“Love you, Mistress. Rest or I bite you.”
Katy laughed. “Wouldn’t have you any other way, Little Man.”
Otto watched as Gage pressed a kiss to Katy’s forehead. His heart squeezed in his chest to see the huge Dire Wolf brought to his heels by his mate. If anyone deserved the peace of a mate, it was Gage.
“All right, lizard,” Gage said gruffly. “Let’s get you to the Kingdom of Claws so you can watch out for Katy’s friends.”
Otto waved one last time at Katy and then followed after the Dire Wolf. His plan was falling into place. Within a couple of days, Katy would be free.
Chapter Five
Demon’s Gonna Demon, I Guess.
“An incubus, animus, lizard, and human walk into a swamp—sounds like the beginning of a really bloody joke.” ~Maddie
“Lola. Maddie.” Lyra’s voice rang out through the entryway of the large home, carrying all the way to the library, which was several hallways away. “There’s someone here I think you will be excited to meet. He arrived late last night, but I didn’t want to wake you.”
When Lola entered the foyer, Lyra stepped to the side, revealing a short, humanoid, lizard-looking being. He was adorable, and Lola opened her mouth to say so, but Lyra gave a sharp shake of her head.
“Katy sent me a text.” The Prima cut her eyes toward Otto. “To the effect of… ‘keep all cuteness comments to yourself around the lizard.’”
“Otto not cute,” the little guy said, but the baggy jeans and T-shirt he wore rendered his words completely false.
The hell you’re not,Lola thought mentally, but stayed her tongue.
“Oh my gosh, he’s so freaking cu—” Maddie started, but froze mid-step and mid-speak when Otto hissed at her. “Uh, badass. So freaking badass.” Maddie quickly switched gears. “I was totally going to say he’s the freaking baddest-ass of all badasses.”
“I, Otto,” the lizard said again. “I swears to protect you for Katy.”
Lola could tell he took his job seriously. “Thank you, Otto. We are most grateful for your assistance.”
“We’re just waiting for our other guest to arrive,” Lyra said. “Demons aren’t known for their promptness.” She motioned for Otto to follow her, and Lola and Maddie fell in step behind them.
Maddie made a squishing motion with her hands toward Otto.
Lola shook her head. She leaned in close. “If he bites you, you die.”
Maddie dropped her hands. “Damn. Lizards of Damaria don’t play.”
Lola sighed. “Just try not to offend him. I don’t needtwobest friends playing chicken with death.”
They each took a chair in the little sitting room. It was hard for Lola not to stare at the strange-looking lizard. He was like a pug or French bulldog—so ugly they’re cute.
“Demon not to trust.” Otto looked at each of them. “They only for selves.”
The Prima made an agreeing sound, but then added, “Sometimes, we have to take a leap of faith, even if what we’re leaping into seems dangerous.”
“Umm, no offense, Lyra, but every step in this supernatural worldisa leap of faith because everything, and everyone, is dangerous. Especially to us humans. I’m walking around seeing tigers, cheetahs, and lions, and thinking, ‘Man, I hope they’ve had breakfast.’”
Lola laughed at Maddie. “You don’t have enough meat on you to make a full meal. Gain a good fifty pounds and then the beasts here might consider you as more than just a twig with legs.”
Maddie levelled her eyes at Lola. “You suck.”
“I keep you safe,” Otto repeated.
Lola didn’t want to insult the little guy, but she wasn’t exactly sure how a lizard no taller than a two-year-old could keep them safe from a thirty-foot snake. Or a demon, for that matter.
“I’m holding you to that, Little Man,” Maddie told the lizard. “And I hold a grudge, so don’t go letting me down.”
