The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld #13)

Propelled by a blast of his own rage—rage so similar to Hades’s own—William jumped to his feet, his hands fisted. “You’re one to talk, old man. You’ve never waited for anyone. You even have a harem!”

The harem. Right. He stroked his chin. Perhaps he should free the females he’d collected over the centuries. They had willingly signed on for active duty in his bed, willing to do whatever he desired whenever he desired, and he’d made sure to accept only the applicants he could easily dismiss, but he would hate to see one or all of them targeted.

On the other hand, he needed an outlet for his passions. The less sex he had, the more his rages won, and wars like this could last decades, even centuries.

Well. Sacrifices had to be made. He’d keep the harem in place.

I am such a giver.

“I’m not here to gossip about our romantic relationships,” William announced, cutting into his thoughts. “I’m here to discuss Baden.”

Baden. The former keeper of the demon of Distrust. Former, because he’d been beheaded, his spirit sent to another realm. But Hades had given him a pair of serpentine wreaths, making his body tangible once again...and unbeknownst to Baden, also making Hades his master.

Lost a lover, gained a soldier. Well. Life wasn’t as bad as he’d assumed.

He buffed his nails against his shoulder. “I’m keeping him. End of discussion.”

“He’s changing,” William said. “And not for the better.”

“So,” he replied, mocking his son for the earlier dismissal of his problems.

Straight white teeth flashed in a scowl. “Either free him before it’s too late or use him. Just do something with him!”

Again Hades stroked his chin. He’d given Baden the wreaths as a favor to William. He’d owed the boy, and he always sometimes paid his debts. But Baden couldn’t be freed without returning to the spirit realm. And with the war...

Now was the time to stockpile allies. Now wasn’t the time to give someone the chance to align against him. And if Baden worked for him, all the other Lords of the Underworld would work for him. Including their very powerful mates.

Well. Decision made. “I’ll use him.”

William pushed out a heavy sigh. “That’s exactly what I thought you’d say.”

“Prepare him,” he said. “I’ll give you two days.” Just enough time to figure out what, exactly, he would have Baden do for him. Pad his arsenal, perhaps, acquiring weapons used throughout the ages. Persuade others to aid him. Other royals, even. Slay the humans and immortals Lucifer would one day attempt to use to his advantage.

So many options!

Who knew? Maybe the war would be fought and won within a matter of weeks. If miracles really happened.

“I stopped having to obey your orders centuries ago, you know,” William said.

Hades closed the distance, peering pointedly at his son. “You and I both know what will happen if Lucifer wins. The reign of chaos. Unimaginable atrocities committed. You and yours will never again be safe.” And, because Hades was who he was, willing to manipulate anyone to get what he wanted, he added, “Gillian will never again be safe.”

William glared at him, even while nodding. “I will prepare him.”

“Exactly what I thought you’d say.”

They clasped hands to shake goodbye, but William used the contact to yank him against the hard line of his body and pat him on the back. “If anything happens to Baden, I will hold you responsible. Because others will hold me responsible. Tit for tat.”

Hades could carry the blame. Why not? He carried so many other things. The fate of the underworld. A past steeped in so much violence there was no part of him unscarred. Still he said, “I will protect him. You have my word.”

What William hadn’t yet learned: ensure your opponent spelled out every aspect of his promise, otherwise there would be loopholes...loopholes that could be exploited. Not that Hades would ever exploit his son, but like anyone who’d suffered a wealth of betrayals over the centuries, he liked to keep his options open.

“Then I will help you destroy Lucifer,” William said.

He nodded, even while thinking, You would have, anyway, my son.

They might argue and fight—with swords, daggers, whips and guns of every make and model—but at the end of the day, they had each other’s back.

He hoped.

Bottom line. He had trust issues. He’d always had trust issues, and he always would. That violent past hadn’t just shaped him, it had hardened him. There would be no changing him.

“Go now,” he said, and severed contact.

Hades walked away before he broke one of his cardinal rules. No allowing emotion to lead decisions. Ever. But only then, as he passed through the door and the guards waiting for reentry into the throne room breathed a sigh of relief, did he realize the worst of his rage had abated. Because of a conversation.

Well, hell. Miracles really did happen.

He’d find out if this one stayed the course...

If you enjoy Gena Showalter’s pulse-pounding paranormal romances, don’t miss her sizzling contemporary romances!

Pick up the next book in her ORIGINAL HEARTBREAKERS series, CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE, available soon from HQN Books.

Keep reading for a sneak peek!





New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with an irresistible Original Heartbreakers story about a woman who’s never felt desired and the man who wants her more than air to breathe...

Can’t Hardly Breathe

Bullied in high school, Dorothea Mathis’s past is full of memories she’d rather forget. But there’s one she can’t seem to shake—her long-standing crush on former army ranger Daniel Porter. Now that the sexy bad boy has started using her inn as his personal playground, she should kick him out...but his every heated glance makes her want to join him instead.

Daniel returned to Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, to care for his ailing father and burn off a little steam with no strings attached. Though he craves curvy Dorothea night and day, he’s as marred by his past as she is by hers. The more he desires her, the more he fears losing her.

But every sizzling encounter leaves him desperate for more, and soon Daniel must make a choice: take a chance on love or walk away forever.

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The Harder You Fall The Hotter You Burn The Closer You Come The One You Want (novella)

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And for more Original Heartbreakers, look out for

Can’t Let Go

For tempting tales full of passion and peril, don’t miss any of the spellbinding stories in the Lords of the Underworld series!

Though these warriors carry an eternal curse, the Lords of the Underworld are irresistibly seductive—and unimaginable powerful...

The Darkest Promise The Darkest Torment The Darkest Touch The Darkest Craving The Darkest Seduction The Darkest Surrender The Darkest Secret The Darkest Lie The Darkest Passion The Darkest Angel (novella)

The Darkest Whisper The Darkest Prison (novella)

The Darkest Pleasure The Darkest Kiss The Darkest Night The Darkest Fire (digital prequel)

Complete your collection!

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