Azure tapped his steepled fingers together as his vertically slitted golden eyes gazed around his office. His human flesh was gone, and in its place were the snake scales, so dark green they were nearly black. The snake king wore his signature all black suit, sleek and classy, and it no doubt cost a small fortune. Gage simply waited. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He also wrestled with the urge to shift, rip the cobra’s head off, and then hunt down the she-wolf that may or may not be his. She’s ours. Dammit. His normally silent dire wolf had suddenly turned into a Chatty Cathy.

  Azure’s gaze snapped to Gage’s and stayed on him. Gage didn’t move. He simply returned the King’s look. “I have acquired a new female.”

  The words were said in a very measured way. And because the King was in his human form, Gage saw the other male’s nostrils flare. He’d been scenting the room, attempting to seek a reaction from his words. He’d get nothing. Azure was old. So was Gage.

  “Congratulations. Is she working in one of your clubs, or has she mated one of your males? Or has another kingdom shown interest in her?” Gage would kill them all. He’d tear their intestines from their stomachs and hang them from the trees like Christmas ornaments decorating the Snake King’s front lawn if a single one had so much as put a finger on her. Holy hell, he needed to get a grip, and he needed to get one fast.

  Azure’s head tilted slowly to the right. “Why doessn’t it bother you that I sell animi to other kingdomsss?”

  Okay, so although he was mentally giving landscaping design a new meaning in his mind, his face was holding true to the cold, blank stare Gage had come to be known for. “Are you hurting the females?”

  “No.”

  True and false. No, there was no physical harm happening. But abducting a person and taking them from their loved ones was traumatic and life changing. So, yes, he was hurting them. Gage shrugged. “Damarian’s need mates. If you’re able to make a profit off it at the same time, who am I to judge?”

  Azure watched him for several seconds before he came to whatever conclusion it was that he came to. “I’m going to trust you.”

  It was the wrong conclusion. One day, he’d realize that, though by then it would be too late.

  “Remember, I was the one who told you not to.” Gage dropped his arms and slipped his hands into the pockets of his long duster.

  Azure pushed up from his chair and dipped his chin. “Fair enough.” He walked around to the front of the desk and over to where Gage stood. “Asss I said, I’ve acquired a new female. She baresss the tattoo of a wolf. Newly marked. Link wasss around her and never sensed that she was an animusss.”

  Gage’s brow went up. That was interesting. For a Shaman not to sense the magic of an animi was unheard of.

  “It makesss me think she must be destined to be mated to someone submissive in the Kingdom of Fangss, someone with little power.” He paused, maybe hoping Gage would give him some input. He should know better. Gage simply stared back. Azure crossed his arms. “She’s staying here, our personal guessst, and I’ve informed my people that she’s off the market.”

  Fewer fools for us to kill, the wolf said, and he actually sounded sad about it.

  “So is your new plan some sort of ransom? Since animi are now marked by Visata for a specific kingdom, are you going to sell them to their prospective kingdom if you find them first? Since they can’t be mated to any of yours.”

  “Are we sure of that? How do we know that tattoo can’t be removed if we don’t try? How do we know their heart can’t choose another dessspite who the soul is supposed to be bonded to?”

  Gage bit back a growl and swallowed it down. He had to remain calm. He couldn’t act any differently or he would make Azure suspicious, and then he’d be out.

  “And though I had considered attempting just that, because I’ve got two malesss who are interested in her, I hadn’t even considered the new angle you jussst gave me.” Azure’s lips turned up, and his eyes took on a glow of delight. “I like the way you think. It would annoy the hell out of Nox to know I have a possible mate for one of hisss. The Alpha would pay anything to get her. To ressscue her. The hero that he isss.” The snake king rubbed his hands together as his excited smile grew even bigger. “The cherry on top isss that you’ll be the one to deliver the newsss. I think it’s time the Alpha knew that you play on any team that pays the right prisse.”

  Gage snorted. “You think Nox doesn’t already know that? The better question is, why do you think I actually care what he thinks? Come on, Snake King. I thought you were smarter than that.”

  Azure’s smile dropped, and he hissed. The King caught himself and took a step back. Gage knew leaders didn’t like to be seen losing control. It was unbecoming. Azure was no exception to that rule, even if he was an evil ass. “I want you to meet the female. You’re a Dire, so there’s no chance she’sss your mate. You can confirm for Nox that I am not bluffing. See the tattoo with your own eyesss. Take a damn picture of it if you want so he can see if he hasss a male that matches it. Then we can come to an amount that suits usss both.”

  Gage slowly nodded. “Sounds good.” He motioned toward the door. “Lead the way.” He didn’t tell the King that as soon as they were in the hall he wouldn’t need a guide. He’d be able to follow her scent until he stood directly in front of her.

  “I’ll text Otto to take you to her.” Azure pulled out his cell. “Zeena has a jealousss streak where this particular animus isss concerned, and I don’t want her ssscent anywhere on me.”

  That was interesting. “Why would your mate be jealous of a human animus?”

  “I asked her the exact same question.” Azure tapped on the screen of his phone. “Femalesss. They’re a mystery.”

  Gage wasn’t sure if he agreed. If you didn’t lie to your mate about what things you were doing, then she wouldn’t be jealous about something she didn’t need to be jealous about. But then, he wasn’t mated, so what did he know?

  A moment later, the door opened, and a nervous-looking Otto scuttled in, practically hopping from foot to foot.

  “She’s alives. I feed her and gives her the water. I have not bite her. She smiles and says stupid things,” the little lizard said in rapid succession.

  “Good grief. Is she his new pet?” Gage looked from Otto to Azure.

  Otto frowned at Gage. Despite the fact that Gage enjoyed giving the little guy a hard time, he actually liked him. Otto was a trip. Also, Azure treated Otto like crap, which meant Gage had to like him on principle.

  “As long as she hasn’t escaped, then I don’t have to torture you today, Otto,” Azure assured the little reptile.

  Otto squeaked as his eyes widened. His clawed hands practically shredded the bottom of his overlarge shirt as he stood there staring up at his master. He was clearly waiting for what he was supposed to do next but was too scared to ask what that was.

  “Take Gage to see the female.” Azure blew out a breath as if Otto should have known.

  Gage couldn’t wait til the day the Creator gave the all clear for him to take Azure out. Justice needed to be served against the cobra, and Gage wanted to be the arm of that justice.

  Otto fidgeted, “Is he to takes Kat aways?”

  “Kat?” Gage asked before he could stop himself. The animus she-wolf was named Kat? He’d always known Visata had a sense of humor.

  Azure rolled his eyes, which was really as creepy as it sounded when you considered they were reptilian. “You’ve known her all of a few hours, and you already have nick namesss?”

  “She says funny words and is not yelling,” Otto replied.

  “Give her a cookie at her next meal,” Azure said dryly.

  Otto’s small shoulders slumped forward even farther as he glanced at Gage. “Follows me, Master Gage.”

  “Oh, for him, it’s ‘Master,’” the Snake King said in a snide tone, though it was more of an afterthought because he was no longer paying either of them any attention. “Gage, if you would please stop back by my office after meeting the female so we can discuss her sale.”

  Gage didn’t say a word as he walked behind a dejected Otto, shutting the door behind him. “Your boss is an ass,” Gage said after they’d walked down several long, dark hallways in silence.

  Otto glanced around quickly, his large eyes bouncing like ping-pong balls. “Ears are all the places, Master Gage. You must be of cares.”

  “That’s the great thing about my life, Little Ot. I got zero F’s to give. That means I don’t care who I piss off,” Gage clarified, just in case the small reptile needed it.

  The aged floorboards creaked under Gage’s boots as he followed the skittish lizard down the long hallway. Cloying reptilian scents assaulted his sensitive nose, but he filtered through them with ease to find the one that had captivated him—honeysuckle and cinnamon.

  His inner wolf stirred restlessly, fixated on their destination … or rather on who awaited them there. Gage tightened his control, keeping the beast leashed. For now.

  Otto halted before an ornate wooden door. Gage noted the intricate rune carvings spelling out magical wards. Interesting. The Snake King was taking precautions to keep his new prize contained.

  With a light touch, Otto unlocked the door. Gage tilted his head, filing away this new information that the little lizard could manipulate the magical barriers. As the door swung open, a feminine voice met his ears.

  “You and I both know that with your stumpy, little reptilian legs, you can’t reach the damn knob.”

  Gage’s lips twitched. The she-wolf had spirit. He liked that.

  Her next words died as she spotted him filling the doorway. Unique, smoky-gray eyes widened. Gage’s chest rumbled with a barely audible growl. Gods, she was exquisite.

  Her delicate features were etched with intelligence. That wicked mouth that had been tossing witty barbs was now parted slightly in surprise. His gaze traced over her ivory skin, honing in on the wolf tattoo on her arm, the one identical to his own, marking her as his mate.

  Mine. The force of his wolf’s claim nearly staggered Gage. He reached out to grip the door frame tightly, too tightly. The trim on the frame cracked.

  The she-wolf’s gaze bounced from his white-knuckled grip to his face. “Did you just pulverize solid wood with your bare hands?”

  Gage forced a casual shrug, ignoring the way his heart thundered at her nearness. “It was old. Dry rot.”

  She cocked a brow, her gray eyes flashing silver. “Uh-huh. Sure it was.”

  Her skepticism made his wolf rumble happily. A worthy mate who wouldn’t cower or simper. One who could match him verbally blow for blow. Oh yes, she was made for him. NO. You can just knock that shit off right now, he told himself, while at the same time, his mind was trying to figure out how to whisk her away without Azure realizing he was the one who had taken her. Yep, he was screwed.

  When silence descended, her delicate shoulders tensed. She shifted under the heat of his gaze, her breath coming faster. Gage struggled not to reach for her, to envelope her in his scent. He wanted to mark her so that every Damarian that came near her would know she was taken. She belonged to him, the mate of a dire wolf.

  Finally, she blurted out, “So are you my new warden or something? Here to add another lock to my cage?”

  Her attempt at humor fell flat, constrained by the wariness in her eyes. Gage allowed a hint of a true smile. “Nothing so formal, Princess. I’m just passing through.”

  Eyes sparking fire, she snapped, “Don’t call me that. I don’t belong to anyone here.”

  Before he could stop himself, Gage rasped, “No? That mark on your arm tells a different story.” The tank top she wore left both arms bare and molded nicely to her feminine form—a little too nicely considering all the other males roaming around this mansion. That was his wolf on her arm, but no one would know it. The dire wolves never revealed their tattoos. They were marked in a private ceremony, and those marks were only made visible when Visata deemed them so. A Damarian only saw a dire wolf’s tattoo if they were about to die.

  Her hand flew to the tattoo defensively. Gage nearly vibrated with the need to replace it with his own hand, to touch her flesh and know how silky it felt. Then the urge to mark her in another way hit him like a two-ton truck. He wanted to sink his claiming bite into the tender flesh at her neck, sealing her to him forever. The unique bond of a dire wolf to his mate, one blessed by their Creator. Two souls become one.

  Sucking in a ragged breath, Gage turned abruptly to Otto. He needed to get away from her as badly as he needed to stay by her side. It was a toss-up which desire would win out. “I’ve seen what I need to. Take me back.”

  The little lizard gaped between them anxiously. “But Master Azure, he say you to meet her. And take a picture.”

  “Take a what?” Katy practically screeched, hurting his sensitive wolf hearing. “There will be no damn picture taking of any kind. I don’t care if you’re hotter than the hottest level of hell.”

  Gage ignored his female and skewered Otto with glacial eyes. “I don’t care what that snake ordered. I’m done here.”

  Being so close to his mate, the instinct to claim her riding him so hard, was a special kind of torture. It was a new kind of punishment that he’d have to figure out how to implement on his enemies should he ever need to get information out of them. Gage had a feeling it would be quite effective. He needed to put distance between them before he lost all semblance of control.

  From the corner of his eye, he noticed the she-wolf studying their exchange with interest. There was no fear, only sharp curiosity. Gods, he liked this female.

  “Otto,” Gage growled again, his voice so low it was nearly subvocal at this point. Then he dared to allow himself to look at Katy again. “Stay out of trouble, Little Wolf. The games have just begun.” Gage forced himself out the door, away from the female who set his blood aflame. For now, he cautioned his eager wolf. Soon, we will have her. There was no point in denying it. He could only delay it. But based on his reaction to her, nothing short of his Creator would keep Gage from making Katy his.

  Otto scrambled to keep up with Gage’s long strides. “King Azure be mad. He said take damn picture. I heards him.”

  Gage didn’t break his pace. His jaw clenched. “Remember when I told you I had zero F’s to give? This is one of those times.”

  “He will blame me,” Otto whined. “Say I did wrong.”

  Pausing, Gage speared the little lizard with icy eyes. “Cowardice does not become you, Otto. Grow a spine and stand up to that snake.” Just before Otto could scurry away, Gage stopped him. “You have a phone, correct?”

  The lizard pulled it out.

  “May I?” Gage remembered how Azure treated him and refused to be that kind of an ass. Though he knew he was an ass, he wouldn’t be one to Otto. “I’m giving you my number. I would like to have contact with your mistress. Will you allow that?”

  The lizard’s yellow eyes narrowed. “Why your purpose?”

  Gage squatted down and motioned for the lizard to come closer. “I want to help her, Otto. I am not really on Azure’s side. I work for Visata and only Visata.”

  Otto’s eyes widened, and his face scales started to change color, but Gage gave him a warning look and shook his head. The little reptile quickly got his emotions under control.

  “She is destined to be my mate,” Gage said so softly he knew only Otto would hear it. But even still, it felt good to say out loud, though there was still a part of him that knew he didn’t deserve her. “Can you protect her for me until I can take over?”

  “I do. I do.” He nodded eagerly, then frowned. “But she can be very, very…” He struggled to find the words to describe what he wanted, then he balled his little clawed fists. “I needs to bite her.”

  Gage chuckled. “That’s called headstrong.”

  Otto nodded. “She says no rescue.”

  For some reason, that didn’t surprise him. “I’ll be texting her. Will you keep it a secret for us?”

  “Yes, Master Gage.”

  “Good man. When I take her, if you still want her to be your mistress, you can come,” Gage told him.

  Otto’s mouth dropped open. “You share your mate.”

  Gage’s wolf growled. “To some small extent, Lizard. I would take you away from this ass if that is what you would like.”

  Otto looked around as if realizing for the first time they were talking about forbidden things in his king’s home. They probably should be a bit more careful.

  Turning his head, Gage let his beast’s senses take over completely. They were safe. Azure’s mate kept the king occupied at the moment.

  Gage started off toward Azure’s office again, feeling chipper about the idea of interrupting the snake’s fun. “Keep her safe, Ot. I’m depending on you, and I’ll get you out.” He left the stunned reptile behind. Gage had no desire to deal with the Snake King, but he’d have to keep up the charade a little longer if he didn’t want to blow his chances of rescuing his mate. The she-wolf’s scent still clung to his senses, making his body ache with need. I will come for her, he silently vowed. And Visata help anyone who tried to keep him from claiming what was his.

  Chapter 9

  You Suck Everything

  “Have you ever wanted something so much that you actually considered just taking it? Even though you know that it’s wrong to steal? And yes, I’m well aware that it’s even worse to steal a person, considering I myself have been stolen. I didn’t ask for your judgment.” ~Katy

  Katy didn’t have to wait long after Otto’s hasty exit before the lizard returned, bearing a tray of food. He seemed to like to feed her. In the few hours she’d been here, he’d brought her food three times. He kept darting nervous looks at her as he settled cross-legged on the plush rug.

  “You know,” Katy remarked casually, joining him on the floor, “you still never answered my question earlier about how you’re able to open that door.” Katy hoped she could start with the door, which had been the most interesting question on her mind, before him, and then work her way up to the important topic. She liked her new lizard sidekick, but she couldn’t exactly tell him what she was really feeling about that … that … person that had just darkened her prison door and then bolted off before she could find out who or what he was, and why she felt like her world had just turned completely upside down, as if being kidnapped by shape-shifting supernatural men hadn’t turned it upside down already. Where the hell were Lola and Maddie when she needed them?