The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld #13)

He bit his tongue until he tasted the metallic tang of blood. He would have to wed a queen sooner rather than later. There would be no faster way to regain the power he would lose.

Was a chance at vengeance worth the risk? No. He could wait, as he’d always planned to wait, for Hera and Juliette to die and end up in the spirit realms.

Powerful immortals died every day. He was proof.

Was Cameo worth the risk, considering he couldn’t keep her?

No need to ponder the answer. Yes. Cameo was worth any risk, and the irony wasn’t lost on him. She hosted Misery, but only she could make him happy.

With one hand, Lazarus picked up the mirror. With the other, he reached into his satchel, and withdrew a freshly squeezed Amazon heart.

*

Cameo and Viola strode into the Downfall side by side. The immortal nightclub was located in the third level of the heavens, where evil and good often collided. It was owned by three Sent Ones. The walls and floor looked to be made of thin, white clouds, allowing the occupants to peer at the black sky and bright stars both beyond and underneath the building. An astonishing phenomenon, since those clouds were solid to the touch.

The scent of liquor, sex and clashing perfumes hung heavy in the air. The heat had been jacked up, either to encourage drinking or stripping. Probably both.

Cameo spotted the mirrors on the ceiling and groaned. Every demon came with an array of flaws, and mirrors were one of Narcissism’s. Anytime Viola caught sight of her reflection, she became entranced. Anyone could attack her, and she would never see it coming, wouldn’t even react until far too late.

“Don’t look up,” Cameo told her. “Please.”

“Why?” Of course, Viola attempted to look up.

Cameo pinched her chin and held her gaze. “Trust me.”

“There’s a mirror, isn’t there?” The goddess chewed on her lower lip. “Surely I can afford a single glance...I’m so pretty.”

“Sure. Take a glance. Make yourself vulnerable to everyone in the club. You could become an immortal pi?ata. Every girl’s dream!”

A shudder rocked Viola on her hooker heels. “Right. No glances. We’re here to find a delicious beefcake and—”

“No! To find the Harpy. Juliette. No beefcake.” Wasn’t like anyone would tempt her. As long as Cameo remembered Lazarus, he would be her standard of measure. No one could hope to compare.

Viola wiggled her brows at a bear shifter. “Maybe a slice of beefcake?” Fluffy sat at her feet, snarling at any male who passed. “I’m hungry for a distraction.”

“Well, consider today low-cal, gluten-free and one hundred percent vegan.”

A man she’d never met looked at her, looked away, then lurched and stared at her. He ran his tongue over his lips as if he could already taste her kiss.

He didn’t want her, not really. Yesterday, after she’d made the decision to spend a night with Lazarus, desire had begun to simmer inside her. Desire she now radiated, right along with sadness. The men she’d come across had responded...enthusiastically.

When this one walked toward her, his graceful glide suggesting he was a vampire, she held up a dagger in warning. He grinned with relish, revealing fangs, and kept coming.

She said, “Want to have a discussion about deep and meaningful things?”

As her voice drifted over the music, he cringed and backed away.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” she muttered, hiding her hurt behind a blank mask. I’m man repellent.

Misery laughed with his customary glee. Lazarus is glad to be rid of you.

She swallowed a cry of distress. The demon loved peppering her with statements she couldn’t currently dispute. An insidious weapon in his arsenal of evil.

Would Lazarus be happy to see her? Or had he realized he was better off without her?

“Friendly tip,” Viola said from behind her hand. “When the cute man wants to flirt with us and pay for our drinks and appetizers—Hey, do you want to split cheese fries?”

“No. What’s your friendly tip? I shouldn’t talk?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” The goddess waved a dismissive hand. “I was going to suggest you steal his wallet before you talk.”

Not exactly bad advice.

Cameo did her best to block Misery from her thoughts as she scanned the club. A live band played atop a dais in the corner, women’s underwear strewn around their feet. On the dance floor, males and females of every immortal race writhed together in wicked harmony. Multiple bartenders manned an overly crowded bar.

One of the bartenders—a handsome man with pink hair—spotted Viola and dropped a glass. The color drained from his face, leaving him pallid.

“Do you know him?” Cameo asked, pointing. He had a very distinctive look. Tears of blood were inked into the corners of his eyes, and a steel ring protruded from his lower lip.

“I wouldn’t say I know him. I’d say I once destroyed him,” Viola replied, her tone breezy but her eyes tortured. “I’m sure he bears me no hard feelings.”

A list of things Cameo trusted more than Viola’s assurance: gum on the bottom of the tables, an armed enemy at her back and a dinner buffet hosted by Lucifer the Destroyer.

The bartender hurried through a door in back, vanishing from sight. Within seconds, another male appeared. White and gold wings arched over his shoulders. He was a Sent One. Cameo had never met him, but judging by the telltale white hair, scarred alabaster skin and red eyes that proclaimed his identity, this was Xerxes. One of the club’s owners.

His gaze landed on Viola and narrowed.

“Do you know him?” Cameo pointed. If the demon assassin had a beef with Narcissism, he’d have a beef with Misery, too.

“Definitely not.” Viola bent down to pet Fluffy behind his ears. “Now. What was I saying? I’m sure you were hanging on every word.”

Cameo watched with dread as the Xerxes moved his gaze through the club and gave an almost imperceptible nod to—

Another Sent One, who plowed through the crowd, heading straight for Viola. Cameo stared at him, amazed. He looked...he couldn’t be...but his image never changed. Wavy black hair, vibrant blue eyes and chiseled features usually only found in feminine fantasies—or in the reflection of William the Ever Randy.

They couldn’t be twins. This guy appeared younger and less hardened by life. Well, that, and he had magnificent white-gold wings.

No way William was related to a Sent One. No way, no how.

The male stopped in front of Viola and grinned a sinner’s grin. Exactly like William. “Hello, ladies. I’m Axel, the man of your dreams.”

Something William would have said.

Cameo nodded a greeting, wanting to deluge him with questions. No reason to ruin his night.

“Actually,” Viola said, “I’m the woman of my dreams, and I’m in a committed relationship with myself.”

“I’m intrigued.” He offered his arm, and the goddess accepted without hesitation, as if his admiration were her due. “Tell me more.”

“Prepare to be riveted.”

The two wandered off, their conversation soon drowned out by music. Some sidekick.

“Viola,” she called. “Stranger danger is real. You shouldn’t—”