The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld #13)

“Do you know why I’m here?” she asked.

“Oh, yes. To die at my hands.”

“You have Pandora’s box. My box. You killed my slave.”

His illusion masked his shock. Hera the Cuckoldress had been Hilda’s master.

“I know the box is nearby,” she said. “I can feel it. Don’t lie to me, Lazarus. You see, before being incarcerated in Tartarus, I spent my days killing the males who proved to be any kind of threat to the fairer sex. I was very good. Very good.” She twirled a strand of hair around her finger, playing innocent. “Hold your tongue and return the box to me now, or you shall join my list of undesirables.”

“You yourself said Death can’t get his grubby hands on me.” He kept his tone pleasant. “I’ll go with option C, and hack you to pieces.”

“Good luck with that.” She wandered about the bedroom with undisguised indifference, trailing one fingertip along the top of the antique dresser...the vanity...one of the posts on the massive bed, where the rumpled sheets still bore a faint trace of Cameo’s scent. Lazarus owned nothing here, and yet his sense of possession flared.

Vengeance demanded he slay his foe. Act now. But he remained in place. Never start a fight you cannot win. Weakened as he was—as powerful as she was—he had to proceed carefully...stealthily.

“What a hypocrite you’ve become in your old age, eh.” He allowed a cold smile to slip through his illusion, the truth in his bold stare an open taunt. “You, the avenger of the violated, known for punishing anyone who dared take something not freely offered—you stole Pandora’s box and prevented the demons from being put back inside. You unleashed those demons upon an unsuspecting world. For centuries, they’ve pillaged, plundered and destroyed the innocent.”

A bitter laugh filled the space between them. “You’re right. I’m a hypocrite. And I’m punished every day for my choices.”

Trying to turn the tables on him and earn his sympathy? Never! “I weep for you,” he told her, and flicked away an imaginary tear.

“I’m sure you do.” She met his stare with unflinching determination. “Where’s my box?”

“Where’s my father?”

She lifted a brow. “Do you wish to save him?”

“I wish to kill him.”

A pause laden with tension. Then, “Where’s my box, Lazarus?”

“Where’s my father?” he said, stepping toward her.

“I learned my lesson well, Lazarus. Letting you live was a mistake. Tell me where you’re keeping my box, or I will destroy your family, beginning with your young.”

“I have no young.” He cupped his groin. “But you’re welcome to drink them straight from the tap.”

Ashen, she performed a half pivot, always keeping him within her sights. “I saved you from becoming a copy of your father. As a child, I spared your life. You owe me.”

“You enslaved me and relegated the care of my soul to a Harpy. I owe you nothing but a painful death.”

“Brave words. Foolish words. Do not force me to dismember your precious Cameo the way I dismembered Echidna.”

Had her voice wobbled there at the end? “Force you?” The hatred he’d harbored for so long exploded inside him, emotional shrapnel embedding itself in every inch of his body. The wounds bled more rage, only rage.

“I’ve never enjoyed harming my fellow females.”

“Touch Cameo, and I’ll—” There was no threat great enough.

“What? Freeze up like your father, unable to move, trapped inside some sort of chrysalis?” She laughed. “I checked on him not too long ago. A tragic fate for a once-strong male.”

A fate Lazarus would share.

He’d already resigned himself to it—or thought he had. If he stayed with Cameo, he would continue to weaken. Perhaps now was the time to attack. Perhaps he would never have more power than he had now.

Decision made.

Without forecasting his intent, Lazarus threw himself at Hera. His shoulder plowed into the softest part of her belly, and he roared with satisfaction at her sound of distress. As he followed her to the floor, she took the brunt of impact, the back of her skull shattering.

Despite the injury, she banged her forehead into his chin. Adrenaline jacked, he barely registered the hit. Never missing a beat, he drew back his elbow and jabbed his arm forward. The blow met nothing but air as she flashed away.

Hoping she would return, he jumped to his feet. He paced the room for five minutes...ten...but she never appeared.

New plan. Weakened or not, he would return to Cameo’s side. Today. Now. They would hunt and kill Hera and Juliette together. They would find and slay his father. He trusted Cameo and admired her skill.

He didn’t need an army. He just needed her.

*

“Get your asses in gear. Our one millionth family meeting is about to kick off.” Torin’s voice echoed over the sound system he’d installed inside the fortress.

Great! Wonderful! Cameo knew what would be discussed. Or rather, who they would be discussing.

When she’d told her friends Juliette maybe, just possibly might know where to find Pandora’s box, excitement and hope had bloomed. The Harpy had become the Lords’ enemy one.

Had Lazarus forgiven Cameo for saving his tormentor’s life?

Hell, no. Otherwise he’d be here.

Lost him before I had him.

Everyone filed into the great room. Cameo claimed a spot up front, her arms crossed over her chest as she met the gaze of every occupant: Torin, Keeley, Maddox, Ashlyn, Sienna, Sabin, Gwen, Gideon, Scarlet, Amun, Haidee, Danika, Kaia, Aeron and Olivia, a Sent One.

Lucien, Anya, Reyes, Kane, Josephina, Strider, Baden and Katarina were currently in the underworld with Hades.

Galen, former enemy turned almost-friend, strode into the room and plopped on the couch. A storm brewed inside his sky blue eyes. His pale hair was spiked in complete disarray. He’d just returned from a secret mission for...Hades? Himself? He must have failed.

Redheaded Kaia nudged Cameo’s shoulder, all I’ve got this. “Pipe down and listen up. The entire Eagleshield clan has declared war on our girl Cam. They expect all Skyhawks to do the same because we’ve always held a grudge against Cam’s man-candy-liciousness Lazarus.”

How dare the Eagleshields try to recruit her friends!

You have no friends, Misery whispered.

I do! I know I do.

A chorus of “boo” rang out from the crowd.

See? she told the demon. Friends.

“We declined, of course. With blades.” Cheers erupted, and Kaia took a bow. When the room quieted, she added, “Ages ago, Lazarus destroyed one of our villages, but today, we officially forgive him. For Cameo’s sake and also because we’d like an opportunity to torture him slowly. In the most nonviolent ways.” Her gaze darted to Cameo. “Death is too fast and definitely too permanent.”

“Word is Lazarus actually came back from the dead,” Gwen said. “How is that possible?”

All eyes landed on Cameo. “I don’t know.” His physical appearance had changed, the lines etched through his arms thicker and darker, his hatred of them worse. “Neither does he.”