The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld #13)

“A chrysalis isn’t made of crystal,” Cameo had said.

“No. Not for insects. For immortals like Lazarus, they are made of pupa and crystal. Anyway, gotta jet. There’s a Psych marathon I’m not missing. I’m learning to be a detective.” Keeley had skipped toward the bedroom door before pausing and glancing over her shoulder. “Parting advice from the Red Queen. You need to give Lazarus a reason to keep fighting his way free.” Then she was gone.

Now Cameo sat on her bed, directly in front of Lazarus. She rubbed the spot on her chest. The place the Paring Rod had pierced her. A thin line marked the center of her sternum. A scar...what looked to be wings branching from both sides of the line. Another butterfly, she thought with a smile. An actual smile!

“Zeus and the rest of the Greeks escaped Tartarus,” she told Lazarus. “They’ve joined Lucifer in the war with Hades and their forces grow stronger by the day. Hera has been spotted in the third heaven, hiding among the Sent Ones. I need you here, fighting by my side. Lucien nearly died in the last battle, and Maddox has yet to recover from his newest set of wounds.”

Nothing. No reaction.

“Did you ever meet Atlas and Nike? They’re the Greek and Titan god and goddess of Strength. They’re married now, and they’ve allied with Hades. They convinced him to agree to the mother of all battles, set to take place in one week. I’m going to be there, in the midst of the fray. Do you really want me going without you?”

Still nothing.

Her nails dug into her upper thighs. Not giving up. Never giving up.

“I’ve stolen the devotion of your pets. They fly outside my balcony, and I give them reports about your condition. You never told me the little buggers could speak eleven different languages but had chosen to speak Typhonish, the only one I didn’t know, simply to irritate me.”

Annnd nothing.

All right. Time to play hardball. Literally!

“The butterfly tattoo on my back is gone. But I have another one, thanks to you.” Cameo tore her shirt over her head, ripped at the center clasp of her bra and shimmied out of her pants and underwear, leaving her bare. Cool air wafted over her as she leaned back, anchoring her weight on her elbows, and offered Lazarus a full frontal view.

“See?” She traced her fingertips over her sternum. “What do you think?”

Her heart raced as she waited. Hoped, prayed. But nothing happened.

She climbed atop the bed. The sheets smelled of Lazarus, of sweet chocolate and heady champagne.

“This is what you’re missing.” A husky note had entered her voice. “And you’re denying me what I’m missing. Your kiss...your touch...your hard and fast possession.” She cupped her breasts, plucked at her nipples. Pleasure burned through her. “Bet I can make myself come without you...but it won’t be nearly as fun. I’ll—”

The chrysalis shattered. Shards of crystalized pupa flew in every direction. Lazarus rose, standing to his full seven foot height. His hands were balled, his chest rising and falling quickly.

She gasped, her gaze welded to his. His eyes were...changed. They were dark, but now his irises appeared to be rimmed by the pupa he’d shed, and his skin glistened as if he’d been dipped in diamond dust. Or played motorboat with a stripper.

“You did it!” she cried. “You broke free!”

“So I did.”

At the sound of his low, sexy timbre—nothing but a predatory growl—undiluted joy burst inside Cameo. “I should have gotten naked days ago.” A laugh escaped her, then. A genuine laugh.

He sucked in a breath. “That is the laugh I have dreamed of hearing, but it is better in reality, far better than anything I’d imagined. Your laugh is magic. A spell of enchantment. An incantation meant to entice, lure and seduce, and if I hadn’t loved you already, I would have fallen right then.”

She quieted, suddenly caught up in a maelstrom of sensations. Tingling, heat, aches and needs, so many needs. He crawled across the bed and hovered over her, his palms braced at her temples. They stared at each other for a long while, soaking up the moment. They had a future!

He lowered his head and kissed her. His soft lips tasted her—and then they devoured her.

By the time he lifted his head, they were both out of breath and panting.

“I love you more than I can ever articulate, sunshine. You are my light on the darkest of days. To me, you are first. You will always be first. Nothing and no one will ever come before you.”

“I love you, too. You are first...though in the spirit of full disclosure, you are tied with your penis.”

He barked out a laugh. “Is this my sweet Cameo without a hint of misery?”

“It is indeed. But you may call me Queen Cameo,” she corrected with a smile. “Apparently you are king of the butterflies, and as your woman, I claim half of your possessions. Starting with this...” She cupped his shaft, and he hissed in a breath. “Mmm, your love for me is growing.”

He nipped at her bottom lip. “We are going to have a glorious life together. That is a command...and a promise.”

“We’ll be happy,” she said, and nipped his lip right back.

“Happy,” he confirmed. “And, sunshine? I have a feeling my love for you will grow every morning, afternoon and evening.”

She chuckled. “Yay, me!”

He swooped down to claim another kiss and Cameo lost herself in the promise of an eternity ever after.

*





Lords of the Underworld:

INSIDER’S GUIDE





Contents

Lords of the Underworld: Timeline

THE DARKEST FIRE, ebook prequel

THE DARKEST NIGHT, story of Maddox

THE DARKEST KISS, story of Lucien

THE DARKEST PLEASURE, story of Reyes

THE DARKEST WHISPER, story of Sabin

THE DARKEST PASSION, story of Aeron

THE DARKEST LIE, story of Gideon

THE DARKEST SECRET, story of Amun

THE DARKEST SURRENDER, story of Strider

THE DARKEST SEDUCTION, story of Paris

THE DARKEST CRAVING, story of Kane

THE DARKEST TOUCH, story of Torin

THE DARKEST TORMENT, story of Baden





Lords of the Underworld:

TIMELINE





THE DARKEST FIRE,

ebook prequel

* When the goddess of Oppression dies, Hera, the queen of the Greeks, uses her bones to create dimOuniak, a small box she fills with demons. Also trapped inside is a being known as the Morning Star.

* Zeus, king of the Greeks and husband to Hera, steals dimOuniak, and orders an immortal soldier named Pandora to guard it.

* dimOuniak becomes known as Pandora’s box, and it is stolen by thirteen immortal warriors—Sabin, Lucien, Maddox, Baden, Strider, Torin, Gideon, Kane, Reyes, Aeron, Paris, Amun and Cameo. They are betrayed by their friend Galen, who tells Zeus of their plans. Before they can be stopped, the box is opened and the demons are unleashed. No one knows what happens to the Morning Star.