A stranger stood over me, scowling, as I came to in a pool of nearly black, cerulean satin and cobalt sapphires.

"Well, you're Death, huh?" he asked, looking down his hooked nose at me. His dark hair and sand-colored skin framed black eyes that glittered with disapproval.

I managed to stand with some grace. I pulled myself to my full height and found that I looked down on him. "I am. Is it your time to die?" I held out my hand to him, beckoning.

His eyes widened, and he took a step back. "No—no. It is not. Only the Mistress can dictate that."

I laughed. "Your Mistress, while powerful, is not Death. I decide." I grabbed his wrist, the trigger to get the soul to release, and tugged, just enough to exert my power over the small man.

"No!" He snatched his hand back. "The Mistress would not be pleased at all if you killed me."

"Oh? And why is that?" I took a step forward.

"If you kill him, there would be no one to provide you hospitality, Olivia," I heard Azza's voice. "Because I sure as Hell will not."

I controlled my turn, but just barely. When I saw him, I looked at him from head to foot and back again, taking him in. He was still in his leather and dress shirt, and my heart skipped a beat at the sight. "Azza. Still her pet, I see."

"Better to be her pet than your whore," he spat.

I narrowed my eyes. "Oh? Really? I seem to remember you begging for my touch."

"And yet, here you are, with us, so that I can make you come until you die screaming to feed her toy."

I had no retort. I ground my teeth but worked to keep the rest of my body relaxed. "Why are you here, Azza?"

"I came to make sure Maximillian is doing his duty. He's known for his disobedience."

"I see. Some hospitality. Sending the least of your servants to your most important guest."

"Shut up, bitch!" Maximillian shrieked.

I rounded on him. "You will watch your mouth! Or, I promise that I will come in the night—"

Maximillian blinked then cackled. "Oh, threats of coming in the night don't scare me from anyone but Mistress. She is the night's creature and controls the land of dreams and nightmares. Not even death scares me after having one of her dreams." He shuddered head to toe.

He eyed me one eye, a decidedly bird-like motion. "Mistress says that your escort is to arrive shortly."

"My escort?" I looked at Azza. "Trying to keep me in line, are you?"

"Of course we are," Azza scoffed. "Erebus will be your escort while you are with us."

"Erebus? Who is that?"

"Nyx's brother. God of Shadow. He will be with you twenty-four/seven. Now," he smirked and held out his hand, "you will give me your phone."

My eyebrows shot up. "What? I can't do that! I'm Death!"

"Charles has been instructed to contact Nyx with any collections you might need to do. Nyx will go with you when you collect." He gestured for the phone. "Hand it over."

I scowled at him but did as he asked. I had promised to trust him.

"In addition, you are not to leave or to bring others here. No portals, except to collect, of course."

"But, Deirdre! I won't see her for days!"

"Too bad. These are the conditions for your stay. Take it or leave it."

"Why are you doing this, Azza? This seems to be more than you being angry about what I did during sex with Laz and Lucifer. Especially since you've now done it yourself."

"I do as Nyx directs. She enjoys torturing Lazarus and killing you. I will indulge her as she desires."

I stared at Azza, wanting to have a more in-depth conversation, but we couldn't because of Maximillian. I couldn't think of how to get rid of him. "I want to see Lazarus. Before I agree to anything else, I want to see him," I demanded.

Azza laughed. "And you think that she will permit that?"

I bluffed. "She will if she wants my cooperation."

Azza waved his hand dismissively. "No. Not until you show you're committed to playing your part."

I glared at him. I hadn't expected any other answer, but I would keep trying to see him in any way I could.

A knock at the door distracted us. Maximillian opened the door and giggled, clearly delighted by whoever he admitted.

I turned when Erebus entered the room. It was all I could do not to gasp at the man's beauty. Like Nyx, he had midnight hair, creamy light-brown skin, and dark eyes. His hair hung in a magnificent curtain of shimmering black with an iridescent sheen that matched the black feathers I wore. He, too, was in leather like Azza but with a blue silk shirt open over a bare chest, the kind with ruffles at the sleeves. The blue was a perfect match for my dress.

Maximillian gave him a deep, sweeping bow. "Erebus, Sir. A good evening to you."

Erebus rolled his eyes. "Maximillian. She sent you? Really?"

Maximillian giggled again.

Waving his hand to dismiss the little man, Erebus ordered, "Go do something else, Maximillian. You know I hate it when you're underfoot."

"As you wish, Sir." I thought Maximillian might topple over, given the depth of his bow, before he exited the room, pulling the door shut behind him.

Erebus strode into the room as if he owned it. "So, you are Death." His voice was deep and rumbling. I felt it wash over me, and my heart raced.

It so transfixed me; I almost forgot to speak. I felt a curl of Azza's power in me; he knew my reaction. I blinked and emerged from my reverie. "Yes. Olivia."

He stopped in front of me and took me in, head to toe and then back. "I understand that you are also the Consort of the Devil."

"Yes. Lucifer and I are in a relationship."

"Good," he said, adjusting his sleeves, "I will enjoy fucking you then. It's always better to have a woman who already belongs to someone else."

My eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

He took the final step that kept him from touching me. "I am here to be your escort for your time with us," he explained while he grabbed my chin and held it in a firm grip, "You have one job while you're here: keep Lazarus alive. Azza will not always be available, thus I am here."

I swatted his hand away and shot Azza a look full of daggers, who crossed his arms and gave me a smug look. "Did you expect Nyx to have me at your beck and call?"

I realized that I had expected just that. "So, you will not be the one who helps me with Laz?"

"Only as Nyx directs. But, honestly, I am quite busy with her needs."

I flushed as jealousy coursed through me. I clenched my jaw and fists as I fought to keep it in check. Azza had to pretend to be hers, which meant many unpleasant things for me.

"Oh! She is not happy about that, Azza!" Erebus exclaimed, laughing.

"No, I didn't think she would be."

I scowled and walked away from Erebus to attempt to reclaim my personal space. "Well, the problem, gentlemen, is that I need to actually enjoy what I'm doing to get off, which is a requirement for doing what I do." I looked at Erebus and lied. "I don't think I'd enjoy you."

"Oh, I can fix that," Azza said with a wave of his hand. I felt lust rise in me as I stared at Erebus. He was suddenly so much more than what he had been moments before. I took several steps toward him as he smiled at me before I stopped myself.

"She will have a much easier time with saying yes as needed now," Azza explained. I understood that underneath his attitude was the desire to make my mission easier. And, in the end, I had consented to whatever he needed to do.

That didn't mean I had to like it much.

Azza's phone buzzed, and he checked it. "The party is about to get underway, and Lazarus needs healing."

Erebus studied me again. I wanted to be naked for him. "Yes, fucking her in all that satin magnificence will be quite interesting." He stepped forward, unbuttoning his leather pants.

Azza stepped forward. "Actually, Erebus, and I apologize, but Laz needs immediate healing. I'm afraid I must handle it."

Erebus waved his hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it, Azza. I will be content to watch for now."

I denied my body's desire to look at Erebus as Azza's power filled me. I closed my eyes as I whimpered and dropped to the floor and writhed. "Azza," I breathed his name.

"Oh, don't say my name, Olivia. You need to be saying your dear Lazarus' name. Now, share your power with him so that we can get our party started."

He yanked his energy from me and called out, "Lazarus!" I felt my power slip from me into my love just before I left the world for a moment.

I came to as they spoke over me.

"Oh, yes, I will enjoy that part very much. Tell me, Azza, how many times can she do that when I fuck her?"

"She is Death, so dying is temporary. So, as many times as you wish."

"And you have made it so that she cannot say no to me?"

"For the most part, yes. However, she has her own powers and might be able to overcome the compulsion temporarily. I can always renew it."

"Good! Very nice work, Azza." Erebus watched as I struggled to my feet.

Azza turned from us, heading for the door. "Thank you. Now, I have to go and meet Nyx. Bring Death up to the party when you're ready. Have your way with her before then, if you want."

Erebus laughed. "Yes, I might just do that."

I stood to my full height, spine as sturdy as I could manage. "Excuse me? Azza! You do not own me! I am not to be given away like some prized cow!"

He paused with his hand on the door to turn and smirk at me. "Nyx has agreed to tell you when Lazarus needs healing. I am taking it upon myself to dictate how you conduct that healing. So, yes, I will give you to whom I see fit, and you will fuck as I dictate. There is no requirement anywhere in the arrangement that you like it. You simply must do it to achieve your goal." He pulled the door open and was gone before I could pick my jaw up off the floor.

Erebus crossed his arms as he stared at me. "Seems you have a problem."

The sound of his voice made my fists clench, and I flushed, rage running through me. "You. You will not touch me without permission."

He threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, I think you will be happy to give permission." He caught my eye and held it until I flushed. "Come here," he ordered, pointing to the floor in front of him.

My mind wanted to resist, but my body could not. I found myself moving to him until I was on the very spot he had indicated. He leaned in and gently brushed his lips across mine.

"I am doing Azza a favor here, Death, by being only one person that you receive. Nyx had wanted to offer you to her followers." He cupped my face and ran a thumb over my mouth. "Do you know how many want to have Death herself?"

I trembled but clamped down on the sounds I wanted to make for him. Potential partners likely numbered in the triple digits.

"Surely, I'm not all that bad?" he murmured before leaning in again to kiss me lightly.

I wanted more, but he pulled away. I swallowed against my rising need. "I—I don't know if you are or not." I had intended it to reference his character, but, given the breathiness of my response, he misinterpreted my meaning and chuckled.

"Well, no need to find out now. More than I want to bury myself in you, I want to see Nyx's face when you enter her court. You chose your outfit wisely."

"Thank you," I whispered, so taken by him that I gave no thought to who chose my outfit.

"I'll enjoy more of it later," he promised. "Now, we have a party to attend." He held his arm out for me, and I took it without hesitation.