“Good grief, Charlie Brown,” she muttered. “My life has gotten weird.” The phone in her pocket vibrated, causing her to jump. “Dammit.” Katy huffed and pulled it out.

  Gage: This is going to take longer than planned. Is she behaving?

  That was the text from earlier that she’d forced herself to ignore. Butthead.

  Gage: Otto, are you keeping your promise? Is she safe?

  Katy sat up in the chair as her heart sped up. He made Otto promise to keep her safe. “Aww, that’s sweet.”

  The phone vibrated as she stared at the screen, and another text came through.

  Gage: If something has happened to my mate, Otto, I will burn Azure’s kingdom to the ground. I need you to respond. Now.

  Mate? Who the hell was his mate, and why did Katy feel the need to claw the woman’s eyes out? And why was he texting in English? Was he really so sure that Otto would have control of the phone during the day? Katy thought for a minute, then tapped out a response. She stared at the words for a second, but before she could think about them too much and erase them, she hit send.

  Otto’s phone: She not behave. She dance at Azure club. I bite her.

  Immediately, little dots appeared.

  Gage: DO NOT BITE HER. You can bite anyone who attempted to dance with her. Get her out of the club. Lock her in the room until I get back. I don’t care what reason you have to make up. I want the name of every Damarian who put their hands on my female so I can take their hands as payment for touching what doesn’t belong to them.

  Katy read the words several times, her eyes growing wider and her breath quickening with each reread. “Son of a biscuit maker.” She breathed out. “I’m his mate. I am his mate.” Then she sat up straighter. “That means he’s my mate. Oh, snap.” She nearly dropped the phone when it vibrated again.

  Gage: Otto.

  How could one little text have dropped a mountain on her?

  Otto’s phone: I gets her. She safe.

  There was no reason to make him worry. Not until he was standing in front of her and she could give him the earful he deserved. He knew. He knew when he met her that she was his mate. That’s why he’d crushed the damn door. And then he’d left her there. Slow your roll, Kat. There has to be a good reason. After all, he’d just threatened to de-hand every guy who’d touched her. Leaving couldn’t have been easy for him if that was the kind of thing he was contemplating. I can’t jump to conclusions and act all… “Act all what?” she asked the empty room. “We’re not anything.” Hell, they didn’t even know one another. Just because they had a supernatural bond didn’t mean he was responsible for her, or vice versa. “But it kind of feels like it,” she argued with herself. “Okay, just breathe. You’re the mate of a dire wolf. No biggie. You got this. Totally.” She looked back at the door. “Where the heck is my lizard spirit guide when I need him?”

  Otto hurried down the corridors, his footsteps quiet. He slowed as he neared the corner leading to one of the smaller kitchens. He poked his head around to make sure that no one lurked, and when he saw the path was clear, he continued forward. Every door frame he passed felt like a possible trap, hiding someone waiting to jump out and yell, ”Boo!” at him. Or worse, to tell him they knew what he’d talked to Katy about. Otto pressed deeper into the shadows of the walls as he considered the consequences if Azure were to find out the things Otto had said about his king. He’d be killed. His life forfeit because Azure would consider him a traitor.

  It didn’t matter that Otto spoke the truth. The truth didn’t matter. What was truth if one person claimed to have their own kind of truth, and another claimed to have their own kind? He shook his head, his mind scrambled by the fear the thoughts evoked. Then he passed a dark doorway, and his feet froze as sure as if they’d been encased in concrete. He heard Azure’s voice filter through the door.

  “Unfortunately, I think the she-wolf is of no use.” Azure’s voice was full of the annoyance Otto was all too familiar with.

  “Are you positive?” It was a female voice Otto didn’t recognize. “How do you know she’s not powerful?”

  “Our own Shaman didn’t even sense the magic in her. Why would Visata mate her with someone powerful if her magic is weak?” The word was said with so much disdain that Otto nearly felt it like a physical slap.

  “You are not a god, King Azure,” the woman said boldly. “To claim to understand the ways of a god is quite careless.”

  Azure laughed. “A voodoo priestess is going to advise me on how to show respect to gods when you don’t even believe in them yourself?”

  “I never claimed I did not believe. I very much believe. Because I’ve seen the devil himself. If he exists, logic dictates his opposite must exist as well. And I have to hope that God is a much more powerful being than that evil. But my beliefs are not at issue, snake. Get back to the animi and the human females.”

  Otto’s eyes widened, and he glanced around to see if there was anyone coming. It would not be unusual for him to be found simply standing in the hallway. He could claim to be waiting on the king, doing as he was told. But he was going to need to move a little. Otto couldn’t stand frozen in the middle of the doorway as if he was eavesdropping. He managed to unglue his feet from the floor and ease his way to the wall just beside the door, taking up a sort of sentry position. Surely, this looked more natural. Although, if he appeared as scared on the outside as he felt on the inside, then he wouldn’t fool anyone.

  His heart pounded as he strained to listen to Azure and the mysterious woman. Hopefully, he would learn something and be able to give Gage the information he’d requested.

  “The human females that are weak are disposable,” Azure said dismissively. “They are merely fodder to fuel the spells for those strong enough to take on the magic. Once their life force is drained, they will be of no more use. The magic will imbue with the survivors. Those we can use. But it’s the animi that are even more important. Or so I’m beginning to believe.”

  Otto gasped, quickly slapping a hand over his mouth. Fodder? Drained of life force? What were they talking about?

  The woman hummed. “Do you mean to say animi aren’t all the same in power?”

  “I never would have thought so,” Azure explained. “But now, with this new decree… Why would Visata match certain females with certain males? There has to be a purpose.”

  “Whatever the purpose, I fear your efforts will be futile.”

  Azure hissed. “Your fears are not my concern. I’m surrounded by those who live in fear. No one can see the opportunity in front of us. If we can use the animi we already have to create new ones in a matter of hours, then we will fashion our own mates. No more relying on fate, randomly assigned markings, or time.”

  Cold dread trickled down Otto’s spine. They were going to sacrifice innocent humans to work some dark magic? And Katy… She was in terrible danger here if Azure found out that she was the mate of the last dire wolf in existence. “No, no, no,” he muttered under his breath.

  He nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand clamped down on his shoulder from behind. Otto whirled, heart in his throat, to find Slick looming over him.

  The serpent shifter put a finger to his lips, then jerked his head down the hall. Otto quickly followed, nerves rattled. Had Slick heard? Would he tell the king? It was often hard for Otto to read the other members of the Kingdom of Venom. They all feared Azure. But fear didn’t always equal loyalty. And the snakes were notoriously power-hungry. They would betray anyone if they thought it would increase their own position.

  Once they were a safe distance away, Slick spoke low. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Otto.”

  Otto stood wide-eyed, his gaze bouncing around the hall anxiously. “I say not. Buts bads is happening. You believe me. I love my people. I have served Visata.” His heart pounded painfully in his chest as he stared up at the snake beastwalker.

  Slick studied him a moment before nodding. “You overheard something you shouldn’t have. Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. I don’t always agree with how Azure operates.” He leaned down, his expression intense. “But be careful, Otto. Curiosity kills far more than just cats around here.”

  “What you do?”

  “Nothing.” Slick shrugged. “Keep my nose down and mind my business. That’s how you stay alive in KOV. You know that.”

  With that ominous warning, Slick slithered off down the corridor. Otto sagged back against the wall, heart still racing. When the dire wolf had told him to figure out why Azure wanted the newly marked animi, he hadn’t mentioned that Azure had a harem of human women on standby for those animi. Otto wouldn’t have guessed in a million years that Azure was using them to fuel some sort of dark magic. This was worse than he could have imagined. He had to warn Katy and Gage, but doing so put them all at tremendous risk. What was he to do?

  Otto sank down to the floor, burying his scaly face in his hands. He wished he could speak with Visata directly. Surely the Creator would guide him if he asked.

  Taking a deep, steadying breath, Otto bowed his head. “Please Visata, hear me. Tell me what I do,” he whispered desperately as he slipped into the language of his people. “Show me how to help my friends without putting them, or others, in more danger. If I do this, I will be betraying my king.” The words hurt because he took betrayal seriously. But what Azure was doing was also a form of betrayal. He was the leader of their kingdom. He had been placed in a position of power by their Creator, and yet, instead of protecting them, he’d abused his power and manipulated their trust. Taking human women against their will, telling his subjects that they wanted to be chosen as mates for KOV males… Azure had lied to them all.

  The silence stretched on. Gradually, though, a feeling of calm settled over Otto’s spirit.

  “Otto.” A deep voice filled his mind. “The brave soldier with a tender heart.”

  “Visata,” Otto said reverently, his head still bowed and his eyes closed. The world around him seemed to slip away.

  “You have called out to me, and I have answered,” the Creator said. “You can trust the dire wolf, Gage. He is my warrior. Tell Katy of the Serpent King’s plans. Be brave. I am with you.”

  “Bad things happen,” Otto whispered.

  “I will never leave you nor forsake you in the midst of those bad things. In the dark, I am the light making your path known. In the cold, I am the fire providing your warmth. I am the arrow that strikes your enemy down. I am your shelter from the storm. I am Visata, your Creator, Otto. I will not let your foot slip from the path I have set you on. Go. Now.”

  Urgency rose in Otto’s chest. His eyes opened, and he jumped to his feet. He turned right and ran. As he rounded the corner, he heard the door open, and Azure’s voice became clearer. The King had just exited the room. Almost gots me. Otto raced away.

  He hurried through the mansion’s winding corridors, moving with purpose. The Creator’s command burned like a beacon within him, fueling his need to warn Katy and get her safe. He trusted Visata, and knew that the dire wolf had been true to his word. The wolf was a warrior for their Creator. He would know what to do once Otto told him what Azure was up to.

  Skittering around a corner, Otto nearly plowed into a pair of legs. He looked up to find Myron looming over him, his serpentine eyes narrowed.

  “Where are you off to in such a hurry, Ot?”

  Thinking fast, Otto stammered, “J-just fetching treats for the wolf mistress. King Azure wishes her kept content.”

  Myron stared him down a moment longer before stepping aside. “See that you do. We don’t need her causing trouble.”

  Otto dipped his chin submissively and scurried on. He breathed a soft prayer of thanks to Visata. Myron had never been one to bother Otto. He was typically a very laid-back member of Azure’s warriors. But at the moment, the small lizard felt like he had a huge flashing arrow over his head with the words “I know what’s going on!” flashing in neon lights, dogging him with every step.

  He was close now.

  Reaching the media room door, Otto practically jumped up the wall to the knob. He turned it, jerking the door open as hard as his little arm could, and leaped inside. When it clicked, he released an enormous sigh and fell to the floor.

  Katy was sprawled across a couple of seats. Instead of looking up at his arrival, she was glaring rather angrily at his cell phone. His eyes widened as he realized Gage had probably sent him a text, and Otto hadn’t answered. Had Katy responded? “Oh dears,” Otto muttered as he considered the many ways that texting conversation might have gone.

  Suddenly, she glanced up in surprise. Her eyes widened, and the look of irritation instantly dropped away. “There you are! What’s wrong?” Her brows pinched in concern as she took in his anxious state.

  Otto pushed away from the door and scrambled over to her, wringing his clawed hands together. “We go back to your room.”

  “Otto.” Her voice grew stern. “What. Happened?”

  “I tells you, but not heres.” Otto motioned around them.

  She held up the phone and wiggled it back and forth. “We’re going to talk about this, too.” Her eyebrows bounced up and down.

  “Your face broke again.”

  “Whatever, Robin,” she grumbled. “Let’s go to the Batcave and figure out why you’re sending out the Bat Signal loud and clear with your big lizard eyes.”

  “You are Bat Signal Lizard Eyes.” Otto snatched the phone that she’d set down beside her and headed for the door.

  Katy laughed. He liked it when she laughed.

  “It’s not an insult just to repeat my own insult back to me, Bug Breath.”

  Otto shrugged. “Cares not. Come now.”

  “Okay, okay, let’s go.”

  As soon as they got back to Katy’s room, Otto scurried to the spot on the rug he’d claimed as his bed. He kept his back to her as he quickly sent Gage a text. He had a feeling his strong-willed mistress would not go without a fight. When he considered that, he added several exclamation points before he hit send. Then he deleted the text. When he turned to face the female in question, she was seated on the floor with her back against the door.

  “Ready to have that chat?”

  Otto held up his phone. “You tolds Master Gage I bites you.”

  She lifted her nose in the air. “Well, you didn’t tell me I was his mate.”

  “He’s going to bites me.” Otto huffed.

  “If you bite him back, will it kill him?”

  Otto shook his head. Then he narrowed his eyes and seemed to pause to consider it. Then shook his head again.

  She gave a small shrug. “Then a little nip won’t be a big deal.”

  Otto looked up at her. “You don’t cares if I bite your mate?”

  “He’s not really mine.” Katy glanced down at the carpet, her fingers fiddling in her lap. “That’s not how it works for humans. We have to get to know one another before we get attached and start making claims on people.”

  “Vreene has known Gage longs time. You okay if she makes claims on him?”

  “That would suck.” Katy sighed. “Because I really think I could like Vreene, and if she made a claim on Gage, I’d have to claw her face off and feed her flesh to the hungry cats in the alley. After that, I don’t think she’d want to be my friend anymore.” Katy sucked in a breath, and her eyes went wide. “I’m possessed. What is wrong with me? Why would I say that? Otto, don’t let me do that.”

  “Gage is your mate,” Otto told her simply. “If someone else attempts to takes him, you wills kills them. I woulds do the same if I hads a mate. We protects our mate. They precious.”

  “Just don’t start petting me as you say that.” Katy leaned her head back against the door. “Okay.” She made a motion with her hand. “Now tell me what made you look like a freaked-out squirrel on crack when you came back to the movie room.”

  Otto blinked. “This not my beastwalker form? And even in my beast form, I smalls, and I not very beasty, but I not looks like furry, fat cheeks.”

  They stared at each other for several seconds before Katy finally shook her head. “Beasty? Okay, I can’t even crack that one open right now. We’ll return to ‘not very beasty.’”

  “I still bite.” Otto bared his teeth at her. He was a little touchy about his beastwalker form. But that wasn’t what was important. Focus, he reminded himself. “You mate of dire wolf. Only dire wolf. If Azure knows, he uses you to make more animi. Fake animi. Could kill you. Could kill other females. So many deaths.” He threw his hands up and walked in a circle. “He use voodoo magic to make false mates. Goes against Visata. So bad. So many deaths. If Shaman finds out, Azure will be punished. He might kill the human females he has out of spite. So many⁠—”

  “Deaths,” Katy interrupted. “I think I’ve got that part down. Let’s go back to the part where you said he could use me to make fake animi.”

  Chapter 13

  Did You Just Compare My Best Friend To A Cow?

  “I haven’t decided if a mate is a blessing from Visata or payment for my transgressions.” ~Gage.

  Gage stared at the screen. The faces of Taras and his mate, Lyra, could be seen, along with a few others from the Kingdom of Claws that he recognized. The royal family’s son, Callon, as well as their Shaman, Roan, were also present. Then there were some people that Gage didn’t recognize. One, he’d deduced simply by her proximity to Callon—she had to be Lola, his new mate. She had unusual skin with two-tone markings that were lovely. There was another young woman he didn’t know, and since the call was muted and hadn’t yet started, he couldn’t eavesdrop to figure it out. Whoever she was, the female was human, and Roan was especially interested in her.