The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld #13)

A mud-drenched Cameo raced around the edge of the pond as Lazarus launched handfuls of sludge at her. She hollered like a loon and flipped him off.

“Be still, woman, and experience the full breadth of my wrath,” Lazarus commanded.

“Never!” Cameo shook a fist in the air. “You can take your wrath and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine!”

Absolutely, positively, horrifically children. And yet, within Viola the vise grip of envy only sharpened.

No one cares enough about me to toss mud at me, she lamented. I’m practically invisible. These people would be happier without me...

Oh, no. Since Cameo had fully given in to her dark side, those kinds of thoughts had been coming more frequently, as if Misery had trumped Narcissism and spilled into Viola. Or maybe the two now worked together?

She missed the days when Narcissism loved her self-pride, even as it destroyed her. But she supposed the fault was her own. As she’d ruined one relationship after another, she’d grown to hate herself, and her demon discovered a new love: building himself up while tearing her down. Sadly, he would never grow to hate himself.

She deserved his rancor, really. She’d torn down others for centuries. This was payback.

“Jerk!” someone called, drawing her from her thoughts.

A pair of gorgeous white wings flared from Olivia’s back as she laughingly pushed Aeron into the mud.

Fluffy ran circles around Viola’s feet, chasing his tail. The excited atmosphere had jacked up his energy level.

She scanned the yard. Galen stood off to the side, leaning against a tree, his arms crossed over his chest. He was as much of an outsider as she was, unsure how to insert himself, not sure where—or if—he fit in the mania.

If you want different results, you must do something different.

Very well. She would force herself to play.

With a grimace, Viola inched toward the disgusting pond. Before she could talk herself into dipping in a toe, Cameo, the bitch, sneaked up behind her and shoved her in.

When she sat up, mud sticking in her lashes, her once-depressed best friend fist-pumped the sky. “I’m queen of the jungle pond. Hear me roar!”

A smile teased the corners of Viola’s mouth. Perhaps playing wasn’t so bad. “You may have won the battle,” she said, gathering a mud ball of her own, “but you’ll never win the war.” She launched her abundant supply, but Cameo managed to dodge.

“I’m untouchable! Unbeatable! Too hot to handle!” The overly confident darling performed a ridiculous little dance, earning another rusty laugh from Lazarus.

See! I’m someone. I’m needed here. No one would be happier without me.

Movement in the distance drew her focus. Viola stilled, scrutinizing the thick, vibrant forest with massive hickories, oaks and a willow. The sky created a dark gray backdrop; the storms might have ended, but the sun hadn’t yet gotten the memo.

Fluffy sensed her unease and stilled, the hair on his back lifting. Tasmanian devils were known for their wild rages and propensity for biting.

Where had—

There! Two oaks towered side by side, and despite the lack of wind, a branch on each tree jiggled, as if the two were shaking hands, a deal made with the devil.

Threat? A wild animal? Had the fallen Sent One found her?

Why did her blood warm at the thought?

Fluffy issued a soft but fierce warning growl as he moved in front of Viola, standing guard. She vaulted up, slipped and fought to right herself. Meanwhile, the leaves gave another jiggle, the offender—offenders?—hidden by shadows.

Multiple things seemed to happen in a blink of time.

A thin twig rocketed from the shadows. No, not a twig. An arrow. The deadly missile sliced through the air with a speed no human would have been able to track. Destination: Cameo’s heart.

Acting on instinct, Viola flashed in front of her friend—and caught the arrow in a tight fist.

Narcissism bellowed with indignation. She’d dared to place herself in danger to save someone else? The horror!

That’s right, she snapped, the arrow breaking in her fist. And I’ll do it again.

I’ll punish you...

She shuddered.

“Viola,” Cameo gasped out. “You... I...”

Around her, the warriors stopped laughing. Everyone froze. Then chaos erupted.

“You’re the target,” Lazarus barked at Cameo. “Get down and stay down.” With the stealth of a predator, he bolted from the pond, not heading for cover but for the trees. His arms and legs pumped quickly, fiercely, his speed soon rivaling the arrow. And yet, his motions were...stiff, lacking his usual grace. Was he injured?

Maddox and Ashlyn hurried the children inside the castle while everyone but Cameo and Viola rushed after Lazarus.

“Thank you.” Cameo approached Viola’s side. “If the arrow had hit its mark, I would have been in pain, and the demon would have pounced, desperate to regain his power over me. I owe you big-time.”

“What can I say?” She fluffed her hair, an action as ingrained as breathing. “Saving lives is what supermodel-heroes do. We can’t help ourselves.”

Cameo’s gaze darted to the path Lazarus had taken. “I think I’m into supermodel-heroes. If you aren’t careful, I’m going to fall in love with you and ask you to marry me.”

The praise was better than a warm bath. “You wouldn’t be the first. Or the last.”

Cameo picked up the broken part of the arrow, studied it, and pursed her lips. “I recognize this craftsmanship.”

In the distance, a mud-splattered Lazarus emerged from the line of trees. He carried an Amazon under each arm. The Lords and their ladies trailed behind him, and oh, wow, that was a whole lot of sexy to behold.

“What do Amazons want with us?” Anya demanded.

Lazarus dropped the Amazons at Cameo’s feet. Twine had been used to truss up the pair like pigs on a spit. Probably thanks to Keeley, who could grow a plant from seed to maturity in a heartbeat.

As the Amazons fought for freedom, Lazarus grabbed them by the hair, holding their heads at an uncomfortable angle. A position the two couldn’t fight without breaking their necks.

The other warriors aimed semiautomatics, swords, and the very bow the Amazons had used.

“Dare you to make another move,” Strider said with an evil grin.

“Please make a move,” Kaia begged. “I love to see my guy in action. Plus? Post-battle sex. ’Nuff said.”

Lazarus peered at Viola, his black eyes fierce. “Thank you for saving Cameo from harm.” His tone had a ragged quality, as if the words had been pushed through a window of broken glass. “I owe you a boon. Whatever you wish.”

Some of his fury was directed at himself, she could tell. He’d failed to sense the Amazons before they’d lobbed off a shot at his woman, after all.

“Yes, you do owe me.” Viola rubbed her hands together. What should she choose? The heart of McCadden’s brother? A sky serpent of her own? Lazarus’s life force?

Oh! There were too many options. “Perhaps you owe me two boons?” she said, nails tapping against her chin. “I mean, I saved more than Cameo. I saved the day.”