"I have no young." He cupped his groin. "But you're welcome to drink them straight from the tap."
Ashen, she performed a half pivot, always keeping him within her sights. "I saved you from becoming a copy of your father. As a child, I spared your life. You owe me."
"You enslaved me and relegated the care of my soul to a Harpy. I owe you nothing but a painful death."
"Brave words. Foolish words. Do not force me to dismember your precious Cameo the way I dismembered Echidna."
Had her voice wobbled there at the end? "Force you?" The hatred he'd harbored for so long exploded inside him, emotional shrapnel embedding itself in every inch of his body. The wounds bled more rage, only rage.
"I've never enjoyed harming my fellow females."
"Touch Cameo, and I'll--" There was no threat great enough.
"What? Freeze up like your father, unable to move, trapped inside some sort of chrysalis?" She laughed. "I checked on him not too long ago. A tragic fate for a once-strong male."
A fate Lazarus would share.
He'd already resigned himself to it--or thought he had. If he stayed with Cameo, he would continue to weaken. Perhaps now was the time to attack. Perhaps he would never have more power than he had now.
Decision made.
Without forecasting his intent, Lazarus threw himself at Hera. His shoulder plowed into the softest part of her belly, and he roared with satisfaction at her sound of distress. As he followed her to the floor, she took the brunt of impact, the back of her skull shattering.
Despite the injury, she banged her forehead into his chin. Adrenaline jacked, he barely registered the hit. Never missing a beat, he drew back his elbow and jabbed his arm forward. The blow met nothing but air as she flashed away.
Hoping she would return, he jumped to his feet. He paced the room for five minutes...ten...but she never appeared.
New plan. Weakened or not, he would return to Cameo's side. Today. Now. They would hunt and kill Hera and Juliette together. They would find and slay his father. He trusted Cameo and admired her skill.
He didn't need an army. He just needed her.
*
"Get your asses in gear. Our one millionth family meeting is about to kick off." Torin's voice echoed over the sound system he'd installed inside the fortress.
Great! Wonderful! Cameo knew what would be discussed. Or rather, who they would be discussing.
When she'd told her friends Juliette maybe, just possibly might know where to find Pandora's box, excitement and hope had bloomed. The Harpy had become the Lords' enemy one.
Had Lazarus forgiven Cameo for saving his tormentor's life?
Hell, no. Otherwise he'd be here.
Lost him before I had him.
Everyone filed into the great room. Cameo claimed a spot up front, her arms crossed over her chest as she met the gaze of every occupant: Torin, Keeley, Maddox, Ashlyn, Sienna, Sabin, Gwen, Gideon, Scarlet, Amun, Haidee, Danika, Kaia, Aeron and Olivia, a Sent One.
Lucien, Anya, Reyes, Kane, Josephina, Strider, Baden and Katarina were currently in the underworld with Hades.
Galen, former enemy turned almost-friend, strode into the room and plopped on the couch. A storm brewed inside his sky blue eyes. His pale hair was spiked in complete disarray. He'd just returned from a secret mission for...Hades? Himself? He must have failed.
Redheaded Kaia nudged Cameo's shoulder, all I've got this. "Pipe down and listen up. The entire Eagleshield clan has declared war on our girl Cam. They expect all Skyhawks to do the same because we've always held a grudge against Cam's man-candy-liciousness Lazarus."
How dare the Eagleshields try to recruit her friends!
You have no friends, Misery whispered.
I do! I know I do.
A chorus of "boo" rang out from the crowd.
See? she told the demon. Friends.
"We declined, of course. With blades." Cheers erupted, and Kaia took a bow. When the room quieted, she added, "Ages ago, Lazarus destroyed one of our villages, but today, we officially forgive him. For Cameo's sake and also because we'd like an opportunity to torture him slowly. In the most nonviolent ways." Her gaze darted to Cameo. "Death is too fast and definitely too permanent."
"Word is Lazarus actually came back from the dead," Gwen said. "How is that possible?"
All eyes landed on Cameo. "I don't know." His physical appearance had changed, the lines etched through his arms thicker and darker, his hatred of them worse. "Neither does he."
Her friends cringed at the sound of her voice. Worse, they cringed with more force than usual.
Told you, Misery taunted.
She pressed her lips together. She'd had no plans to tell anyone about Lazarus's lines, anyway. His secret was his to share.
"I'll ask around," Sienna said. "Someone knows something." As the new keeper of Wrath, dishing punishments had become her favorite jam. She cracked her knuckles. "That someone will sing like a canary."
"Inquiring minds want to know." Kaia hopped up and down. "Does every inch of the new, living Lazarus work?"
Like, did his heart beat? She nodded.
Kaia offered a sly grin. "How many inches are we talking about? Huh, huh. Tell me!"
Try: gigantor. And mine. All mine.
Cameo silently mouthed, "Focus, people!"
"So less than six? Seven?" she insisted. "Juliette bragged about keeping his balls in her trophy case. Apparently she cut one off every now and then to remind Laz who was boss. Got a new one during the last battle. I just wondered if he's experienced shrinkage."
He'd been injured? She'd assumed the blood he'd worn had belonged to his victims.
How could I leave him behind?
Before Misery could use her guilt against her, she turned to Aeron. "After you died, the One True Deity gave you a new body. He's the only being capable of such a feat, yes?" He'd created Sent Ones, angels and even humans from dirt.
As for the other species?
Stories claimed fallen angels had once mated with humans to create demigods--the Titans, Greeks and Unspoken Ones. Though they'd chosen to drop the word "demi." Those demigods had mated with other demigods, and different immortal races were born. Shifters, Berserkers, sirens, nymphs and a handful of others. Still other demigods had mated with demons, creating Harpies, vampires and witches. However, none of those beings knew how to create flesh from dirt--or anything else.
"To my knowledge, yes." Aeron's voice was as gruff as ever. "I don't know how He did it. I woke up in the heavens, already bo
nded to my new body."
So we're still at square one. Awesome.
Sorrow wafted from Misery, a poisoned perfume. Sienna sniffled. Kaia and Gwen turned away to stealthily wipe their tears.
Here I go, making everyone around me miserable again.
"I'm out." Head down, Cameo strode into the hall.
"We need to discuss the box," Sabin called after her.
She paused long enough to answer. "Don't worry. Juliette Eagleshield will tell me everything she knows before I remove her head." No more playing nice and stopping with a hand removal.
Cameo descended the stairs. Along the way, she passed a butterfly in flight and ignored the prickling unease. She shut herself inside her bedroom and eased onto the cushioned seat in front of her vanity...where Lazarus's mirror now hung.
At first, she'd had no idea the mirror was in her room. She'd seen a blow-up doll. Then she'd touched it and the illusion faded, the glass appearing before her eyes. A gift from Lazarus. She was awed by his thoughtfulness...and terrified of what she would next see.
History had proved only heartache awaited her.
Tears slipped down her cheeks as little sorrows began to nibble at her soul like starving mice who'd finally found a hunk of cheese. Sadness and regrets scurried across her mind, little cockroaches that dwelled in the shadows.
Despite their explosive goodbye, she missed Lazarus more with every second that passed. Missed his touch. His taste. His bark of a laugh, a bit rusty at the edges. Not many people could make him laugh; she was one of a rare few. She even missed his irritating comments.
With him, she felt alive for the first time since her possession, so close to happiness she could almost bark out a laugh of her own.
Lazarus has abandoned you, wants nothing to do with you. Misery purred like a well-fed kitten. Perhaps you would feel better if you forgot him.
Never!
Maybe...
Lazarus believed the demon needed permission to wipe her memory. At first, she'd discarded the idea as ludicrous. Not knowing the things she'd done and said was torture. Now, however, she was possessed by an even a worse torture. Knowing the wanton things she'd done and said, the wanton things Lazarus had done and said--and knowing she would never experience them again.
No, no. The loss of memory would be worse, guaranteed, and she couldn't let sorrow convince her she'd finally know peace.