The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld 13)

"Don't look up," Cameo told her. "Please."

"Why?" Of course, Viola attempted to look up.

Cameo pinched her chin and held her gaze. "Trust me."

"There's a mirror, isn't there?" The goddess chewed on her lower lip. "Surely I can afford a single glance...I'm so pretty."

"Sure. Take a glance. Make yourself vulnerable to everyone in the club. You could become an immortal pinata. Every girl's dream!"

A shudder rocked Viola on her hooker heels. "Right. No glances. We're here to find a delicious beefcake and--"

"No! To find the Harpy. Juliette. No beefcake." Wasn't like anyone would tempt her. As long as Cameo remembered Lazarus, he would be her standard of measure. No one could hope to compare.

Viola wiggled her brows at a bear shifter. "Maybe a slice of beefcake?" Fluffy sat at her feet, snarling at any male who passed. "I'm hungry for a distraction."

"Well, consider today low-cal, gluten-free and one hundred percent vegan."

A man she'd never met looked at her, looked away, then lurched and stared at her. He ran his tongue over his lips as if he could already taste her kiss.

He didn't want her, not really. Yesterday, after she'd made the decision to spend a night with Lazarus, desire had begun to simmer inside her. Desire she now radiated, right along with sadness. The men she'd come across had responded...enthusiastically.

When this one walked toward her, his graceful glide suggesting he was a vampire, she held up a dagger in warning. He grinned with relish, revealing fangs, and kept coming.

She said, "Want to have a discussion about deep and meaningful things?"

As her voice drifted over the music, he cringed and backed away.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," she muttered, hiding her hurt behind a blank mask. I'm man repellent.

Misery laughed with his customary glee. Lazarus is glad to be rid of you.

She swallowed a cry of distress. The demon loved peppering her with statements she couldn't currently dispute. An insidious weapon in his arsenal of evil.

Would Lazarus be happy to see her? Or had he realized he was better off without her?

"Friendly tip," Viola said from behind her hand. "When the cute man wants to flirt with us and pay for our drinks and appetizers--Hey, do you want to split cheese fries?"

"No. What's your friendly tip? I shouldn't talk?"

"Don't be ridiculous." The goddess waved a dismissive hand. "I was going to suggest you steal his wallet before you talk."

Not exactly bad advice.

Cameo did her best to block Misery from her thoughts as she scanned the club. A live band played atop a dais in the corner, women's underwear strewn around their feet. On the dance floor, males and females of every immortal race writhed together in wicked harmony. Multiple bartenders manned an overly crowded bar.

One of the bartenders--a handsome man with pink hair--spotted Viola and dropped a glass. The color drained from his face, leaving him pallid.

"Do you know him?" Cameo asked, pointing. He had a very distinctive look. Tears of blood were inked into the corners of his eyes, and a steel ring protruded from his lower lip.

"I wouldn't say I know him. I'd say I once destroyed him," Viola replied, her tone breezy but her eyes tortured. "I'm sure he bears me no hard feelings."

A list of things Cameo trusted more than Viola's assurance: gum on the bottom of the tables, an armed enemy at her back and a dinner buffet hosted by Lucifer the Destroyer.

The bartender hurried through a door in back, vanishing from sight. Within seconds, another male appeared. White and gold wings arched over his shoulders. He was a Sent One. Cameo had never met him, but judging by the telltale white hair, scarred alabaster skin and red eyes that proclaimed his identity, this was Xerxes. One of the club's owners.

His gaze landed on Viola and narrowed.

"Do you know him?" Cameo pointed. If the demon assassin had a beef with Narcissism, he'd have a beef with Misery, too.

"Definitely not." Viola bent down to pet Fluffy behind his ears. "Now. What was I saying? I'm sure you were hanging on every word."

Cameo watched with dread as the Xerxes moved his gaze through the club and gave an almost imperceptible nod to--

Another Sent One, who plowed through the crowd, heading straight for Viola. Cameo stared at him, amazed. He looked...he couldn't be...but his image never changed. Wavy black hair, vibrant blue eyes and chiseled features usually only found in feminine fantasies--or in the reflection of William the Ever Randy.

They couldn't be twins. This guy appeared younger and less hardened by life. Well, that, and he had magnificent white-gold wings.

No way William was related to a Sent One. No way, no how.

The male stopped in front of Viola and grinned a sinner's grin. Exactly like William. "Hello, ladies. I'm Axel, the man of your dreams."

Something William would have said.

Cameo nodded a greeting, wanting to deluge him with questions. No reason to ruin his night.

"Actually," Viola said, "I'm the woman of my dreams, and I'm in a committed relationship with myself."

"I'm intrigued." He offered his arm, and the goddess accepted without hesitation, as if his admiration were her due. "Tell me more."

"Prepare to be riveted."

The two wandered off, their conversation soon drowned out by music. Some sidekick.

"Viola," she called. "Stranger danger is real. You shouldn't--"

Without looking back, the goddess gave her a thumbs-up. The people around her began to sob.

Cameo's shoulders rolled in. She wouldn't go chasing after her friend, treating Viola the way Sabin had treated her. As if she were an invalid incapable of protecting herself. She would trust Viola to see to her own safety.

Cameo turned her attention to hunt for her prey. Thanks to Gwen, she knew Juliette Eagleshield would be--there!

Oh, wow, Cameo had forgotten how beautiful she was. Tall and toned with dark hair and lavender eyes. A man could get drunk looking into those eyes.

The Harpy tossed back a shot, lifted her arms and shouted, "Woo-hoo." She wore a purple tank top and a miniskirt, the wealth of tattoos on her legs perfectly displayed. In several places, different symbols wove together, creating an optical illusion, making her skin look as delicate as lace.

When Juliette threw back her head and laughed, a blade of envy cut through Cameo.

Why would Lazarus want you, a pity party waiting to happen, and not her, a pleasure party?

Cameo raised her chin. The answer didn't matter. Juliette had removed Lazarus's hands. More than once! Today Cameo removed hers.

Determined, she closed the distance.

Xerxes stepped into her path, stopping her. "Fights aren't allowed inside the club." His red eyes glowed, as ominous as they were unusual. Up close, his scars stood out in stark contrast to his pale skin, and it became obvious they were claw mar

ks.

No help for it. She had to speak. "How do you know I plan to fight?"

He flinched ever so slightly before motioning to her hand. "You are clutching a dagger."

Was she? Oops. She couldn't recall palming one.

Cameo sheathed the weapon. "Happy now?"

"No." Moving with a speed she couldn't match, he claimed the dagger and its twin.

Whatever. From head to toe, she was a weapon.

"I'll keep these until you're ready to leave," he said. "No reason to play with temptation."

"Fine. But just so we're clear, I'll shove those daggers in your eyes if you or your friends harm Viola."

Surprise registered, softening his features. "No harm will come to her."

She believed him. Sent Ones were incapable of lying.

"Nor will any come to you," he added. "Unless you cause trouble here." He strode away, disappearing in the crowd despite his size and unique appearance, a feat that required talent.

Well. Time to cause trouble.

Finally Cameo reached the Harpies. Voice nothing but heartache and despair, she said, "Juliette the Eradicator."

Juliette cringed, but quickly covered the action by arching a dark brow. "Cameo, Mother of Melancholy. I suggest you move along. Your friend killed my consort."

She ran her tongue over her teeth. "He wasn't your consort. He was your slave. And why would I move along? I'm going to wipe the floor with your face."

The Harpy tensed, even as tears filled her eyes. Actually, every Harpy at the table tensed. Six in total. Meaning, six pairs of watery eyes focused on Cameo and flickered with rage. We're off to a good start, then.

"Look who decided to steal a pair of balls." Juliette flicked her tongue over the sharpened edge of an incisor, mimicking Cameo. "Too bad for you, we know the balls belong to Hades. We're on different sides of the war, and you think he can protect you. News flash. He can't. Make no mistake, I'll rip off your limbs and mail them to your family."

The crowd of immortals caught wind of the argument and formed a circle around Cameo and the Harpies. The music came to a screeching halt and silence reigned. Then mutters began to rise from the throng.

"Are you filming this?"

"Is that Cameo, keeper of Misery? Five bucks says we're about to find out if blood is her best color."

"I once watched Juliette pull out a man's spine--through his mouth. Cameo's going down."

Everyone assumed the Harpy would beat her? Wow. That stung.

Your loss will be humiliating, Misery said, and cackled.