Otto grumbled something in what Lola recognized as the Damarian language. She was going to have to get Callon to teach her so she wouldn’t be insulted by a lizard and not know it.
Taras walked in and sat down next to his mate. He looked at Otto. “It’s good to see you out from under the thumb of Azure, Otto. I’m glad to have you in my home.”
Otto bowed his head. “I thanks you.”
As they descended into silence, Lola forced herself to sit still on the stiff settee, resisting the urge to fidget as they waited for Raphael to arrive. Her nerves were not helped by the presence of Katy’s unusual friend. After a moment, he began to scurry about, as if looking for something, and then the small lizard creature perched tensely on the ornate coffee table, his bulbous eyes constantly roving the room. He seemed ready to bite anythingthat moved too suddenly. Having a supernatural attack lizard underfoot was doing nothing for Lola’s anxiety.
Maddie leaned over and whispered, “What are the odds Raphael is going to push Otto’s buttons just for kicks and giggles?”
Lola winced. “Ever in our favor, if I was guessing.”
Suddenly, the sitting room doors swept open. Lola tensed, expecting the incubus. But it was Wyatt. His eyes quickly took in the room and then landed on Otto. A mischievous grin spread wide across his handsome face.
“Oh, hell,” Maddie muttered.
Otto was on his feet in a flash, puffing up in a show of aggression as he hissed at the panther playboy. “I bite you.”
Wyatt froze, looking bemused at the display.
“Whoa there, Little Guy.” Lola quickly scooped up the indignant Otto before he could launch himself at Wyatt. “No biting. Did Katy send you with a muzzle or something, anything, to keep your teeth to yourself?”
The lizard muttered but settled in her arms. The panther’s lips twitched. “Fierce protector you have there.” His amusement faded. “Though I have heard you’re about to be dealing with a demon. That’s no place for a young warrior.”
“Otto older than you,” the lizard growled.
Lola sighed, absently stroking Otto’s spiky frill. “I know. But try convincing Katy not to protect the people she loves.”
Understanding flashed in Wyatt’s eyes. “Just so, be cautious. The bayou holds many threats, some with friendly faces.” His penetrating gaze seemed to say they should be wary, even of supposed allies. “I’ll be out front if you need me, Prime.” Wyatt turned on his heel and stalked away.
Otto suddenly writhed in her grasp. “Demon comes!”
Sure enough, Raphael strode casually through the doors a moment later. Maddie tensed beside her, but Lola kept a firm grip on the snarling Otto.
The Incubus paused, one brow quirking at the reactions to his arrival. His sharp eyes lingered on Otto curiously. “New friends, Lola?”
She gave him a tight smile. “Just some added protection against any snakes in the grass.”
Raphael laughed, the sound smooth as honey. “A wise precaution for entering the bayou.” He took a seat, relaxed as a lounging panther. “Shall we discuss the details of our impending journey?”
Lola clenched her jaw, hugging Otto closer, like a scaly security blanket. She just had to get through this. Then they could find the witch and save Katy.
Meeting Raphael’s knowing gaze head on, she said evenly, “Yes, let’s get this over with.”
No matter how the demon tried to unbalance her, Lola refused to show fear. She had faced worse monsters than him in New York’s shadows. This was merely another beast to outsmart. And with Otto as backup, she just might survive the viper’s den unscathed.
Lola tried to focus as Raphael laid out a map and then showed them the route to the remote bayou plantation, but it was difficult with a grumbling Otto glaring daggers at the demon the whole time. She just hoped the prickly lizard wouldn’t actually lunge and bite Raphael before they got the information they needed.
“Do you have an exact location for the plantation house itself?” Maddie asked when Raphael finally finished. “That swamp looks huge to be searching blindly.”
The incubus smiled, flashing a dimple that no doubt lured many poor souls to their doom. “Fret not, I can guide you straight there. The bayou holds no mysteries from me.”
Lola tensed at his smooth assurance. She didn’t trust his motives here at all.
“It’s not the bayou’s mysteries we’re concerned about, Raphael,” Taras said sharply. “We need to know we can trust you.”
“Demon and trust don’t seem like two words that go together,” Maddie said.
Lola kept her eyes on the map as her gut churned over her friend’s words.
