“By all meansss,” Azure said dryly just before the door clicked closed, “help yourself.No, I don’t want a glassss.Thank you for asking.”
“You’ve already had a glass of bourbon.”Gage poured yet another glass of the whiskey down his throat, enjoying the sharp sting.After a fourth, which basically left the bottle empty, he turned and set the glass down on the table beside the chair where he stood and looked at the Snake King.“I can smell it on you.Among other things.”Apparently, the king and his queen had been busy.Sometimes it was damn annoying having a wolf’s senses.Now hereallywanted to go back into the hall and find that scent again,herscent.Even if it pissed him off because he’d never wanted a mate.Not after all that had happened.He was the last of his kind.His entire existence should be devoted to serving Visata.How could he do thatandcare for a female?And pups,his beast said in a voice he’dneverheard his wolf use.Did you just use an excited voice?Gage asked the beast.Don’t ever do it again.Then Gage returned his attention to Azure.
“You said you had a job for me, and it came with lots of dollar signs,” he said, coming straight to the point.Azure thought Gage was there on his bidding.Nox thought he was there onhisbidding.In reality, Gage was where he was because Visata directed him.He was a dire wolf, beholden to only One—the Creator.At one time, it was to protect the Shaman.He couldn’t believe Visata had entrusted him with the mission of this magnitude after that shit show.But here he was.And now hereshewas.Focus, man.
“I do.”Azure gave him a sharp nod.“You know of Visata’s decree?”
“Who doesn’t?”Gage didn’t mention that he’d only found out about it hours ago because Nox had filled him in.
“I need to know what tattoos are put on what girlsss, what kingdomss they go to, and who they’re joined with.”Azure’s voice grew greedier with every word.
“Would you like me to get their blood types, social security numbers, and passports while I’m at it?Maybe a genealogy from a helpful family member?”Gage folded his arms across his chest and widened his stance.“How am I supposed to follow that many females across ten kingdoms?And, once they’re mated, why do they matter?A matedanimusis off limits.EvenIhave some boundaries.”Not to mention he wasn’t leaving the current building without a certain female in tow, so, really, the entire conversation was a waste of time.But, again, he couldn’t very well tell Hood Neck that, now could he?
Azure’s brow rose, as if this were news to him.“The dire wolf who doesn’t submit to hissss Alpha has boundariesss?”
“You don’t mess with another male’s female.”Gage’s voice deepened with his beast’s presence.“Even you consider that sacred.”
“It isss.But I’m not wanting to break up the mated pair.That would be foolish and a death wish.I have a project I haven’t told you about.And I’m still trying to decide if I can trussst you.”
“Don’t,” Gage said, flatly.He meant it.
Azure chuckled.“That’s exactly why I have half a mindtotrusst you.”He walked around to the other side of his desk and pulled out the chair.Once seated, the king rested his elbows on the desk and steepled his hands.He looked up at Gage.Azure was not a man bothered by others standing in his presence.Many wolves, or canines of any breed for that matter, wouldn’t be able to sit if another was standing.He would feel submissive.Azure did not.That earned a tiny amount of Gage’s beast’s respect … like the size of a speck of sand amount.But it was still more than most got from the wolf.
“You’re going to be getting an influx of newanimifrom the other kingdoms,” Gage pointed out.“You’ve already got pressure coming down on you.I’m sure Link has told you that.”There’s no way the KOV Shaman wouldn’t have filled Azure in.
“Yesss.”He waved Gage off.“I am aware.My clubs are legit.”
“Maybe to human eyes.”Gage said.“But these aren’t human authorities that are going to be sifting through your books, Azure.There will be Shaman and approved kingdom warriors coming in to investigate.Don’t you think you need to lie low through all of this?”If he could get the damn Snake King to chill his ass out for five minutes, then maybe he could get the little wolf out and still do the job he needed to do—exposing Azure’s operation and figuring out what the human females were for.And he could do without having to get involved in the snake’s little reconnaissance mission.
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 sellanimito 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 ananimusss.”
Gage’s brow went up.Thatwasinteresting.For a Shaman not to sense the magic of ananimiwas 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.
