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—havingyoubring 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, shewantedOtto 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 tothesequestions are totally going to fall into the category of betraying your king and could get you tortured and killedvariety.
“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 tosayeverything 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.”
