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I sigh as I realize I’m one of the last ones to arrive, so now I have to wait in the long ass line.

Ugh.

Of course this happens on a day when I have plans after work.

Luckily, it’s a pretty fast process—even when there are hundreds of reapers in front of me. But it also means I’m going to be late meeting my besties.

AUDREY

I’m at the end of the line, so I’m going to be a little late.

DIANA

No worries. We’ll just grab a booth and order a round.

CELESTE

Depending on how long it takes, don’t be surprised if we’re on our second by the time you get here.

AUDREY

Brat.

CELESTE

You know it. Love you!

DIANA

See you soon!

AUDREY

Love you both. Be there when I can.

Both of my besties had to work today, too, but obviously they were closer to the front of the line.

Lucky bitches.

I should just be glad that Wraith was willing to move them to the same shift as me. Before I started reaping, they were stuck working the midnight to eight a.m. shift, and Wraith didn’t want me working that shift—for which I’m eternally grateful.

I guess there really are some perks to being mated to the boss since he wants me to work the same shift as them. So now I work the eight to four shift, Monday through Thursday.

Yes, that’s right. I might have to work in my afterlife, but I don’t have to work forty hours a week, which I’ll take as a win.

Finally, I make it to the front of the line.

I’m not going to lie—the ferryman still gives me the creeps. He wears a dark cloak that keeps his face hidden in shadows—the kind most humans think the Grim Reaper wears. He never speaks as he holds unnaturally still. The first time I came here, I was sure he was a statue as I stared at him. Then he moved and I let out an embarrassingly loud squeal. His shoulders had moved as if he was laughing at me, but no sound came out.

Now, every time he sees me, his shoulders make the same movement. I don’t know how he remembers me when he sees thousands of reapers every day, but he sure does.

Leaning my scythe forward until it connects with his, I watch in delight as hundreds of souls slide from scythe to scythe. I’ve been doing this for almost three weeks, and it never gets old.

Once he has the last of the souls, he pulls back his scythe and bobs his head. He sets it down in the boat and picks up his pole to shove off into the water.

I watch him for another moment as he leads the souls to the holding area further down Ephonia, where the judges will sort the souls before sending them off to their proper island.

Spinning on my heel, I shadow walk to the pub where I’m meeting Diana and Celeste. It’s the same one where I met Cassian, and it’s close to their apartments, so we tend to meet up there since they can’t shadow walk like I can.