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Soul Proprietor
(2026)(The third book in the Crossroads Counsel series)
A novel by Chris Cain and Brenda Trim
I made Baron Samedi angry. Really angry.
Turns out death gods don't appreciate when you convince their contracted souls to file for breach of contract. Who knew? (Papa Legba knew. He warned me. I didn't listen.)
Now I'm dealing with the fallout: my apartment is haunted by ghede spirits who rearrange my furniture at 3 AM, my coffee tastes like grave dirt, and every mirror shows me exactly how I'll look as a corpse. Subtle, Baron. Real subtle.
But I don't have time for a divine harassment campaign because my new client is an eighteen-year-old college student who inherited her mother's debt to Ayizan—the goddess of markets and initiation. The girl owes seven years of service in the spirit world, starting immediately. She hasn't even finished her freshman year.
The contract is legitimate. The mother knew exactly what she was doing when she traded her daughter's future for her own success. And Ayizan is one of the oldest, most respected lwa in the pantheon—the kind you don't challenge lightly.
But this kid didn't sign anything. She didn't agree to anything. And according to mortal law—the law I actually studied—you can't inherit debt without consent. The question is: does that principle apply in a realm where gods make the rules?
Baron stops haunting me halfway through the case. Just stops. The spirits disappear, my coffee tastes normal again, and for three days I don't see him at all. When he finally shows up, he's different—quieter, watching me work instead of mocking it. He tells me I'm going to get myself killed taking on Ayizan. I tell him to leave if he's just here to discourage me. He doesn't leave. Instead, he stays through my entire negotiation with the goddess, silent backup that I absolutely did not ask for and definitely don't need. Afterward, he tells me I argue like someone who's forgotten gods don't fight fair. I tell him maybe gods should learn. He almost—almost—smiles. It's terrifying.
I'm about to find out if mortal legal principles matter in the divine realm. Even if it means burning every bridge I have with the divine community. Even if it means the god who's been my worst enemy might be turning into something else entirely.
I became a crossroads demon to help people. If the gods don't like it, they can sue me.
Good luck finding a lawyer willing to take that case.
For fans of Kim Harrison's The Hollows and Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels, CROSSROADS OF THE DAMNED is a snarky, sexy urban fantasy where corporate law meets voodoo politics, and the only thing more dangerous than challenging the gods is falling for one.
Genre: Horror
Turns out death gods don't appreciate when you convince their contracted souls to file for breach of contract. Who knew? (Papa Legba knew. He warned me. I didn't listen.)
Now I'm dealing with the fallout: my apartment is haunted by ghede spirits who rearrange my furniture at 3 AM, my coffee tastes like grave dirt, and every mirror shows me exactly how I'll look as a corpse. Subtle, Baron. Real subtle.
But I don't have time for a divine harassment campaign because my new client is an eighteen-year-old college student who inherited her mother's debt to Ayizan—the goddess of markets and initiation. The girl owes seven years of service in the spirit world, starting immediately. She hasn't even finished her freshman year.
The contract is legitimate. The mother knew exactly what she was doing when she traded her daughter's future for her own success. And Ayizan is one of the oldest, most respected lwa in the pantheon—the kind you don't challenge lightly.
But this kid didn't sign anything. She didn't agree to anything. And according to mortal law—the law I actually studied—you can't inherit debt without consent. The question is: does that principle apply in a realm where gods make the rules?
Baron stops haunting me halfway through the case. Just stops. The spirits disappear, my coffee tastes normal again, and for three days I don't see him at all. When he finally shows up, he's different—quieter, watching me work instead of mocking it. He tells me I'm going to get myself killed taking on Ayizan. I tell him to leave if he's just here to discourage me. He doesn't leave. Instead, he stays through my entire negotiation with the goddess, silent backup that I absolutely did not ask for and definitely don't need. Afterward, he tells me I argue like someone who's forgotten gods don't fight fair. I tell him maybe gods should learn. He almost—almost—smiles. It's terrifying.
I'm about to find out if mortal legal principles matter in the divine realm. Even if it means burning every bridge I have with the divine community. Even if it means the god who's been my worst enemy might be turning into something else entirely.
I became a crossroads demon to help people. If the gods don't like it, they can sue me.
Good luck finding a lawyer willing to take that case.
For fans of Kim Harrison's The Hollows and Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels, CROSSROADS OF THE DAMNED is a snarky, sexy urban fantasy where corporate law meets voodoo politics, and the only thing more dangerous than challenging the gods is falling for one.
Genre: Horror