Three men.
I’ve mentally claimed three men that could all fuck me senseless and I’d ask for another round.
What’s wrong with me?
But at the same moment I have that thought, I realize those are standards I lived by on the human side of the veil. This world is different, hell, I’m different. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing to want them all.
Though I know the other reapers will disagree. Not only am I taking all the eligible Master Reapers if I get any say in it, but I’m getting council managed special treatment as well as a partner to reap with. If I thought I was hated before, I know it won’t hold a candle to the gossip and attitude waiting for me.
They can bring it on. I’m happy and I refuse to let anyone else ruin the good things happening in this life. I’ve earned them.
ChapterNine
Luz
“This one is going to be a runner,” I warn Thea as we stare at the grisly scene in front of us. The portal spit us out at the scene of a drive by shooting. A middle aged man stands above his body, pacing back and forth, and looking around wildly.
“Let me talk to him first,” Thea asks and I don't hesitate to agree. This is our fourth soul and she’s already a pro.
Thea walks over to the man slowly. He sees her and rushes forward fast enough I’m behind her in a second.
“Hey, you have to help me! Save my body!” he demands in a harsh tone.
“I can’t do that, but I can take you to the afterlife,” she encourages in a soothing tone. There’s an echoing, ethereal quality to it now and I know her previous psychic powers are coming out to play.
“I can’t cross over. This isn’t fair. Those damn gang members are retaliating because I got their buddy locked up. I’m a lawyer, it’s what I do,” he says in a pompous tone that makes me cringe. This man was obviously a gem in life. “I amfartoo important in this community, someone will help. I’m not leaving my body.” He says his words with finality but he isn’t the one who decides that.
“It’s time for judgment,” I inform him. He sees my scythe and panics but it’s already too late as it arcs through the air and connects him to the chain. It glows and winds around him and he starts to lash out. I move between Thea and the angry soul.
“No! I’m not leaving!” he thunders. Thea talks to him in that same soothing way until he calms again. She definitely has a way with souls and I know already my job just got ten times easier.
“Porta,” I command and watch the air shimmer as it forms. We step through for his final judgment, and the gatekeepers look stunned as we appear on their dais. They watched us pop out of existence mere moments ago, the fastest reaping I’ve done to date.
“This is a tough one. You have some good in you, but you’ve lost your way. We will try the After, but if you disturb the peace, you will go to the Hollows, and youwon’tenjoy that,” the keepers decree. I lead him off toward Liam, with Thea in tow.
“Looking much better, Thea,” Liam says as we walk up.
“I’m already feeling better,” she agrees. “It’s not so bad when you’re not thrown in alone.”
“Um, hello?” the lawyer snarks and Liam waves him forward.
“This way, sir.” He removes the chain and leads the lawyer away.
“That was insanely quick, I feel like we could do more. If this keeps up we’ll go fucking crazy with nothing to do,” I
“We can just tell Liam to report to the council. He can let them know how quickly we reap together,” she reassures me, clearly proud of how well we work together. “We’ll do twice the quota of everyone else so they can stop fucking staring.”
“Just wait until we get the gossip mill going,” I say drily as we walk away.
* * *
The next daywe get a list of ten souls. It’s the normal workload for reapers and I’m glad they actually listened to us.
After several days of reaping ten souls, we manage to take it up to twenty. Having Thea is a game changer. She does more than just distract them for me, she soothes them so their emotions don’t take over and cause them to panic. It cuts out the running and ten minutes of trying to yank them through a portal.
We lead our last soul of the day up to Mason, who seems overly relieved to see us. I give him a questioning look, but he turns to the soul first. Using his usual calm voice he leads them away. The resulting mark is burning into the underside of my arm. My face pinches in pain and I put pressure on the spot.
“Sensitive area?” Thea chuckles. The little brat doesn’t get the marks like I do, so she thinks it’s hilarious to tease me each time I get one in an awkward or particularly painful spot.