around for all those years, she could relax and enjoy life a little more, just like her mate was trying to do for her. Poor soul might sleep on a cloud tonight after Hades threw him under the carriage.

“Mother, let me introduce you to Juniper. She’s human, Thanatos’ soon to be mate and one victim from of the sex trafficking rings.”

Hera’s face grew solemn when she gazed at my mate on my lap. I grasped Juniper’s waist to let her know I was here for her, that she should have no fear, but she didn’t radiate any in the slightest.

“My apologies, Juniper. I had forgotten in my anger that you were in the room. I hope my anger did not affect you?” Her tone was sincere, and I was grateful. I didn’t mind holding my tongue around the queen of the Celestial Kingdom when it came to me, but about my mate, that was something I could not promise.

“It’s fine, really,” Juniper said nervously. “I’m actually used to it by now. It’s not so bad anymore.”

Hera’s eyes narrowed at me. “Did Thanatos radiate his power too harshly? Do you want me to take care of him?”

My shadows erupted around me, holding my mate to my body. Juniper sensed my anger. She reached forward on the table, grabbed a strawberry and pushed it beneath my hood and straight into my mouth. My shadows dropped in surprise.

“Eat that, Bone Daddy.” My treasure patted my cheek.

Uriel snorted. “Bone Daddy. Isn’t that funny, Luci?”

Lucifer gave a slightly tilted smirk as he leaned on the arm of his chair.

“No, it’s just the entire atmosphere down here, you know? The Underworld, a human, walking around such, uh, powerful gods. It’s just the whole aesthetic that throws me off.” Juniper waved her hand in dismissal while I chewed on the strawberry.

“Right.” Hera leaned back into her seat and thrummed her fingers on the table. “I am sorry about you being caught in this traffic ring. I do not mean to sound so cruel. It’s just that the gods have laws, and that is to stay out of human affairs. Now that we have a deity—one that a god has created and is evolving—that makes it our problem. I hope you do not think less of me.”

Juniper squeezed my thigh, her lips pressed tight. “For now, let us concentrate on finding the owner,” she said diplomatically. “I’d really like to save those that are there because of a deity.”

My hand ran up and down her thigh to calm her. It only did so much, her body was tense. For me, too, it angered me Hera would be so dismissive. Ember and Hades have kept their cause hidden from most of the Celestial Kingdom. They save all, human or demigod-controlled trafficking.

Hera stared at Juniper a moment before Hades took the attention off my mate to explain our situation.

I could feel the heat of her body against me while she squirmed over the overview. My mate had the same feelings as me against Hera, but in time she will have to understand that we cannot save everyone–but we damn well try.

“Be still,” I whispered to her. “We will talk about it soon.”

Juniper grabbed my hand and threaded her fingers through it.

Once Hades finished explaining about Fuzzy Bunnies and the supernatural mating agency, Hera put on her business facade.

“And you think I would know who this person is? This blonde-haired woman with big hair and pink clothes?”

Ares chuckled. “There can’t be too many women like her. I mean, pulling pens out of your hair, looking like an evil Dolly Parton?” Ares continued to laugh to himself, but Hera stared at him with distaste.

“Being as it may, I don’t know anyone with that description.” Hera wiped her forehead. “Do you have anything else? Have you been to this agency to get a glimpse?”

Mariah shook her head. “We can go look, but we won’t know who we are looking for. We don’t know what they look like!”

“Juniper does. Have her go with you and she can point them out,” Hera said like it was such a simple answer.

“Absolutely not,” I snapped. “I will not take my mate anywhere near that fucking place.”

The rest of the table agreed. “It’s too dangerous to have a human go there. What if she got taken again?” Ember said.

Mariah stood from Ares” lap and pound her fist on the table. “Not if she’s soul bonded. She would be safe, powerful, and that bitch wouldn’t be able to do anything to her.”

Hera rolled her eyes. “Yes, but then there would be chance Juniper wouldn’t be able to see who the bitch is because she would be a goddess then.”

Mariah sat down and grunts. Ares plants a kiss on her cheek. “Nice try, baby.”

I wrapped my wings closer around my mate. She crossed her arms and her brow furrowed. My treasure continued to stare at the same strawberry on the table the entire time and has not said a word.

“What if,” I began, “we do a process of elimination? What gods have gifted deities, or even humans for that matter, to become deities? They are in their charge, aren’t they? Gods must check on them from time to time throughout their immortal lives?”

Hera pulled a scroll and feathered quill from thin air. She unrolled it and read the contents. “Juniper, I’m not sure how much you know about the gods before you arrived here, but slowly we are trying to right our wrongs.”

Juniper listened, and I rubbed my thumb over hers.

“We used to be nasty, trivial and believe it or not, I used to be a real witch sometimes.”

Ares snorted, and Hera snapped her head toward the god and gave an evil glare.

“I had my justifications, though. Zeus was a party animal, stuck his dick in places he shouldn’t. The women knew who Zeus was, knew he was married to me and still they did it. I was jealous, tired of the cheating, so I did things that was--harsh. I’ve cursed women and when I met Michael, the archangel, I righted my wrongs. I took their curses and flipped them into gifts and gave them immortality. We can start with mine since I have,” she sighed, “quite a few.”

Hera’s gaze met Uriel’s, and she blinked several times before she said anything. “I’m sorry Uriel, I’m sure you have read some of my history I’ve kept from you over the years. If you want to stay and know your mother’s temper, you may. Try not to look at me any differently.”

Uriel shook her head. “I won’t. I know you love me. So does dad.”

Hera nodded and glanced over at her scroll. “If you give me some time, I can go through the names and visit with you in an hour.”

With that, we all exited the conference room and left Hera to her vices.