"It's how it works. The club is invite-only. You have to know someone to get in." She popped a piece of her pastry into her mouth, drawing attention to her lips as she did.
Thoughts of last night surfaced unbidden. She'd done plenty with those lips, and it was disappointing that I wouldn't experience them again. I cleared my throat. "I didn't realise clubs could be so exclusive."
"That's what happens when they're run by a god," she said.
"I can't say I've spent much time in those kinds of establishments."
"I'd recommend them." She picked up her mug and took a sip of coffee.
"I don't imagine I'll find out." I pushed my finished glass of oats away. "Thank you for breakfast."
Hel gave me a genuine smile. "No problem. If you want a shower, I can get you a towel and show you where things are."
"That's quite a morning service when you say it's a one-night-only thing."
She shrugged. "I don't have to be uncivilised just because I don't want a relationship."
"Fair enough. A shower would be good."
"All right, let me sort you out." She smiled and left the room, moving with an easy confidence that was definitely earned.
I let out a sigh and drank the rest of my tea, while considering what I was going to do next. Once I'd showered, I'd probably head to the shop. I'd slept well after multiple orgasms in the arms of a beautiful woman. Somehow, going to work seemed anticlimactic after that, but it was probably what I needed to do.
Chapter 6
HEL
One of the advantages of having a mortuary that catered to the wealthy paranormals and gods of the world was that I didn't have many clients and could take things easy. I knew I could expand and employ people, but that never felt right. This was my domain, and one I intended to keep for myself.
I made my way inside with Garmr jumping up and down at my heels, yapping a little bit as if he was mad that I'd left him with the dog sitter last night rather than leaving him alone while I went to The Pomegranate. I looked down at the tiny grey puppy with a wolf-like snout and my heart melted even though I was still frustrated by everything that came with owning a puppy. Especially a hellhound puppy.
Garmr stopped the moment he spotted one of his balls and raced over, making me sigh. Having a hellhound was hard work as it was, but one that respawned into a puppy every fifteen years or so was beyond exhausting.
"Are you done growing yet?" I asked.
He looked at me with his favourite fluffy worm toy in his mouth as if I'd said something truly outrageous.
I let out a sigh. "Just be a good boy. You've had a walk, food, and poop. Now you sleep."
A muffled woof came from behind the toy.
I shook my head and took a seat at my desk, wondering if it was too soon in my day to order a coffee from the shop down the road. They delivered, which was always nice, but I'd been in the building for less than five minutes.
I picked up my phone to make the order, only to stop when the door swung open. I put on my best customer-facing smile. "Welcome to Hel," I said brightly.
The familiar figure in front of me laughed jovially. "Is that how you greet everyone?" Uncle Thor asked.
"What's the point of being called Hel if I can't make the joke?" I asked. "Humans are the ones who decided that my realm was supposed to be named after me."
"Fair. Hey, Garmr." He crouched down to greet my puppy, whose tail was wagging so fast that he looked like he was about to explode. "Your mum didn't tell me that you'd regained puppyhood."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't call me his mum."
"You're the one who has been a dog mum for seven hundred years."
"I don't like what dating a mortal has done to you," I responded as I leaned back in my seat.
"Keeping up with pop culture is important if we want to keep blending in," he pointed out. "And you didn't mind me dating a mortal so much when you were giving her complicated instructions for what you wanted your death sculpture to look like."
