Twelve Soul Tokens by morning. Even one in a day had been an incredible feat.

No Jemma.

I’d lost the piece of her soul … not that I even knew how to restore it to her.

No Jemma.

My entire existence reduced to creating misery for unsuspecting humans.

No Jemma.

“Boss?” Beezle yipped forlornly. I cracked an eye, peering blearily at him. The concern in his expression was almost my undoing. I blinked furiously against the prickling in the backs of my eyes.

Bub popped up beside him, ears flopping. As I watched he coughed, ropes of drool hurtling out of his mouth like lassoes, splattering across my lap. And something else tumbled out, too.

Something glowing. And pink.

Unable to breathe, I picked it out from the slimy mess. It was warm, and throbbing faintly. Was she anxious? Awaiting my return from my Hellish emergency?

The prickling behind my eyes became heat, searing my eyeballs until I could not hold it in any longer. Moisture spilled from my eyes. I swiped at it, but all I managed to do was smear Bub slobber all over my cheeks.

“Aww, Boss,” Beezle mumbled, placing a paw on my knee. “We’re sorry.”

“As soon as we heard Hellen coming, we found it in the pocket of your pants,” Bub added, his voice rough.

“There wasn’t time to escape with it, so Bub just … scooped it up in his mouth, and then she was in here, throwing your stuff all over the place.”

A fresh surge of heat swelled in me, this time in my stomach. I loathed her. I had never felt hatred so violently towards another as I did towards my half-sister.

“Just count yourself lucky, Boss,” Bub panted, “that I didn’t accidentally swallow it, or you wouldn’t be coated in drool, you’d be sifting through shi⁠—”

“I am eternally grateful to you both,” I interrupted, closing my fingers around this last little remnant of Jemma Bliss. A dangerous remnant, if Hellen ever discovered I still had it. “You are true and loyal Hounds.” I wound my arms around their necks, pulling them into a hug.

“What are you gonna do with it, Boss?” Beezle asked as I released them, scooping up a pair of breeches and a shirt from the mess on the floor and donning them.

“I have no idea,” I muttered thickly. “I cannot keep it here in Hell. The risk of Hellen discovering it is too great.” Oh, how I selfishly longed to keep it. A piece of Jemma Bliss when I could have nothing more.

“Give it to her.”

I blinked, turning to give Beezle my attention. “Give it to Hellen? Are you mad?”

Beezle shook his snout. “No, Boss! Give it back to Jemma!”