My hour of sleep did not prepare me for the ring tone that sounded from my phone the next morning. I popped my head up to stare at it; it told me in bright numbers that it was at eight o'clock. I thought to ignore it until my memory flooded back. I'm Death! I scrambled to answer it.

"Nyx! Good morning!"

"Good morning, Death. Are you ready to begin?"

"Actually, no. I need an hour to get ready. I had a late night."

Her disapproval rang out loudly in the silence on the line.

I tried being nice to save myself. "Have you had breakfast? Would you like to come and eat with us?"

"Hmm. I have eaten, but coffee is always welcome. I will be there promptly at nine. Do be ready this time." She ended the call and left me staring at my phone.

"Well," I grumbled, "this has gotten off to a great start."

"Don't let Nyx get to you, Olivia. She's not as bad as she might seem," Azza explained as I half-stumbled into the bathroom, not quite awake.

I did my business and made quick work of a shower. Azza was there to hand me a towel when I finished. He wrapped me up in it and his arms, snuggling close.

"I love you, Olivia."

I melted into him, wet hair and all. "I love you, too, Azza. But, I get the feeling there's more you want to say."

He cleared his throat. "Well, about Nyx..."

"What about her?"

"We've been in a relationship. It was a long time ago, and we ended amicably, so there's no conflict. But, she still has a thing for me. I don't know how to say no to her greeting without hurting her feelings. I just wanted to prepare you for the kiss."

Wait... what? A twinge of possessiveness sprang to life, and I stiffened. "A kiss? More than a peck on the cheek, I assume?"

"Yes. I don't want to piss her off, given that she's going to be your assistant. She could make your life miserable if she has a mind to."

I scowled. "So, I'm supposed to ignore you kissing her until I finally decide to retire?"

He cupped my face. "No. I promise you won't. But for right now? Until you're settled in your office? It might be best."

My stomach soured, and my nostrils flared.

"You're angry," he observed.

"Yes." I took a deep breath. "I know it's not fair. It's just a kiss. It's certainly not a relationship like what Laz and I are developing."

He kissed me gently. "But, you feel what you feel. This is why I wanted to talk about it before it happened."

I softened my brow. He's being reasonable. Give it a chance. I pulled his hand from my face gently and kissed it. "I trust you. And, I love you. Thank you for talking to me first."

"Just remember, Olivia. I love you. You feel like home—are home—to me."

I tried smiling. It was weak, but at least it was something. "Okay."

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" I heard Deirdre shout.

"Shit! I need to get dressed!" I scrambled to the closest and threw on a pair of jeans and a decent blouse. I gathered my hair and twisted it up into a chignon, holding it in place with a clip.

Azza waited for me. It made me feel better that he seemed reluctant to see Nyx, and he cared about my feelings. I felt both jealous and guilty. I was out-and-out fucking someone else, which he not only accepted but supported whole-heartedly, but I saw green at the thought of a kiss between him and another woman that meant nothing to him.

I didn't realize that I'd paused at the mirror, lost in thought, until Azza came to wrap his arms around me from behind, watching me in the mirror over my head.

He kissed the top of my head. "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be." I took a deep breath and blew it out. "I'm nervous. I mean, kiss thing aside, I'm intimidated by the job."

"She'll help. She's been doing this for a long time. A very long time."

I nodded. "Right. Okay. Let's go."

He took my hand in his and led me down the hall toward the kitchen, where she and Lucifer were sitting at the counter drinking coffee and chatting. Deirdre was out on the terrace. I saw Nyx glance our way, then turn her head to focus on Azza entirely.

"Azza!" She slid out of her chair and, with more grace in her big toe than I'd had in my whole body, strode to him. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeply. He hesitated a moment before responding.

I stood, rooted to the floor. Bile rose, and I swallowed, then I clenched my hands as the heat of anger spread through me. When they ended the kiss, Azza put his forehead against hers, holding her gently. That was as much as I could stand. Nope, Not doing this. I turned on my heel and made my way back to the bedroom, and shut myself in.

I paced as tears ran down my face. It was a frustrating trait to cry whenever I had a strong emotion, not just from sadness. I was fishing in my dresser drawer for one of Lucifer's ever-present handkerchiefs when he knocked on the door.

"Olivia. May I come in?"

I opened the door to allow Lucifer in. I saw Nyx at the counter, drinking her coffee, staring out the windows as if bored. Azza leaned against the wall at the hall's entryway, arms crossed as he stared at his shoes. I was both pissed and relieved he didn't look at me. I shut the door more to block the sight of him than anything else.

"Olivia, love. Did Azza not tell you?" Lucifer reached for my hand and drew me in by it.

I sniffled. "He told me. Being told isn't the same as seeing it. You know that."

He winced and a moment of guilt flashed in my heart. I'd once walked in on him having sex with a woman. I had made many assumptions and banished him from me, but the situation was more convoluted than I had imagined. In the end, the act had been a personal sacrifice he'd made to arrange a meeting between Deirdre and me before he was able to bring her back.

I touched his arm. "I'm sorry, Lucifer. That wasn't fair."

"No, perhaps not, Olivia, but it was true."

"I— I'm just so jealous!" I tore myself out of his embrace and stood in front of the wall of windows, looking out, arms hugging myself. "And, she so beautiful..."

Lucifer turned me to him and gently pried my arms open so he could step into my loose embrace. He tilted my head up to him with a finger under his chin. "If Azza wanted to be with her, he would be with her. You know that, yes?"

I shifted my weight. "Yeah." My voice was quiet, and I felt small.

"He could have anyone, Olivia. Of all the world, he is here with us. We are—you are—home to him."

I put my head on his chest. "He said that, too. But, he also said he didn't want to stop greeting her with a kiss."

Lucifer sighed. "Azza is being too nice. There clearly needs to be a boundary."

I pulled away from him, pacing yet again. "Does Nyx have to be my assistant? Can I ask someone else?"

Lucifer paused. "Technically, Nyx does not have to be your assistant. However, she has always had this job. I think you would make things worse if you tried to take it from her."

"Yes, but I have the right?"

He inclined his head. "You do."

"She really likes having this job, yes?"

"She does." He narrowed his eyes. "What are you thinking, Olivia?"

I smirked. "I'm thinking I might have the upper hand here." I grabbed my phone, opened the door, and strode down the hall, brushing my hand along Azza's arm as I passed him. He pushed off the wall and took up a position behind me, putting a hand on my shoulder. I recognized it as the loving and reassuring gesture he meant it to be.

Nyx never looked up from her tablet but kept the stylus flying over it. "So, are you done pouting?"

My eyebrows shot up, but before I could reply, Azza growled in warning. "Nyx..."

She looked at him, ignoring me completely. "What, Azza? You and I have been lovers for millennia. Surely that garners me the right to greet you?"

I clenched my fists, body stiffening. Azza noticed and rubbed a circle with his thumb on my shoulder. It was comforting but not quite enough to dispel my mood.

"You will not greet Azza like that anymore, Nyx," I spat.

She scoffed and went back to her tablet.

I seethed and pointed toward the door. "Get out," I ordered between clenched teeth.

She looked at me then, eyes wide. "I beg your pardon?"

"Get out," I repeated, "Until you can treat me with respect and stop your inappropriate behavior, get out. I will find someone else to work with."

She scowled and slid from the stool, waving open a portal as she did. "Good luck with that," she said as she stepped through to the flower-covered patio bathed in silver moonlight. The portal closed behind her, and the three of us collectively let out a breath.

"Olivia..." Azza began.

I cut him off. "It's okay, Azza. I got this." I called Laz.

"Olivia," he murmured into the phone, and my heart skipped a beat. I tried to ignore the guilt that threatened to rise in response. "Miss me, darlin'?"

I ignored the question and got straight to the point. "I need someone else from the office to train me, preferably someone both knowledgeable and on Nyx's shit list."

I couldn't help smiling when Laz roared with a deep belly laugh. "Piss you off already, did she?"

"Oh, yeah. Now, who do you recommend?"

"Charlie. He's extremely good at what he does and could almost rival her for the job. But, most of all, Nyx can't stand him."

"Perfect. How do I contact him?"

"I'll text him and have him contact you."

"Thank you, Laz."

"Are we still on for tonight, hon?" he purred.

I glanced at my Fallen Angels. "Yes," they both said at once.

Damned supernatural hearing. I smiled. "Yes, apparently we are. I'll text when I'm ready."

"I look forward to it," he assured me in a gravelly voice before ending the call.

Within three minutes, my phone rang. "Hello?"

A man with a charming, soothing tone spoke. "Good morning, Death. This is Charles. How may I be of assistance?"

"Good morning Charles. It seems that I need an orientation. Nyx is... not suitable at the moment. Are you free?"

"Yes, Ma'am. If I might come over? We can get started right away."

"That would be lovely—"

I whirled around when I heard the portal open behind me. Out of a busy office walked the exact opposite of what I'd expected. I had envisioned a well-mannered man in a button-up plaid shirt with a bowtie and glasses from the voice. What I got was an enormous bearded biker with rosy skin and a bald head dressed in jeans, a black Harley Davidson t-shirt under a plain leather vest. Several large rings, a chained wallet, and engineer boots rounded out the look.

He held out his hand. "Death, it's very nice to meet you. Laz has had nothing but good things to say about you."

I shook his hand. It dwarfed mine, yet his touch was not overbearing. I got the impression that he was acutely aware of his size and physical prowess and altered it accordingly.

"It's nice to meet you as well." I gestured to Lucifer and Azza. "I'm assuming you know—"

"Yes, I know The Fallen One and his Watcher quite well," Charles declared, taking his hand back. I noticed he did not extend it to them.

I cocked an eyebrow at my loves. Lucifer gave a subtle shake of his head; now was not the time to discuss the relationship. Instead, he ordered, "Azza, go attend Azazel, and then come to my office."

I stepped in to kiss Azza. I could tell he wanted to take it deeper, but a hand on his chest stopped him. "Can you be home before I go to see Laz?" I asked, cupping his cheek.

"Anything you want, Olivia," he replied in earnest. "I'll be wherever you want me, whenever you need me. I love you."

I pressed my lips to his again. "I love you, too. Azza. Go, do as Lucifer says."

He nodded and created a portal to Azazel's desert in the frame of the hallway, stepping through into the sun and heat.

Lucifer came to me and kissed me quickly. "I love you, Olivia," he whispered into my hair.

"I love you, too. Now, go on," I encouraged, pushing him just a little. "I have important work, too." He kissed my fingers once more, snapped a portal, and stepped through into his outer office.

As it closed, I turned to Charles. He stood expectantly, a stylus poised above his tablet.

He smiled, and it softened his face considerably. "Let me teach you how to be Death Incarnate."

"Sounds daunting," I conceded.

"It's a powerful office. Laz seems to think you're up to the challenge, though, and I put a lot of faith in his word."

I smiled. "Well, then, let's get started!"