Nox narrowed his wolf eyes on him.“If you’d have come back when I ordered, then you’d know that it mattersbigtime.”He sighed and uncrossed his arms.“Visata appeared to the Shaman.”
Gage’s interest was piqued at the mention of the Creator.“What did He have to say?”It seemed like ages since Visata had made an appearance to their holy men.Gage had begun to wonder if He’d forsaken them after they destroyed the original world He’d given them.
Nox’s jaw tightened, the muscles in his arms flexing.“He said the rules have changed.As punishment for the abduction of theanimifemales, He’s changed the rules of how we mate.We can no longer court anyanimiat will.Our males now have predestined mates—oneanimusmeant only for them.Their markings will match that of the male they are meant for.”
Understanding dawned on Gage.“So this female who was taken…”
“Bears the mark of the Kingdom of Fangs,” Nox finished with a growl.“Which means she belongs to one of my beasts.”His eyes began glowing again, rage simmering just beneath the surface.
“How can you be sure the tattoo wasn’t just a coincidence?Wolves are a popular tattoo.Did a Shaman confirm she was ananimus?”
Nox shot him a withering look.“They wouldn’t have taken her if she was simply human.”
Gage held up his hands in mock surrender, no doubt irritating the Alpha further.“I’m just trying to understand the situation.”He didn’t mention that Nox was dead wrong.Azure was most definitely taking humans, but Gage wanted to know more before he passed that information on to his Alpha.He still hadn’t figured out what the human females were for.
With visible effort, Nox reined in his temper.“Now you see why I called you back.Your skills are needed, Dire.”The Alpha used the word with conviction and respect.A dire wolf was no ordinary wolf.It was why Gage could hold Nox’s gaze without feeling the need to submit.But it also meant he didn’t feel theneedto be dominate over Nox or any other wolf or member of his kingdom.A long time ago, the dire wolves had been the protectors of the Shaman.Blessed by Visata with more strength, endurance, and magic than any other Damarians.But that was before the wars.Before… He shoved the memories away.Now was not the time to take a stroll down nightmare avenue.
“The Kingdom of Venom has stolen what rightfully belongs to us.”Nox’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Gage understood the gravity of the situation.Ananimusdestined for their pack was no small thing, especially if she was destined for one male.She was the only chance the male had at being whole, in more ways than one.“How hard are you fighting the instinct to lead a raid into the viper’s nest?”
Nox’s lips curved into a ruthless smile.“Who says I’m not planning just that?”
“You’re smarter than that.”
“Don’t you know?”Nox tilted his head in a wolf-like manner.“We do stupid things for females.”
A rare chuckle rumbled in Gage’s chest.“Then it’s a good thing I’m the one you’re sending after this little wolf.”
“Ahh, that’s right.”The Alpha sighed.“The dire wolf with the heart of stone.Untouchable by even the gentlest soul.”
Gage swallowed down a growl and rolled his neck, his head moving in a circle as he loosened up a knot of growing tension.“I don’t need a female, and if I did, she certainly wouldn’t be a gentle one.”
“That’s probably a good thing, then.”Nox pushed away from his desk.“Callon’s new mate is the best friend of our capturedanimus, and she told Taras to warn us that the girl wouldn’t go down without taking at least a few people with her.”He narrowed his eyes at Gage.“You’ll be undercover, so she’s not going to know she can trust you, at least not until you’re sure you can get her out.So keep your appendages away from her mouth, or she might bite them off.”
A smirk slid onto Gage’s face.“Noted.I’m taking the pack plane this time.She’s got a head start on me.”Would it be a female that was finally a worthy challenge?The dire wolf in him perked up.The games were about to begin.And no matter the game, he never lost.
* * *
Katy stared sullenly out the plane window, the bright golden moon lighting up the night seeming to mock her dark predicament.Antonio sat stiffly next to her while Sleazeballs One and Two were across the aisle, looking far too relaxed for her liking.
She supposed she should feel afraid, being whisked away to be the captive of some snake king that had who-knows-what in store for her.Instead, simmering anger bubbled through her veins.How dare they abduct me against my will!They can’t very well abduct me with my will, dumbass.One thing was for sure: she was not about to end up married, mated, or whatever to something that could be turned into a belt, or boots, or a handbag.They had snake handbags, right?She tapped her chin.No matter.Katy batted the thought away.Scales weren’t her thing.She needed a plan, and a plan required information.First things first.“How in the world do you two own your own plane?”Because that is super important,Kat.But then again, no bit of information was too small.Crime Documentary 101.
“The plane belongs to the kingdom,” Myron answered.“Long-lived beings, if smart, can acquire quite a bit of wealth.”
“Hmm.”Katy nodded and she puffed out her cheeks and then blew out the air before adding, “interesting.”
“What?”Slick’s brow rose causing wrinkles to form on his forehead.
“That your kingdom has managed to acquire any wealth.Since you just pointed out that in addition to longevity, you also have to have some smarts.”She scrunched her face up and shook her head.“Something doesn’t add up.”
“Good grief, Katy,” Antonio muttered her name like a curse.“Could you just not be, well,youfor the next three hours and twenty minutes?”
She took several deep breaths and considered that perhaps her smart mouthwouldn’tbe the key to getting herself out of this mess.She probably needed to take a different approach.Katy turned to Antonio, deciding that the vulnerable act was the way to go.Yes, I know that’s hilarious,she told the part of herself that pointed out she’d never acted vulnerable a day in her life.She raised her brow and batted her eyelashes at him.In her mind, she was going for that whole Precious Moments figurine look.Her dad had started collecting those for her when she was a baby, and now she had one for every milestone from being born to getting a job.Maybe there was also one for being kidnapped.Or, even better, for being safely returned home.
“What’s wrong with your face?”Antonio pushed his messed-up hair away from his forehead.
Okay, so operation be-a-Precious-Moment-figurine was a fail.Thankfully, Katy was no quitter.No Quitter Kate.NQK.That was her new motto.Good grief.Getting kidnapped has made me crazier than I already was.And now I’m talking to myself like Lola does.Someone shoot me now.
