The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld 13)

"Cameo--"

She eased to her haunches, regretfully severing contact, and turned his attention in a different direction. "If the Paring Rod can cleave spirit from soul, can it also cleave spirit from demon?"

Misery screamed obscenities. He had no desire to escape her. Not really. Ruining her life was too much fun.

Gripping her shoulders, Lazarus shook her with enough force to shut up the demon. A total alpha move, his strength and fervor oddly arousing.

This time, she recognized the arc of electricity shooting through her, not to mention the warmth and awareness throbbing in different parts of her body.

"Don't you dare try," he snarled. "If the Paring Rod succeeded, you would die. You cannot live without the demon."

"No, I can't. Not at this time." Her head canted to the side, her scrutiny of him deepening. Her blood sang with what she assumed was happiness.

My first taste, and it's glorious!

"But don't you worry, darkpit. I won't allow myself to die until I've found Pandora's box and ensured the eternal safety of my family."

He began to relax.

"Why does the thought of my demise bother you?" she asked, and he stiffened all over again. "I'm nothing but a possible one-night stand, right?"

"No. Yes." He leaped to his feet and paced directly in front of her. A hand tangled in his hair. "I'm going to a lot of trouble to save your life, sunshine. The least you can do is live it."

Excuse me? "How? How are you saving my life?"

"In this realm, the living are fair game. Had I not granted my protection, the sky serpents could have killed you a thousand times over. For that matter, the citizens could have killed you in order to claim rights to your body. They want to possess it and pass through the portal."

She bristled at his lack of confidence. "You underestimate me if you think I'm anyone's easy mark. For that matter," she added, mimicking him, "even Viola and the children managed to survive without your aid."

His dark gaze crackled with flames of fury. "You misunderstand. Juliette got the better of me. Me. What makes you believe you can--Umph."

With no outward tells, Cameo had palmed and tossed one of the diamond daggers. The tip had embedded in his shoulder.

A thick river of blood trickled from the wound. She'd known he had a heartbeat, despite his death, but the stark reminder startled her.

Had he somehow come back to life? Could he walk through the portal with her? Excitement bloomed.

"No," he said, reading her mind. "I can't."

Excitement died a tragic death. "I'm not you. I could defeat Juliette with a blindfold and both hands tied behind my back."

Lips pursed, he plucked the crimson-soaked weapon free. "A tigress roars beneath the kitten's facade. I'm glad."

Urban whisked into the tent without any advanced notice, interrupting her next "roar." He spotted Lazarus and heaved a relieved breath. "I want to present the goddess Viola with a token of my affection. What are men supposed to give to their women?"

How adorable. "Urban, honey. You're too young to court a woman. You can't--"

The little boy flinched, and Cameo pressed her lips together.

"The head of an enemy is always a nice touch," Lazarus interjected.

What! She gave an adamant shake of her head.

"Is that what you're going to do for her?" Urban hiked his thumb in Cameo's direction. "Give her the head of an enemy?"

"No." Lazarus shook of his head. "I'm going to give her the heart of an automaton."

Um, thanks? Automaton, sometimes called Colossi, were half man or animal, half metal.

"In fact, I'll be gone the rest of the day." He strapped two short swords to his back. "In order to pass through the portal, a sacrifice must be made. In order for four people to pass through, a large sacrifice must be made. Automatons are big enough for an army."

"I'm going with you," she said. No way could she remain quiet.

Why? You cannot help him, Misery whispered. You're a woman. The weaker sex. You'll only hinder him.

Lies, only lies. She'd trained. She'd toppled kingdoms. She'd survived seemingly endless rounds of torture. She'd been knocked down, but had always gotten back up. And that--that was true strength.

"No," Lazarus said, his tone intractable. "I go alone."

She met his narrowed gaze and raised her chin, knowing she portrayed the very picture of stubbornness.

She wasn't the only one.

He considered himself strong enough to defeat an automaton without aid, and he probably was. But she wouldn't let him risk his life--or death--without risking her own.

Viola stomped into the tent, Fluffy directly behind her. "All right, I'm tired of listening at the door. I can get us into automaton territory and to the portal by the end of the day."

Heart hammering against her ribs, Cameo jumped to her feet. Part with Lazarus today?

Too soon!

A muscle ticked beneath Lazarus's eye, and she wondered if he'd had the same thought about her. "No."

"Hello, Viola." Urban waved at her before executing a graceful bow. "How are you?"

The goddess gave him an odd look but waved back. "Isn't it obvious? I'm as awesome as always."

"How can you get us to the portal?" Cameo asked her, ignoring Lazarus. The more time she spent in his presence, the faster her resistance crumbled. The sooner they parted the better.

"Uh, hello. I'm the goddess of the Afterlife. Perhaps I know shortcuts through the spirit realms." She waved her fingers at Lazarus, the ring on her thumb glinting in the light. "Perhaps this allows me to leap between the realms, put us in automaton territory, then directly in front of the portal home. Who's to say, really?"

Lazarus took a step toward her, a tower of menacing aggression. "I want the ring. Give it to me. Now."

Viola shrank back, even as Princess Fluffikans and Urban jumped in front of her to block his path.

"The ring is mine," the goddess said. "I stole it fair and square."

"Don't make me take your head," the little boy told Lazarus. He popped his knuckles. "I'll do it. Won't even hesitate."

The Tasmanian devil screeched. He was a nocturnal creature. Mornings were not his friends.

"No one is taking anyone's head, and no one is stealing anyone else's jewelry. And everyone is going to knock before entering Aunt Cam's dwelling, wherever or whatever it happens to be. Starting today. Understand?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Viola, concentrate on me and not your reflection in the ring. Good girl. Now answer a few questions for me. You've had the ring all along? Why not mention it before? Can you use it to take us home?"

"Yep. Had it all along. And I didn't mention it because I knew Lazarus the Selfish and Greedy would attempt to claim it." Sh

e toyed with the ends of her pale braids. "And no. I can only use it to take us into other spiritual realms."

"Give me the ring. Of your own free will," he added. "Consider it payment for the slaying of the automaton."

Viola fluffed her hair. "I'll be slaying him on my own, thanks. I've got mad skills. And I can always use him as a shield." She hiked her thumb in Urban's direction. "I'll survive and return home. You can explain to Mr. and Mrs. Maddox why their son is dead."

"Hey!" Ever stomped into the tent, the color in her cheeks high. "I'm the only one who can use my brother as a shield."

"Here's the thing," Viola said to Lazarus, ignoring the girl. "If I give you the ring, you'll leave me behind. That's a problem. I want to see the automaton's home."

Lazarus spread his arms, acting like the last sane man in the universe. "You want to die, then."

Okay, this had gotten out of hand. "If you give him the ring, Viola, you can go with us. You'll soon be leaving the spirit realms, anyway, so you won't need the ring. Correct? Urban, Ever. Stop crying. You're staying here with the guards. The adults are going out to do some adulting."

She steeled herself for a slap of lust and met Lazarus's gaze. "You. Help us get what we need and I'll kiss you goodbye."

*

Cameo brushed her teeth with a brush and paste Lazarus gave her, and bathed in a basin he filled with ice-cold water. Refreshed, she changed into a T-shirt and jeans provided by the goddess.

Apparently Viola had used her portal-opening ring last night, fetching hundreds of T-shirts she'd had made weeks before, planning to give the too-small garments to everyone in the realm. Every shirt had a different message, but every message meant the exact same thing.

I Heart Viola.

Team Viola.

If I Can't Have Viola I'd Rather Have Death.

I Hung Out with the Goddess of the Afterlife & All I Got Was This Amazing T-shirt.

Lazarus used the time to pet his new ring and sulk about...Cameo wasn't sure. Did he wish she'd donned the I Dream of Jeannie outfit? Was he pouting about having company on his automaton-heart mission?

Did he not want Cameo to leave him?

The thought electrified her, and for once, nothing Misery did to counteract the sensation affected her. Her blood continued to simmer, her bones to vibrate.

Slay an automaton, kiss Lazarus goodbye.

Cameo joined the warrior, Viola and Princess Fluffikans outside the tent. Sunlight glared from an unforgiving sky. Thankfully sky serpent wings spanned a great distance and cast the perfect amount of shade.