Katy gestured at the ornate wooden door across the room. “I mean, the doorknob is way higher than you can reach. What’s your secret, Ot?”

  Otto fidgeted with the hem of his oversized shirt, avoiding her gaze. “Is not secrets, only tricks,” he mumbled evasively.

  Katy bit back a grin at his transparency. “Uh-huh. Just harmless magic tricks, then?” When he simply shoved a plate of food at her, she pressed on. “You’re not the only one here with ‘tricks,’ are you?”

  At this, Otto went utterly still, slitted eyes snapping to hers warily. “You things ask, cannot answered.”

  “Cannot or should not?” she challenged. Otto’s nervous fidgeting returned, but he didn’t respond.

  With a sigh, Katy switched tactics. “What about our new friend, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Surly? Does he have his own bag of tricks?”

  Otto scowled. “You speaks of The Dire. He is…” The lizard’s large eyes looked to the ceiling, and he tilted his head. “Not friend to snakes.” He sounded proud of this fact.

  Katy perked up at this statement. “So he’s not one of Azure’s lackeys then? Or friends with any of you?” She leaned forward eagerly. “Is he a prisoner here, too?” That actually seemed absurd. The dude had a look about him that screamed he would not, could not, be contained. “Bad Ass” was probably tattooed on his back.

  Otto shook his head, a deep frown creasing the leathery skin around his mouth. His yellow eyes were sad and confused as he scratched his head. “No prisoner. He serves useful, but himself.” The voice was heavy with unspoken understanding, but there was still a moment of confusion in the lizard’s gaze.

  “A mercenary then.” Katy’s lips curved in a smile that was all teeth. Finally, a beast who didn’t bow to the Snake King. And, if her instincts were right, one she might be able to leverage as an ally. And he was eye candy, too. That was a bonus. Like an extra onion ring in your bag when you ordered tater tots.

  Popping a grape in her mouth, she mused, “You know, I never got his name…”

  Otto shifted uncomfortably. “I not say⁠—”

  “Oh, come on,” she cajoled, nudging him gently with a shoulder. “I can keep a secret. Scout’s honor.” She held up three fingers in the Scout salute. She’d never been a scout of any kind, but she was a good secret keeper. Except for that time she told Jackson Taylor that Lola had a crush on him. Or the time she told Jason Garrison that Maddie had a crush on him. Okay, maybe not when her friend’s crushes are concerned. But all other times, she was a good secret keeper.

  The lizard tilted his head curiously, then sighed. “I bite you.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” She waved. “I know. You got sharp teeth. I’m shaking in my kicks over here. Give it up, Ot. What’s his name?

  “Gage.”

  Katy blinked. “His name is Gage?” At Otto’s hesitant nod, she grinned. “Lola is going to be stoked! He’s got a book boyfriend name. Not to mention the whole book boyfriend vibe going on. And I mean he has got it seriously going on. You get me?” She leaned over, raising her eyebrows up and down suggestively.

  Otto stared at her blankly. “Your face is broken.”

  Katy laughed. At least if she had to be a prisoner, she got a cool as hell sidekick with ridiculous diction. Could be way worse, that was for sure. “Okay, so, we’re stuck together, Otto. We might as well make the best of it. Let’s play twenty questions.”

  “Twenty questions?”

  She nodded. “And you can’t lie,” she warned, pointing a finger at him.

  He lunged forward, snapping his sharp little teeth at her hand. She yanked it back just before they could sink into her skin. “And no biting!”

  “Dumb game,” he grumbled as he settled back into a seated position. “I first.”

  She shrugged and nodded to him. “Ask away.”

  “I saw the tattoo,” Gage said as he walked into Azure’s office without bothering to knock.

  Azure’s mate, Zeena, whipped her head around from where she’d been locked in a passionate kiss with him and hissed. She was a lovely female. If you didn’t mind the idea of being strangled in your sleep.

  “Zeena. Always a pleasure.”

  “Dire.” She sneered and turned away from him. Gage didn’t miss the way she put a protective hand on her abdomen as she left the room through another door without so much as a backward glance at her mate.

  “I’ll call Nox. What’s your price?”

  Azure shook his head. “No. Gage, I need you to go to Montana.”

  Gage’s wolf stiffened. “Why?”

  “Link called and informed there are animi that have been marked for our kingdom that have agreed to come here.” He slipped his hands into his pockets and leaned back on the heels of his black, no doubt expensive, dress shoes. “You can travel with Link to Montana. Once Link has left with the KOV animi, you can inform Nox about the girl and tell him to make me an offer. And don’t forget to let him know it better be good.”

  “I can do that from here,” Gage pointed out.

  “Yes, but I rather like the idea of you being in Nox’s presence when you share with him your dealings with me. Despite what you claim, I still think it’s gonna sting a bit for the Alpha. Besides, as much as I like having the Dire hanging around my kingdom, there’s no reason for you not to return to Montana, is there?” His brow rose as he looked at Gage expectantly.

  His wolf sniffed the air, and he picked up on the smell of curiosity. Yes, even that emotion had a smell. Interesting. Even though the snake king believes I can’t possibly be blessed with a mate by Visata, he isn’t totally sure. He’s testing me.

  “No. But as you know, I despise flying, and it seems like a waste of time when we have these new technological advancements, like video chat. But if you’re plannin’ on paying up with those dollar signs you mentioned earlier, I suppose I can suffer for a bit.”

  Azure held Gage’s stare for several seconds before he finally nodded. “Fair enough. I will compensate you well for your trouble.”

  Gage’s beast was raging at the idea of leaving the building where his female was imprisoned, let alone the entire damn state. But he couldn’t let Azure know that Katy was his mate, not when he didn’t understand all of Azure’s plans. Azure must have some reason for being so interested in the males to whom these animi were destined, as well as their power rankings. Gage was a dire wolf, and that was a whole different level of power. Because of that, Azure absolutely could not know Katy belonged to him.

  “Link is waiting for you in the foyer.” Azure’s words interrupting Gage’s thoughts. “I’ll be expecting to hear from Nox in the next couple of days.”

  Katy would be trapped in Azure’s home for a couple of days, and Gage didn’t know exactly what the Snake King was up to. These two days were going to feel like an eternity. Gage had specifically told the damn reptile not to trust him. He couldn’t now suddenly develop a curiosity about Azure’s plans without raising some serious alarm bells of suspicion.

  Gage turned on his heel and headed for the door. As he strode down the long, dim corridors with their old, elegant carpet and shimmering candelabras adorning the walls, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Otto.

  Gage: I have to leave town for a couple of days. Keep her safe. If you are able, find out why Azure wants animi females that are mated, or going to be mated, to powerful Damarians.

  He waited and three dots appeared as the lizard responded. How did a lizard text? Gage didn’t have the slightest idea.

  Otto: I do as Master says.

  Gage: Good. Thank you, Otto. Delete these texts.

  He took his own advice, erasing the texts before slipping the phone back into his pocket as he entered the foyer and saw Link.

  “Good to see you, Gage.”

  “Don’t lie.” Gage kept walking right past the Shaman to the door and out into the midday sun. “I got things to do. Pack plane is waiting.”

  “Convenient,” Link called from behind him.

  Gage didn’t respond. He just slipped into the driver's side of the rented SUV and waited long enough for Link to climb in before peeling away from the curb and away from the female who had the potential to ruin his life if something happened to her. Not to mention the potential to ruin many others. Because if something did happen to Katy, Gage would bring the Kingdom of Venom to the ground. The streets of New Orleans would run red, and he would bathe in the blood of his prey.

  “I didn’t know you smiled.” Link’s voice sounded a little shaky. “Maybe … maybe you shouldn’t.”

  Gage just chuckled and let his wolf’s imagination run wild on all the things he’d let his beast do if any harm came to Katy… Katy… Damn, he didn’t know her last name. How had he not gotten her last name?

  He kept one hand on the steering wheel and pulled his phone out with the other.

  Gage: What’s Katy’s last name?

  Dots appeared, then disappeared. Then appeared again and then disappeared. What the hell? Finally, they appeared again.

  Otto: You first.

  He couldn’t help it. Gage’s lips turned up, and heat unfurled inside of him. The vixen had gotten the phone from Otto. That could be a problem. But his wolf approved of her dominant nature. It would make for a very fun bedmate.

  Gage: Surnames were not given to my breed of Damarians.

  Otto’s phone: That’s sad for you. You should call someone and complain.

  Gage: I’ll get right on that.

  He glanced up to the road and back to the phone. Back and forth, making sure not to kill them or someone else. Thankfully, he had quick reflexes and extremely good eyesight. Texting and driving wasn’t exactly a challenge for him.

  Gage: And your last name?

  He really didn’t like repeating himself.

  Otto’s phone: Dire. Katy Dire.

  Gage stared at the words, his brain reading them over and over.

  “Gage,” Link said. Then louder. “Gage, whoa!” The other man grabbed the steering wheel and pushed it.

  Gage jerked his head up and realized that he’d allowed them to veer to the right, nearly hitting a sidewalk. “Sorry,” Gage muttered as he glanced once more at the phone. He saw she’d sent another text.

  Otto’s phone: And yes, I realize that doesn’t mean I’m a dire wolf. Otto said you’re the last of your kind. Way to go, you. Sticking it out and not being a quitter.

  Gage dropped the phone in his lap and focused on the road. He just needed to get them to the airport. One thing at a time. For now, he had to trust Otto would keep her safe.

  “Can I ask you a question and actually get a straight answer?” Gage glanced at Link. The Shaman sat in the passenger seat, looking a little less stressed now that Gage wasn’t attempting to text and drive.

  “I’ll do my best,” Link answered matter-of-factly.

  “How do you stomach working for Azure?” Gage kept his eyes on the road, though he felt Link’s gaze turn sharply to him. The Shaman was silent for so long that Gage wondered if he would answer.

  “I serve the Kingdom of Venom on behalf of Visata, not any one king,” Link finally said.

  Gage’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Even when the leader of the kingdom you serve is rotten to the core? Azure deals in darkness. You can’t possibly believe he gives a damn about all those so-called animi he’s bringing in—having you bring in. You can’t tell me you’re blind to it. And if you try to, you’re a liar.”

  He sensed Link’s internal struggle as though his conscience was at war with itself.

  “I do not know all that Azure is doing. But I do know there is some shady dealing. Ultimately, my duty is to serve the greater good of our people.” Link’s voice held little conviction. It sounded as if he were simply reciting something he’d been forced to memorize.

  Gage’s wolf snarled inside at the Shaman’s evasion. “Even if the road to that so-called greater good is paved with innocent bones?”

  Link flinched. “I walk a difficult line, Gage. But change rarely happens from the outside. It must come from within.”

  “And how long will you wait for this change?” Gage demanded. “How much evil will be tolerated in the meantime?”

  Link held his gaze briefly before looking back at the road. “I do what I can to curb the worst of it. I’ve gotten females out and refrained from bringing in others I’ve found. Azure doesn’t even know. I’ve had to play the part of the blind Shaman, pretending to know nothing in order to hopefully gain his trust. I must do this to gain the information I need for the council to make a final move against the Kingdom of Venom. Whether you believe me or not, I care about those Damarians in the KOV that deserve to have a better leader. You speak of things you cannot fully understand.” When Gage glanced at the male again, he saw that his shoulders slumped wearily.

  Gage read the truth of the Shaman’s words in his eyes. He saw deep regret and frustration. Was Link as much a prisoner of this situation as others under Azure’s rule?

  Gage’s tone softened. “Forgive my doubts, friend. But there must be change, and soon, before irreparable damage is done.” He allowed himself to keep glancing from the road to his passenger, body language was more truthful than words every day of the week.

  Link nodded, a spark of renewed resolve in his eyes. “The wheels are in motion. Visata has not been blind to what the snake king is doing. A reckoning is coming for Azure.” Link’s mouth flattened in a hard line. “And I will do all in my power to see justice done.”

  Gage heard the finality in his voice. Azure’s days were numbered, one way or another. Gage would make sure of it, and it sounded like Link was on board. Come hell or highwater, they were going to bring Azure to his slithering belly and cut off his head. Any that foolishly followed him would receive the same fate.

  Katy stared at the phone, waiting to see if any dots would appear, but there was nothing. Apparently, he wasn’t going to respond. That bothered her way more than it should. And for that reason, she tossed the phone onto the rug between her and Otto and flipped around so she could lie on her stomach. Katy propped herself up on her elbows and rested her chin in her hands. “So, how old are you?” Were there more important questions for the lizard? Yes. But she’d watched interrogations. She needed to build trust. Not to mention, she wanted Otto to trust her. She liked him, and when she escaped Azure’s mansion, she planned to take Ot with her. For now, they’d start with the small stuff. Then they could work their way up to these questions are totally going to fall into the category of betraying your king and could get you tortured and killed variety.

  “Old.” He sat beside her on the floor, his little legs stretched out in a wide V and his baggy jeans pooling around him.

  “That’s not really an answer. It’s a non-answer.” Katy sighed. “Non-answers suck.”

  “You suck everything.”

  Katy’s eyes widened. “Back that train on up, Buddy. Because I think you meant to say everything sucks.”

  “That.” Otto pointed at her.

  “Where did you learn to talk?”

  He scrunched up his face. “Many places.”

  Katy rolled onto her back and rested her hands on her stomach. “Okay, start from the beginning.”

  “Beginning?”

  She nodded. “Before you came here. Back in your world. Go.”

  The phone vibrated, but Katy ignored it. Again. Otto was still talking. Hours had passed. How many? She had no clue, because, again, Katy hadn’t bothered to pick up the vibrating phone. She was sucked into the weird tale the lizard had been spinning as he started his story in Damaria.

  Katy sat up and then scooted back against the couch where she sat on the floor watching Otto thoughtfully. “So what exactly started all the fighting between the kingdoms in Damaria? You said it was over territory and power, but there had to be more to it than that.”

  Otto shrugged his small shoulders, picking at a loose thread on his oversized shirt. “Resources important. Water, food, medicine plants. Some have more than others.”

  “Oh, so it was about natural resources?” When Otto nodded, she pressed on eagerly, her detective mode kicking into gear. “What resources did they fight over? Like which kingdom had the most water and stuff?”

  The little lizard brightened, and she could tell he was happy to share his knowledge. Katy got the feeling that people rarely stopped to listen to Otto. “Kingdom of Tides. It by big lake, richest for fresh water. Fangs controlled mountains with healing flowers. Kingdom of Silver was land of fruit trees. My kingdom, Venom, had mines. Metals for tools and weapons. Kingdom of Silk made finest garments and blankets. They not really needing land. Resources come from inside.” Otto pointed to his little stomach. “Kingdom of Hooves also weapons, but most bows, and also very strong ropes—use their own hair.”

  “Wow. What about the Kingdom of Claws?”

  “They hunters. You get the finest meats from them,” Otto answered.

  She tapped her chin. “That’s only seven kingdoms. What about the other three?”

  Otto’s big eyes blinked. “Kingdom of Fur dealt wood for building. They trade their claws, because they shed them, grow new ones, others makes weapons from them. And they known for foraging skills. They find any plant you possibly need.”