Katy couldn’t disagree, even if she hated to actually have the same opinion as Azure.Crybaby drunkswereannoying.
Suddenly, the lights came on, and Katy’s hand flew up to block her eyes.She got a quick glimpse of a room full of cages.Actual cages, and there were people in them.She squinted and then dropped her hand.Women.There were dozens of women in this vast room filled with cages.Katy tried to count, but her brain was muddled by Otto’s poison.It might not kill her, but it was seriously messing with her nervous system.It looked as if at least twenty-five of the cages contained women, but several housed more than one woman.How was this possible?Did Myron and Slick know?It’s a building right behind the mansion.How could they not know?Did Otto know?Her head turned trying to find the lizard, and when she finally did, she was reassured to see him staring frozen and wide-eyed at the cages.He hadn’t known.
Azure pulled her over to a table that was swiveled into a standing position.He maneuvered her so that her back was against it and then began to strap her down.
“What the hell are you doing?”Katy asked as her mouth caught up to what her brain was registering.
“You’re still alive.That’s a good sign.Also, I’m beginning to wonder if Gage was being entirely honest with me.”
“It’s late,” a woman’s voice reached Katy’s ears.The sound was startling because, despite the number of women in the room, it had been quiet.All the captured women looked healthy and whole.None had been harmed, that Katy could tell.But through her stupor, Katy could see fear and anger in their eyes.
“Oh, I don’t think you’ll mind the interruption to your beauty sleep when you see this one,” Azure told the woman.
“Cover her eyes,” the woman said.
“She won’t identify you.”Azure sounded put out as he took a cloth and wrapped it around Katy’s eyes.
“I don’t take chances.”
“What about all these other women?”Katy was unable to keep from pointing out that they could surely identify this mystery woman … unless Azure planned on killing every one of them.
“They can’t see me, child.I am a voodoo priestess.If I have time to make a spell for someone, I can make it so they can’t see me.I didn’t have the time to do that for you.”The woman clucked her tongue.“Now, why is she sweating?Is she sick?”
“Otto bit her,” Azure answered coolly.
“Otto?”
“Her guard.”
“His venom is dangerous?”
“Deadly to everyone,” Azure answered.“Except the Chosen of Visata.The dire wolves.”
“So, how is she alive?I thought Gage was the only remaining dire wolf.”The priestess’s hands were cool against Katy’s hot skin as she pressed them to her forehead.
“She claims to be his mate.If she is, then she will live,” Azure explained.“Also, if she is the dire wolf’s mate, she should be able to help make quite a few animi.”
“Even under the influence of the poison?”
“Well, the strain of both might kill her.”Azure shrugged, as if he wasn’t terribly concerned about her impending death.“Maybe just make sure the spell is complete before she dies.”
“Wow.”Katy’s voice sounded flat to her ears.“Way to make my life feel meaningful and meaningless all at the same time.”
“Little Wolf.”Azure almost purred.“Your life is most definitely meaningful.And you could selfishly be the mate of one Damarian, or you could help give a dozen Damarian’s mates.What kind of person do you want to be remembered as?”
“The kind that kicked the Snake King’s ass.”Snap.Did she say that out loud?
The woman, apparently a voodoo priestess who could “make spells,” whatever that meant, laughed.“She’s funny.I hope she doesn’t die.”
“Thanks for your vote,” Katy told the woman.
“Though if you are Gage’s mate, it would be better for all our sakes if you do die.”
Damn, that was depressing.
“Drink up.”The woman pressed a cup to Katy’s lips.
Katy automatically complied.She sputtered when the warm substance poured down her throat.The tangy, metallic taste hit her nose and taste buds.She tried to spit it out, but her mouth clamp closed against her will when the woman started to chant.Katy’s body pulled taut against the ties that held her to the table as the voodoo priestess spoke in an odd language, chanting the same words repeatedly.
