The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld #13)

“Of course.” Lazarus pointed to Juliette. “Feel free to send the bill to her next of kin.”

Half of the Harpy army turned to face the sky serpents while the other half remained focused on the club. So. They were dividing their forces. A dangerous choice, placing the Harpies at a severe disadvantage right from the start. But then, it wasn’t as if Lazarus had left them much choice.

Cameo liked that about him.

Xerxes appeared at Thane’s side, stepping from an invisible doorway. He stretched out his arm in Cameo’s direction, a dagger resting in his palm.

Lazarus caught him by the wrist, preventing him from ever making contact with her. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

“My blade!” She sheathed the gun she’d “borrowed” from Lazarus and claimed the dagger.

Xerxes arched a white brow, and Lazarus released him with a huff.

Movement outside the window drew her attention. She groaned. Griffins had joined the party. Living griffins. They’d lined up across from the sky serpents, ready to fight for Team Harpy.

“How did she summon griffins?” Cameo demanded.

“Word of my exploits has traveled fast.” Lazarus hiked his shoulders in a shrug. Reading the Harpy’s mind? “The griffins found her.”

Juliette smiled. “Lazarus!” Her voice echoed through the club. “I can’t tell you the depths of my happiness, knowing my consort lives. Join me, my love. There’s no need for a clash. We were meant to be together.”

If the Harpy hadn’t already signed her own death warrant, well, she would have done so then. Lazarus shouted the most obscene curse Cameo had ever heard.

“Juliette the Eradicator is mine to kill,” he snapped at the Sent Ones. His gaze locked on Cameo. “And you...”

“Hey, don’t worry about me.” In battle, distraction killed as brutally as any sword. “I’ll leave her to you. And before you command otherwise, I will put myself in danger, unnecessary or otherwise. But I’ll also win.”

A muscle jumped beneath his eye. “Have you ever fought a Harpy? Before today?”

“Hasn’t everyone?”

“And you?” he asked the others.

The rainbow-eyed Bjorn released a tell me you’re joking snort. “We’ve lived for thousands of years, and Harpies have no filter or boundaries. What do you think?”

“Right.” Lazarus nodded. “Then you know you have to break their wings to slow or weaken them.”

Harpy wings were small and usually fluttered too swiftly to grab. Cameo had never managed that particular feat, but there was a first time for everything.

“Stop worrying,” she said. “We’ve got this in the bag.”

Lazarus pressed a swift kiss into her lips. “Be careful. Or else.” Then he focused on the others, his obsidian eyes crackling like the flames emitted by his sky serpents. The rest of him looked as cold as ice. “Be prepared. The second we step outside, the Harpies will fire off their arrows. Concentrate on them. My sky serpents will handle the griffins.”

In union, the Sent Ones stretched out their hands. Swords of fire appeared.

“Will your sky serpents handle me?” Cameo muttered.

“They know of your feud with the ones in my realm, if that’s what you are asking,” Lazarus replied. “Shall I protect you from their wrath, or would you like to assert your independence once again?”

Jerk. “I’d like to assert my independence right up your—”

“Kill!” With that, Lazarus smashed through the door, sharp splinters flinging in every direction. The move was as unexpected to the Harpies as it was to Cameo.

She followed him, remaining close to his heels, and the Sent Ones poured out behind her. As Lazarus predicted, arrows were launched.

You can’t win, Misery whispered, unwilling to give up. You will lose, one way or another. Maybe you’ll win the fight, but you’ll definitely lose Lazarus. If not today, tomorrow. Like everyone else, he’ll grow tired of unsuccessful attempts to cheer you.

Cameo tuned him out. Distraction killed, and sorrow debilitated. She focused on battle. The very thing she’d been created to do. The world around her slowed to a crawl, but her pace remained swift as she waved her arms and angled her wrists. The arrows pinged off her daggers, useless.

Sky serpents unleashed a storm of fire, cranking up the heat. Smoke formed a cloud of gloom as beads of sweat ran down Cameo’s temples and spine.

A fierce war cry sounded. Harpies darted forward, three eager beavers meeting Cameo halfway. She braced for impact and—

Lazarus slammed into the females, a bowling ball to their pins.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Other Harpies sprang over their fallen comrades, their gazes locked on Cameo. Thankfully Lazarus was preoccupied with... She frowned. Why was he moving so slowly, allowing the women to claw him to shreds? A battle strategy? Hoping to give the Harpies a false sense of victory?

Yes or no, she couldn’t help him right now. The new group reached her. She blocked a bite and then a slash. Surprise darkened their eyes.

What, they expected to take her down easily?

She wouldn’t go for their wings, she decided. No doubt the move was expected. Instead, she spun, dropping into a crouch and kicking out her leg. One Harpy tripped, then another. As they toppled, she stabbed her daggers into their midsections.

At first, the women didn’t realize they’d been injured. Adrenaline pumped through their systems, probably numbing the pain. But Cameo remained crouched. When the females attempted to stand, probably thinking they’d punt at her while she was down, their intestines spilled out at her feet. Howls of agony rent the air.

My cue. Determined to finish off her opponents, Cameo jumped up. With quick jabs, she stabbed one in the heart and the other in the neck. Unfortunately, they had a friend. The girl raked her claws across Cameo’s cheek.

Her flesh tore, burning as if it had been doused in acid. Her knees gave out and smacked into the ground. Maddened by rage, the Harpy followed her down.

Ignoring the influx of pain, Cameo sank her dagger into her attacker’s trachea. The girl jerked before slumping over.

Group one—done.

Different sounds registered, making her ears twitch. Crackling flames, grunts and groans, roars, the snap of breaking bones, other howls. Where was Lazarus? She lumbered to her feet—

A hard weight slammed into her, pitching her across the garden.

She lost her breath, pinpricks of light winking through her vision, momentarily blinding her. A hard fist punched her injured cheek once, twice. A cold fist. Brass knuckles? Her jaw snapped out of place, and her brain banged against her skull. Blood leaked from the sides of her mouth as waves of blistering pain washed over her.

Don’t stop. Keep fighting. She stayed down and kicked up her legs. At the same time, the Harpy leaned down to deliver the next punch. Perfect. Cameo crisscrossed her thighs, locking onto the girl’s neck. She rolled to her stomach, forcing the Harpy facedown.

Crack! The Harpy’s forehead met a rock, and the rock won.

Though her opponent scratched at her legs in an attempt to rise, the blow had weakened her, allowing Cameo to stand and slam a boot into her once-pretty face.