Dark Promise (Underworld)

5



Eric’s heart beat wild and the dragon fire ignited. Shit, he was losing control. Perspiration dripped down his face and his skin grew hot, his clothes sticking to his flesh.

Cassandra stepped back. He wanted to challenge Kennedy for hurting his mate. He took a step toward him, but Cassandra touched his arm. “No.”

Her soft touch and tight squeeze squelched the fire. He couldn’t deny those pleading green eyes. Kennedy was safe.

Diane, from the ugly scene at the birthday party in the Wraith’s magic mirror. Diane leered at him and Eric glared. She had hurt Cassandra. Eric had wanted to hold Cassandra in his arms and kiss her, whisper into her ear she was desirable and make her forget Luke. If Diane knew who and what he was, she’d lose that sneer and crumble into a pile of snowflakes.

Eric placed his hand on Cassandra’s lower back and guided her to a table far away from Kennedy and Diane. He held out her chair for her and she gave him a small smile. He sat next to her and she turned to him. Green eyes watched him warily, not like last night. Last night in the dream, they had been filled with passion and would soon be again. She was his sweet siren.

Eric wanted to hear it from her. “Who is that?”

“My uh ex.” She bit her lip and blinked back tears. “We just broke up a month ago. At a birthday party.”

He had been glued to the Wraith’s mirror when Cassandra started dating Luke Kennedy. She spent more time with him than she did with any other man. When they kissed, she drove a knife through Eric’s heart and he had screamed with rage. He was losing her. Not caring how much he drained his magic, he visited her every night in her dreams, hoping to drive a wedge between her and Kennedy. He couldn’t lose Cassandra. He’d be half a man without her. She completed him. “I’m sorry,” he lied. He reached and squeezed her hand.

“Yeah, life goes on. At least, it has with him.”

“Meaning?”

“The woman he’s with, he hooked up with her at the party.”

“Ah, I see. He’s an idiot.” How could the man want anyone besides Cassandra? Any man in the bar would want to be with her.

“It wasn’t totally his fault. I was a…preoccupied.”

“With?”

A male waiter came over to their table. “Hello, I’m Sam. Can I take your order?”

“Two Guinnesses.”

“Right away, sir.”

Cassandra slammed her hand onto the silver table. “Excuse me? I don’t get to order what I want to drink?”

“You wanted something else?” He half rose to get her something at the loaded bar.

She scooted her chair away from him and put her gloves and helmet between them. “No, but I order for myself and how did you know I drink Guinness?”

Careful. First mistake and it wouldn’t be the last. He shrugged. “You look like you drink dark beers.”

She scoffed.

Did he blame her? He was a damn stalker. In the demon realm, males were expected to know everything about their soul mates before they met. Not on Earth. Males had to do this dreaded courtship dance. Neither of them had time for this nonsense.

Cassandra put her gloves, goggles and helmet on the chair next to her. Tendrils of blonde hair escaped from her tight ponytail and dangled along her cheeks.

He gripped his fist tight to keep from ripping out her rubber band to allow her hair to cascade down her shoulders. But at the square set of her jaw, he kept his hands to himself. How did human males do this courting? It took too much time. So many damn games. “Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine.” She twisted the silver ring on her finger. “Just still a little raw.”

Only Cassandra could unleash the power hidden within the ring, but she wasn’t ready. Not yet. Not until they were mated. Over the years, the Wraith’s magic mirror had revealed Cassandra twirling the ring around on her finger when scared or nervous. He went to clasp her hand to reassure her, but she seized a menu and studied it. He laid his hand on the table and tapped the wood with his knuckles, cursing his missed opportunity to provide comfort.

He wasn’t fooled. Luke had crushed her. Her eyes glistened and she sniffed. Did she still have feelings for Kennedy? Did she forgive him for sleeping with another woman? Eric didn’t understand humans. In the Underworld, dragon demons mated for life. His parents had turned feral, but they still kissed each other, held hands and slipped away from court to their private chambers. Infidelity didn’t exist. Why could humans not be faithful to their mates? One reason dragon demons didn’t take human mates. Would Cassandra betray him?

Her stomach growled and he bit back a laugh. “So, what is the human saying? So hungry you could eat a horse?”

She peered over her menu. “Human? What are you from planet Vulcan?”

Damn another slip. “No. I thought you weren’t hungry.”

She lowered her gaze and focused back on the menu. “I don’t know. Maybe. Pizza sounds good.”

The waiter came with their stouts and sat them on the table. “A large thin crust sausage pizza, please,” Eric ordered.

“Yes, of course sir.” The waiter hurried off.

Cassandra slammed down the menu. “Are you deaf?”

“What?”

“You did it again. I can order for myself.”

“You like…”

“Not the point. You’re creeping me out knowing what I like and don’t like especially since I just met you.”

“Well.” He gave her half a smile. “I don’t want to creep you out.” She’d go berserk when tomorrow she woke in the Underworld. So be it. “Tell me about yourself.”

Her slender fingers rubbed the frosted glass of stout. “There’s nothing much to tell. I’ve mostly been a college student. Last May, I graduated from Colorado State University with my BSW and plan to go to the University of Colorado for my master’s in speech next fall.”

“BSW?”

“Bachelor of Social Work.”

“So, you don’t want to be a social worker and now want to be a speech pathologist.” Small talk sucked.

“And you? I don’t know anything about you except you work for the government. What do you do for the government?”

Lying to one’s mate was frowned upon in the Underworld, but they weren’t mated, at least not yet. He had no idea what to say and blurted out what first came into his mind. “I’m an accountant for the state.”

“An accountant? You’re kidding?”

“What? Why?”

“You don’t look like any accountant I’ve ever seen.” She took a sip of her stout and peered past him. Her eyes widened and she placed the glass down.

“What?”

“Luke’s coming over here.”

Just what he needed. Competition. Cassandra shifted in her chair.

Luke came to their table. “Cassandra, can I talk to you for a minute?”

“She’s with me,” Eric said.

Cassandra flashed him an angry look. “Eric.” She watched Luke and Eric’s gut tightened. Shit, she still had feelings for the guy.

“I’ll be right back,” she said and followed Luke to the bar out of hearing distance.

Eric drummed his fingers on the table. The dragon fire within him burned hotter and he trembled. Sweat trickled down his temples and his sweater stuck to his sweltering skin.

Slash. Slash. Slash.

He battled to gain control of his last bit of reasoning, not wanting to give into the desire to rend the human's limbs from his torso. He closed his eyes and meditated on Cassandra’s lingering jasmine scent.


Breathe just breathe.

Her scent doused the flames within. He opened his eyes, struggling to maintain control. He had to convince Cassandra soon or he’d be lost, turned into a monster like his father. She was his only hope.

His hand shaking, he took a long swig of his beer. The cool liquid failed to reduce his rising temperature and only Cassandra’s sweet touch could do this. He wished he was better apt at trying to please her. He had to find a way to win her heart.

Luke said something to her and Cassandra glanced at Luke, her face worried. Twisting her ring, she bit her lip and shook her head. Cassandra had been heartbroken and sobbing, her body shaking as she cried onto Lilly’s shoulder. Eric should have been the one holding her, comforting her, stroking her hair. It was his job to take care of her. He’d never hurt her. She was his, his mate.

Cassandra laid her hand on Luke’s arm.

Eric’s anger flared again and he pushed it back, but each time, it took away a bit of his sanity. God, the woman was testing him. Luke broke free of her gasp and stormed away, heading out of the restaurant. Cassandra hung her head and brushed something off her face. She returned to the table.

“What happened?” Eric demanded.

She sighed and blinked her eyes. “He came over to apologize.”

“Now?”

“I think you unnerved him. He wanted to know who you were.”

“Ah, I see.”

“I told him I just met you and we decided to have lunch.”

“And he wasn't pleased?”

“I don’t know why. He didn't walk in on you and I—” She grabbed her beer and took a long sip.

Eric smiled. With her rosy cheeks and deep green eyes outlined by dark eyelashes, she was beautiful—a virgin maiden.

The waiter arrived with the sausage pizza, and placed it on the table. He returned with forks, knives, plates and napkins.

Eric picked up the spatula and served Cassandra a large slice of pizza. “Cassandra, do you still care for Luke?”

“I don’t know.” She picked at the pizza with her fork. “He confuses me and after he was with Diane, how can I trust him?”

She was debating. F*cking great. He had to get her to the Underworld before she decided to give Luke another chance. “Humans,” Eric grumbled. “I don’t see how men do this to their mates.”

“Humans? Mates? What is with you?”

Shit, fouled again. “I thought you were hungry.”

“Lost my appetite.”

“Come on, it’s sausage, your favorite. Try it.”

“How do you know it’s my favorite?”

“Lucky guess.” He held his breath, cursing yet another mistake.

Her brow furrowed. She focused on the pizza. Sighing, she picked up her pizza and took a bite. Her eyes filled with contentment.

He loved how her cheeks glowed and a small smile spread across her face, there were other ways to bring her satisfaction and bring a smile to her lips rather than a pizza. What they did in her dream last night for starters. His pants tightened and he shifted in his chair. “So, is the pizza good?”

“What? Oh, yeah. It’s fine.” She licked her lips.

He had an urge to lick her now salty lips.

“Try it,” she urged.

Forcing himself to forget her lips, Eric served himself. The pizza tasted good, but he had a hard time eating with the blonde beauty across from him and his growing erection. God, this was such a waste of time. He wanted her back in the Underworld now to complete their vows and indulge in her every fantasy.

Somehow Eric got through lunch with her, without making another frightening or asinine comment again. At least Luke Kennedy never came back and he didn’t have to worry about fighting for Cassandra’s attentions. A half-eaten pizza slice remained on her plate. “Are you done?”

“Um, yes. Thanks for lunch.” Cassandra put on her helmet and goggles, and slipped on her gloves.

“Sounds like a dismissal,” he said.

“What? You mean you wanted to ski some more?”

“That was the general idea. I’ve never had anyone who wanted to ditch me until you.”

She licked her luscious lips. “I’m not trying to ditch you. I’m just feeling weird after running into Luke.”

“Why?”

“We were together for about six months and I guess I hurt him.”

She thought she hurt him? “Excuse me? I thought…”

She held up her hand. “Yes, I know what he did. I wasn’t exactly a loving girlfriend, either. I just could never commit to him.” She shoved her hands into her parka. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. Look Eric, I know I just had lunch with you, but I need to get my thoughts sorted.”

He tossed three twenty dollar bills onto the table. “Fine.” Now, what the hell was he supposed to do?

She reached for the bill. “How much was the bill?”

He slid it out of her reach. “He was a good waiter.”

“Ah, uh. Well, I’ll be seeing you.” She hobbled in her ski boots to the front door without looking back.

He chugged the rest of his beer and slammed his glass down. Damn. The wench had brushed him off. In the Underworld, women climbed over themselves to get to him, but here, he was a leper. Shit. What if Cassandra had ditched him to find Kennedy?

He jumped off his chair and darted out of the restaurant. What if he missed her? His magic had faded, since he used the last of it to appear in her dream. Maybe he should have saved more of it. Using demon speed, he raced to his skis.

Bent over, Cassandra fastened her boots and picked up her poles. Kennedy wasn’t around.

“I’ll see you around,” he said.

She jumped and fell on her butt. “How did you get here so fast?”

“I wasn’t far behind you.” He offered her his hand and she grabbed it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. He wanted to slam her to his chest and kiss her, but refrained.

“Thanks.” She brushed snow off her parka. “Well, I’ll see you around.”

He put on his skis and binders, and stooping to be a stupid school boy, he trailed behind her. Pathetic. He wouldn’t push himself on her, not unless he saw Luke. Cassandra got onto the chairlift with a group of girls. Her sweet scent drifted over him. A man and his young son made small talk with him on the way to the top.

He flew off the chair. She headed toward the Super Bee Lift. With demon speed, he skied through the trees toward the Super Bee. He arrived at the lift, but she had not arrived yet. He waited, hoping she came alone.

His heart sank. Billowing snow had painted her cheeks and nose with white pixie dust. She came with a tall male figure. Kennedy. Dragon fire burned in him and he wanted to challenge Luke for his mate, which was common practice in the Underworld, but this wasn’t the Underworld. This was Earth. Bound by human law, he had no intention of getting locked up, unable to free himself.

Kennedy and Cassandra skied toward the lift. So much for getting his thoughts together. Eric slinked behind them. He hoped they wouldn’t kiss or caress each other. He doubted if he could remain rational.

What they were saying? He needed the Wraith’s mirror.

The darkness grew inside him. He was turning feral. He needed distance. Any minute, he’d explode with anger and rip Luke apart.