“Except Gage,” Bane insisted again. “The honor belongs to him.”

  “Don’t call me Cat Boy.” Roan’s words held a hiss, which Nico thought sounded very cat-like indeed. He felt the jet begin to descend. “We’re here. Let’s just focus on finding him first.”

  Nico gazed out the window as they flew low over a sprawling vineyard. Rows of grapes stretched out in endless undulating lines. So the Silkies fancy themselves vintners as well as cloth peddlers now? He huffed under his breath. Once they had Azure’s location, the Council could handle the politics. Nico was here for the hunt and the kill. Justice would be served; he’d see to it one way or another. The snake king had hurt Nico’s people for the last time. And if the law refused to act, well, the Kingdom of Chaos had their own kind of justice.

  The jet rolled to a stop on the vineyard’s small private runway. As they disembarked something sinister in the air clung to Nico like oil coating his skin. He gave a little shake, attempting to abate the feeling. Eventually, it dissipated. He looked up and saw a tall woman with dark hair pinned elegantly atop her head. She approached, flanked by two guards. Her dusky skin seemed to glow from within, and her amber eyes were sharply intelligent.

  “Prince Callon, Bane, Shamans Nico and Roan,” she greeted them formally. “Glad to see you’ve arrived safe and sound. Welcome to our kingdom.”

  Nico inclined his head. “Lyric, should I remind you that this isn’t your kingdom? We are, of course, beholden to the Council first and owe loyalty to them before our respective assignments.”

  The shaman heard a scoff next to him and looked over to see Roan cutting his eyes at Nico. “You are one to talk, Shaman. I don’t think I know of a shaman more devoted to his kingdom.”

  “Chaos suits me.” Nico shrugged. “It’s just a happy coincidence that I was assigned to the best kingdom.” He turned his attention back to Lyric and eyed the woman. He was impressed with the power that shimmered around her slender form. Nico had always admired the strength she exhibited in their meetings, never caving to something she didn’t agree with. Lyric was bold and outspoken. Here was someone who might actually prove helpful in the hunt, or be a potential hindrance if she wasn’t on Team Take Azure Out Now.

  A knowing look entered Lyric’s exotic eyes, no doubt understanding at least a little of what he thought. They’d known each other a very long time.

  Nico grinned. “Let’s skip the pleasantries and petty posturing among kingdoms, shall we? We have a snake to catch.”

  Her face didn’t change as he said the words, not even a twitch of her cheek. She had no “tell.” Nico’s grin widened. “Oh, yes, this could prove very interesting indeed,” he said, more to himself than anyone around him.

  “Nico,” Roan snapped. “Can you not act like a weird psychopath for once?”

  Nico raised his eyebrows, pulled one of his smaller blades from the thigh sheath, and began spinning it. “I’m just trying to make the best out of an unpleasant situation.”

  Roan scowled. “Well, stop.”

  Nico could tell Lyric was studying him, and her earlier amusement had faded. “You seem quite eager to spill blood, Nico.”

  Nico chuckled. “Blood, guts, innards of any kind. I’m not picky, as long as those that deserve death get their opportunity to fall on my blade. The Kingdom of Chaos always collected on its debts, and the snake king's tab is long overdue.” Nico sheathed the small knife, humoring Roan’s request.

  “But a true hunter knows patience.” Lyric turned, gesturing for them to follow. “Come, we have much to discuss.”

  Nico ignored her words as he fell into step beside Callon and Roan, with Bane pulling up the rear. Lyric led them from the airfield toward a sprawling villa covered in flowering vines. The grounds were immaculately kept, fountains and benches artfully placed along wandering garden paths. It was breathtaking, and a tad ostentatious.

  “Many view the KOS as hedonists obsessed with beauty and pleasure.” Nico wondered what Lyric saw on his face that made it necessary to bring up the subject. Was he that readable? “They forget that silk must be spun and vines pruned to thrive.” Her eyes flashed knowingly. “Appearances deceive, especially here in the Kingdom of Silk. The spiders must be subtle to survive.”

  When Nico looked closer, he realized there were hundreds of spider webs all wrapped around the vines. And within those webs were a multitude of captured insects.

  “The Kingdom of Silk has no problems with insects damaging their crops. It’s one reason they’re among the most profitable vineyards in the US. You’ll find that King Aurelius and Queen Athena prefer to stay out of the drama of the other kingdoms. They like to focus on their own people, thriving without having to fight any others. I, of course, support their stance.” Lyric shook her head. “Getting mixed up in undignified business, such as that undertaken by Azure… Well, that’s not KOS’s style.”

  “Undignified is putting it nicely,” Roan told her.

  Nico appreciated the disgust in Lyric’s voice as she spoke about the serpent king. Perhaps she hadn’t drunk the Azure Kool Aid. Though he wouldn’t be so quick to cross off the Kingdom of Silk royals. Maybe some didn’t remember the time before they left Damaria, but Nico did. He remembered the alliance between KOV and KOS. He wasn’t fool enough to think there wasn’t still a remnant of cooperation between the two species, even if five hundred years had passed. Call it paranoia, or just the gift of an accurate gut, but Nico would bet his blades on it, and he loved his blades. There’s something spinning in this kingdom, and it’s not just the silk. Okay, now he was thinking up ridiculous metaphors. This acting sane thing that Roan wanted Nico to do was going to be harder than he thought.

  Once inside, Lyric showed them to a solarium decorated in bright silks and plush cushions. A table laden with refreshments awaited. She pointed at the empty chairs and couches, motioning for them to make themselves comfortable. “Please.”

  After they’d seated themselves amidst the pillows, she poured tea, the fragrant steam curling languidly. “Now, tell me of Azure. I, of course, have heard rumors, but I want the information from the horse’s mouth.” She cleared her throat. “Or the lion’s mouth, I suppose, is more appropriate. And I will tell you what whispers these vines have shared with me.”

  As Callon brought her up to speed on Azure and his voodoo-fueled depravity, Nico’s gaze roamed the room. He wondered if they were being observed even now behind cleverly concealed screens or viewing spells. The Silkies did love their voyeurism. He blamed it on the number of eyes the arachnids had. It wasn’t healthy to see so much at one time. How could you savor the beauty of one rose if you were looking at hundreds of them all at the same time?

  “If Azure hides here, he will not remain hidden for long,” Lyric declared when Callon finished. Her lovely face was lined with disgust. “I know well the taint of blood magic. It leaves traces for those with the sight to read. But we must tread carefully when we seek the king and queen’s input. It would not do to offend them.”

  Lyric took a graceful sip of tea, eyes distant in thought. “There are those in every kingdom who crave power over principle. They will shield this snake if it profits them.” Her sharp gaze returned to Nico. “Subtlety, not force, will catch him unawares.”

  Nico leaned back amongst the silken pillows and casually flipped his knife. He hadn’t even realized he’d pulled it out. “I can do subtle when the situation calls for it.” He flashed a charming grin full of sharp teeth. “But I prefer meeting threats head on.”

  Lyric didn’t look convinced as she shrugged. “We shall see. For now, come and rest. On the morrow, we prepare for your audience with the king and queen. They will aid us in drawing Azure into the open.”

  “Why do we need to wait until tomorrow?” Callon’s deep voice was gruff.

  Lyric clasped her hands in front of her, pulling her shoulders back and raising her chin in the air. “Because they aren’t prepared for guests. They’ve already settled in for the evening. It would be rude to ask them to arise at this hour.”

  “You sure are cozy with your king and queen,” Nico toyed. “Do they give you extra points on your Spidey Discount Card for acting like their damn administrator?”

  Lyric’s eyes flashed bright silver and swirled faster. “We’ve already had this discussion, if you will recall, in our last meeting. I am an ambassador for this kingdom, and I do respect the rulers. But do not think for one second I take orders from anyone other than Visata.” She straightened her collar, which wasn’t at all crooked, and sniffed. “We will meet with the king and queen tomorrow because it is the polite, respectful thing to do.”

  “Meanwhile, Azure could be moving farther from our reach.” Callon clenched his teeth.

  “Azure isn’t going to go farther away than absolutely necessary from the females he so desperately wants.” Lyric rose elegantly and led them from the solarium.

  As she showed them to their lavish rooms, Nico’s mind turned over all she had said. Lyric was protective of the rulers of KOS, and her formal behavior was odd. She wasn’t ever that formal in their council meetings. Clearly, she knew more than she let on about the snake king’s whereabouts. Nico would need to be watchful if he wanted answers. He slid the knife back into its sheath, knowing that he would have to bottle up his restless blood … for now.

  Chapter Three

  Many Devious Things.

  “My mind understands, but my pride? Well, she’s a fickle bitch who wants her way. Anyone else feel what I’m saying? No? Liars, all of you.” ~Lola

  Lola paced the lush carpet of the suite she shared with Callon, irritation biting at her. Once again, the men had ridden off on some grand adventure while she and Maddie got left behind like helpless damsels. Okay, so it wasn’t “once again.” She and Callon hadn’t been mated long enough for there to be any “once agains” in their relationship. Perhaps she was allowing her imaginary book world to spill over into her real-life supernatural saga.

  “This blows chunks,” she grumbled, fists clenching and unclenching at her sides. She felt like she needed to crawl out of her own skin, as if it were stretched too tight across her muscles and bones.

  Maddie looked up from where she lounged across an elegant chaise. “Agreed. We’re just as capable as them.” She tapped her lip and then amended. “Actually, we’re completely incapable and would probably just get in the way, and then they’d get distracted in the middle of a bloody battle, and we’d all wind up dead.”

  Lola gave her a deadpan look.

  “B-u-u-u-t-t-t… we can still be useful in a battle, so they shouldn’t have left us behind for any of those rational reasons. Dummies.”

  Lola snorted and then waved an agitated hand. “I know I’m still new to this whole supernatural mate thing, but come on. I’m a beast now, same as Callon. Why am I not out there hunting Azure with them?”

  “I … uh … I just listed some reasons, but those don’t seem good enough for you, so I’m going with ‘because men are idiots,’” Maddie suggested wryly.

  Lola shot her a frustrated look. “You’re not helping.”

  Maddie held up her hands innocently. “Hey, don’t get mad at me. I don’t like being sidelined either. But short of stowing away on the jet, I don’t see much we can do about it.”

  Lola growled low in her throat, the sound much more lioness than human. She resumed wearing a path in the plush carpet. She’d been basically decommissioned with the whole Katy catastrophe, and now she’d been set aside for the hunt of the snake king. In her books—This isn’t a damn book, Lola. I can’t keep comparing it to a book. It’s real life, with supernatural beings. Suck it up.

  Pep-talk received … and promptly ignored as her brain continued brooding. Sure, part of her understood Callon’s protectiveness. She was his newly claimed mate, after all. But she didn’t need cosseting like some fragile doll. Lola was a beast now. She longed to test her mettle, not languish uselessly in the mansion.

  “He better not get a scratch on him,” she muttered. “Who’s gonna protect that stubborn lion if I’m not there?”

  Maddie shrugged. “I bet Callon doesn’t need anyone to protect him.”

  A light knock interrupted Lola’s gloomy thoughts. Glancing over, she saw Lyra poke her head in; the woman’s amber eyes were sympathetic.

  “You two look ready to bite something,” the lion queen remarked, entering gracefully. “I thought I’d see if you fancied a walk to stretch your legs.”

  Lola deflated slightly, touched by Lyra’s thoughtfulness. Lola sighed and motioned the older woman to join them. “I’d just really like to stretch them by running down my idiot mate and shaking some sense into him.”

  Maddie snorted. “Get in line.”

  Lyra’s lips twitched. Settling on the settee across from them, she said gently, “I understand your frustration, believe me. When Taras first claimed me, he wanted me wrapped in lamb’s wool at all times.” Her regal expression turned wry. “We had some colorful arguments, to put it politely.”

  Lola perked up at this show of solidarity from the Prima. “What did you do to make him lay off the overprotective crap?”

  “Oh, many devious things.” Lyra laughed lightly at the memory. “But what finally got through to him was realizing that his fear of losing me made him hold too tightly. Love gives wings. It does not cage.”

  She smiled reassuringly at Lola. “Callon loves you, but he is still learning how. Be patient with your mate. Guide him, but also trust in the bond between you.”

  Lola worried her bottom lip. As usual, Lyra’s insight and empathy made Lola feel understood. Maybe she was being too hard on Callon. Fear was a powerful force, even in supernatural lions.

  Maddie spoke up tentatively. “If you don’t mind me asking… How did you handle feeling powerless when someone you love is in danger?” Her face clouded, no doubt thinking of Katy.

  Lyra considered her words. “It’s difficult, I know. But choosing faith over fear makes all the difference. Despite how dire things seem, have hope.” She leaned forward, taking Maddie’s hand in a gentle grip. “You and Katy have a bond to weather any storm. Trust in that, and in her strength.”

  Maddie’s eyes glistened, but she nodded, squeezing Lyra’s hand in return. Lola blinked back her own tears, moved by the Prima’s compassion.

  She took a bracing breath. “I just hate this waiting game, not knowing what’s happening.” She frowned, thinking of Katy tied to those innocent captives. Lyra and Maddie grew somber. Link’s news of the attack on Azure’s prisoners had given them the knowledge that there were possibly still two women alive. Still tied to Katy’s life force.

  “Link seemed certain some survived.” Maddie’s voice was devoid of hope. If those girls died, Katy would live. The thought made Lola equal parts desperate and guilty.

  Lyra’s frown turned thoughtful. “If any do still cling to life, perhaps the witch who cast the spell could be persuaded to break it.”

  Lola’s head jerked up. “Can her magic be forced?”

  “Most magic requires consent,” Lyra said. “But if she could be compelled or tricked…”

  Maddie nodded eagerly. “So we just need to get our hands on this voodoo lady, make her undo the curse saving Katy, and, boom, problem solved.”

  Lola started pacing again, but this time with excited purpose. “I don’t think any situation is ever fixed with ‘boom, problem solved.’ But”—she held up a finger to keep her friend from interrupting—“if we find the witch, and convince her to break the spell, then the guys just have to hunt down Azure. Teamwork makes the dream work.”

  “That still feels pretty much like ‘boom, problem solved,’” Maddie pointed out.

  Lola shrugged. “I’m trying to be the voice of reason in my head but still have some hope. It’s a precarious balance.”

  Lyra cleared her throat as she clasped her hands in her lap. “I know you want to help, but we must be cautious in seeking out such darkness.”

  “With respect, Prima”—Lola grinned—“we’re from New York. It’ll be just like taking the subway at 3 a.m. We’ve totally got this.”

  Maddie laughed. “She’s not wrong. We can handle ourselves against a voodoo witch.”

  Lyra still looked hesitant, so Lola pressed on. “At least let us start researching. Knowledge is power, or so the saying goes. I’ve yet to have any knowledge that didn’t make me feel powerful.”

  When Lyra slowly inclined her head, Lola and Maddie exchanged fierce looks. Finally, they could be useful instead of just worrying.

  Link had given them a few clues to track this mysterious voodoo witch. She lived in the bayou and had a shop in the old downtown of New Orleans. That at least gave them a place to start. Lola rubbed her hands together as they headed for the mansion’s extensive library.

  “I’ll scour the web for creepy, witchy stuff. You dig into the books for New Orleans lore,” she told Maddie. “We’re gonna find this lady and make her undo whatever she did to Katy, even if I have to go all New York on her magical ass.”

  Several hours later, Lola shoved back from the ornate desk with a growl. Her eyes stung from staring at the computer screen, but she was no closer to uncovering anything useful about Azure’s pet witch.

  Maddie glanced up from her pile of dusty tomes across the table. “No luck?”

  Lola scrubbed both hands down her face. “I’ve looked at so much freaky, supernatural crap, I’m gonna have nightmares. But nada on Mistress Voodoo.”

  “Same here.” Maddie sighed, snapping the large book shut. She grimaced and coughed at the cloud of dust that poofed up. “Everything I’ve found on voodoo is vague history or spooky legends. Nothing concrete linking any witch to Azure, or a witch to the Damarian people at all.”

  Lola’s shoulders slumped. “There’s got to be some clue about this magic woman. She owns her own store. We should at least be able to find a name on the internet from a simple search of witch shops in New Orleans. But none of the sites I’ve come across mention the owners by name.” She tapped her chin. “So maybe we go to New Orleans and see if we can spy on her. She’s gotta, like, buy groceries and clothes, right?” At Maddie’s pointed look, Lola amended, “Okay, granted, she probably conjures her own food or whatever. But surely she leaves her creepy little shop at some point.”