The Darkest Torment (Lords of the Underworld 12)

Don’t try to stop me. I have to do this. I’ll return if I can, but if I can’t, know that I’m doing my best to live the life I’ve always wanted.

The guys would give her an hour, maybe two, before they burst into the room. They worried for her safety far too much to wait much longer. They always had, even in the heavens.

Within seconds, everyone had texted her back with either curses or entreaties to be careful. Torin, the best friend she’d ever had, texted step-by-step instructions about what she’d done last time. He also cautioned her.

The artifacts stopped working for Keys. They might not work for you. If they do... I wish you the best, Cam, I really do. But please remain on guard. There are whispers that Lazarus lives by stealing the lives of others. If he takes yours, nothing will save him from us. Nothing.

Whispers weren’t always true. For another moment of happiness? Worth the risk.

Even if she would only forget again.

Torin added: I love you, Cam. Come back to us. And maybe bring Viola with you. Or not. Yeah, probably not.

Viola. The keeper of Narcissism. She’d been a prisoner of Tartarus when the extra demons in the box had been handed out. She was annoying, irritating and, through no fault of her own, completely self-absorbed. She was also trapped in the Rod, as Cameo had been. As Lazarus still was.

She replied: I love you, too. I’ll find her. And if all goes according to plan, I WILL return...with a smile. AND Viola. Prepare yourself.

She knew him, knew he would laugh when he read it.

Another text came in, this one from Baden: I watched him. Lazarus is more a monster than I’ve ever been. This will not end well for you, Cameo. He will destroy you.

Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, not going to him would be worse. She would always wonder what she could have had.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, she replied. And now, she was done communicating.

Time for action.

She tossed the phone on the desk. Trembling now, she climbed into the Cage of Compulsion. The Cloak of Invisibility, Paring Rod and painting were already inside, waiting for her. With Torin’s instructions rolling through her mind, she placed the Cloak over her head and peered at the painting. The canvas depicted an office like any other. Except for the box—Pandora’s box, made from the bones of the goddess of Oppression, able to enslave anything—resting on a bookshelf.

Cameo reached for the Rod, the final step, hoping, dreading. The moment she made contact, her entire world went black.

* * *

My honeymoon. Yay for me.

Gillian wrapped her arms around her middle as she huddled before a crackling fire. Heat radiated from the flames, but it did her no good. The realm’s frigid temperature had formed a wall behind her, turning her backside into an icicle.

As soon as William had left, Puck had taken her hand and led her out of the sand castle at a pace that had allowed her to finally see her surroundings—pretty, mystical and fantastical—and through a “portal” to this other realm. Ice hell. He’d done it despite her wish to return to her friends!

He didn’t want to live with William, which she now understood. But he didn’t need to live with her, either. Not that he’d listened. Not that he ever listened.

Even though she’d asked him to stay with her, he’d taken off an eternity ago to procure lunch, which had already come and gone.

Now the dinner hour was upon her and there was still no sign of him. Darkness reigned. Silence, too. The only noise was the crackle of the logs as they burned...and her thunderous heartbeat. At this point, she kind of hoped Puck didn’t return. Not until morning, at least.

This was their first night as man and wife. Would he change his mind and make a pass at her? Demand sex with her?

No, surely not. He knew her stance on the matter. Had said he respected her wishes.

Then again, he was a guy and guys tended to get stupid when they got hard.

Just...grin and bear it. She’d done it before. She could do it again.

Big hands roving over her small body...

She gagged.

I’m immortal now. I have to live with those memories forever.

I’m an idiot!

I’ve never even been on a date and now I’m married? Stupid idiot! She should have died while she’d had the chance.

A strange sound registered—the clomp of hooves? She stiffened. Next the scent of peat smoke and lavender drifted to her.

Puck had returned, after all.

He stepped into the firelight, his features as indifferent as always. And yet, he made her pulse quicken. There was something about him...

Their new connection, probably. And his inhuman beauty.