Prologue

"What the fuck is Monsters Night?"In all the realms and realities I've ventured to during my very long existence, I've never heard of such a concept.

"It's like Halloween," my brother mutters. "Except no one dresses up or passes out candy."

"So it's a holiday?" I translate, not following his logic.

He grimaces. "Depends on who you ask."

I stare at him. "I'm going to need a better explanation, Hades."

My brother sighs, his pitch-black eyes—the same color as my own—finally meeting mine. "Basically, these portals open, releasing creatures from various realms and realities into the mortal world. But it's only for one night a year."

I snort. "That doesn't sound like Halloween at all."

He shrugs. "Monsters roaming the night reminds me of Halloween." He scrubs the day-old stubble along his square jaw. "But I guess it's more like a mating game since the creatures infiltrate the Human Realm to find compatible brides and grooms."

My eyebrow inches upward. "And you think our mother is in this Monsters Night realm?" That was how this conversation started—by my brother saying he thought he may have found something related to our missing Omega mother.

Hades's lips twist to the side, his gaze narrowing slightly. "I'm not sure, but I sense a presence there. One that might be hers."

"Hmm." I drum my fingers against the leather armchair, the rhythmic tap echoing through my brother's den. He takes the whole Netherworld vibe to the extreme in some cases, the dark fixtures and shadowy corners reminding me more of a crypt than an office.

"It's enough that we need to investigate," he continues. "But there are too many obligations and complications at present for me to pursue it further on my own. Hence…" He waves a hand at me.

"Hence the reason you're telling me about the lead."

"Exactly."

I lift a shoulder and stand. "All right. Give me the details and I'll check it out." A few hours of wandering the alternate reality will tell me if my brother's instincts are right or not.

He shakes his head. "It's not that simple."

I frown at him. "Sounds pretty simple."

"Their reality is run by supernatural beings, not humans. It's entirely unlike the Human Realm we know in our existence." His obsidian-colored eyes glitter at me. "They sensed the window portal I used to peek inside their world, Orcus. If they can sense that, they'll absolutely feel you entering their realm via a proper portal door."

"Okay, so I should come prepared for a fight?" I hedge, wondering what sort of supernaturals I'll be dealing with in this alternate realm.

He shakes his head. "I want you to go into their world on Monsters Night. Your portal will be one of the hundreds opening for the mating event. You should be able to come and go without notice."

I study him for a moment, his large form half-hidden by the wooden monstrosity he calls a desk. "All right. And when is Monsters Night?"

"In two weeks," he says. "But there's more."

Of course there is.

Grumbling under my breath, I collapse back into the oversized leather chair and gesture for him to continue. "Go on, brother. Lay it all out."

"If you were less impulsive, little brother, you would see that I was already trying to do that."

I give him a look. Little brother. Fuck. I'm the same height and width as him. Even our wingspan is identical. "There's nothing little about me."

His dark gaze dances over me in amusement. "I can easily best you, babybrother."

I roll my eyes. He makes it sound like I'm an infant, not two thousand years old. "Stop tempting me to kick your ass, and finish your explanation, old man."

Rather than be offended, he merely smirks.

Then he clears his throat, sobers, and returns to the topic at hand. "Monsters Night will provide coverage for you to slip in and out of their reality. It'll also provide a perfect distraction to cover it all up on our end."

"Cover it all up?" I repeat.

"The last thing I need is Typhos Lucifer up my ass and asking questions," Hades grounds out. "I would prefer that he not find out what we're up to. Otherwise…" He trails off, his gaze holding mine.

Otherwise, he might find out what happened to the Mythos Fae Omegas,I finish in my mind, aware of what Hades is trying to imply.

Thus far, our kind has managed to keep the disappearance of our Omega Gods and Goddesses a secret.

But if that information were to be revealed, our very existence would be put in jeopardy.

"I understand," I say solemnly, all signs of my previous humor long gone. Nothing like the potential extinction of Mythos Fae kind to create a somber moment. "Tell me your plan, brother."

He nods, the intensity of the conversation deepening with each passing moment.

By the time he's done explaining the nuances of the portal, and how he plans to cover our tracks, I'm both impressed and wary. "You're asking a lot of Maliki," I tell him softly.

Hades swallows. "I know. But he's already agreed."

"Of course he has," I reply. "He worships you."

"They all do," Hades points out, referring to the Netherworld Fae, who all consider him their God.

Any fae with death-like magic, such as Corpse Fae and Death Fae, all reside within the Netherworld Kingdom and are therefore collectively called Netherworld Fae.

And my dear older brother is their chosen deity.

Probably because his soul died when he lost his Omega…

"Regardless," Hades continues, oblivious to my dark inner ramblings. "Maliki is the perfect choice. Lucifer won't kill him."

"In theory," I hedge.

"He won't kill him," Hades reiterates, the words seeming to be more for himself than for me.

Because while my brother may not want to admit it out loud, he deeply cares for Maliki. More so than most of his playthings.

"All right, so Maliki will be the cover story," I say, returning us to the plan. "He'll tell Lucifer that he was simply helping his fellow fae feed or find mates. Meanwhile, I'll take advantage of the distraction and hunt for this mysterious aura you sensed."

He nods. "Yes."

"Excellent." I wipe my palms on my dark jeans and stand. "Then I have two weeks to mentally prepare." Not that I need it. Traversing realms and realities is nothing new to me. "If that's all…" I trail off, gesturing to the large wooden door laden with silver chains.

My brother dips his chin again, dismissing me.

Except, as I take a single step away, he says, "Oh, one more thing."

I pause and glance back at him, my eyebrow lifting in silent question. Yes? I ask with that look.

"Flame and Reaper will be going with you."

I stare at him. "Why?"

"Protection."

I huff a laugh. "Worried I may shop for a mate during this infamous Monsters Night and slaughter my competition,hmm?" I muse. "And you think a pair of Netherworld Fae will keep me on track?"

Because, if that's true, then I have news for my dear old brother. Flame and Reaper are my best friends for a reason. Neither of them will try to stop me from doing a damn thing. Fuck, they'll probably encourage me to play.

"No, I think a pair of Netherworld Fae may help keep you alive in this unknown reality—one that may or may not be harboring our mother." When I simply gape at him, he adds, "The protection is for you, Orcus. Not for the humans or the Monsters Night creatures. But for you."

I grunt. "I'll be fine, but thanks for your concern."

"Reaper and Flame will accompany you," he counters. "End of discussion."

Normally, that sort of high-handed bullshit would provoke my argumentative side to come out and dominate my opponent.

But this isn't worth my time to debate.

Taking Reaper and Flame with me into a world full of human playthings—all of whom have been groomed to be potential mates for monsters of various kinds—sounds like a proper vacation, not a daunting task.

Monsters Night,I think to myself. Sounds like a party all right.

I can't take a potential mate—I would need a proper Omega for that. However, playing? Yeah, I can play. Taste. Bite. Fuck.

Assuming I can find a human capable of handling my knot.

Unlikely, but an alternate reality poses a lot of fun opportunities.

"Don't forget your objective, brother," Hades says, no doubt seeing the excited gleam in my gaze. "Search out the potential presence. If it's nothing of consequence, then do whatever it is you want to do. Otherwise, remember what's important."

I scoff at him. "I may be a millennium younger than you, Hades, but I'm not a child. I know what's at stake."

His dark eyes glitter with understanding as he dips his chin again, a small grin playing over his lips. "Then happy hunting, brother."

I smile. "Happy hunting indeed."