“Of course.” Talulla nodded. “We do hope you enjoy your stay. And if you would show your proper image, not this mismatch that makes you look like a member of Chaos, you would be recognized as the important figure you are and treated to anything you want.”
“I appreciate that, but I prefer to blend in,” Zeena explained. “It gives me a break from being Queen Zeena. Especially since that is no longer my title. Even us royals need rest from time to time.”
“Of course,” Talulla agreed. “A vacation, even a short one, does wonders for the soul.”
“Thank you for having me, and it is good to see you. We should do dinner sometime once things have settled down.” She backed up toward the door as she spoke. Neither royal protested as Zeena retreated hastily for the exit. They simply nodded and let her go.Thank Visata.Then again, they could have been toying with her. For all she knew, they could be calling her mate right then to check her story.
Only once back among the crowds did she stop to catch her shaky breath. How had everything spiraled so far out of control? If only she had reined in Azure’s ambitions before they warped beyond recognition.
For the first time, Zeena allowed herself to acknowledge the horrifying truth—her mate was irrevocably lost to his madness. His schemes endangered them all, and yet she had stood by silently while he hatched them. No more.
Steeling her resolve, Zeena continued her circuit of the casino, outwardly casual while internally reeling. When the Dire Wolf came, she would share what she knew of her mate’s depraved alliances and the network of dark magic fueling his plans. Perhaps together, they could still halt Azure’s destructive path.
Zeena clung desperately to that fragile hope. The mate she loved was gone, consumed by venom and arrogance. But if she could help stop him from unleashing hell upon them all, perhaps some small redemption remained possible.
She owed it to her people and herself to try. Surely, the kings and queens, and the shaman, would listen if a Dire Wolf vouchedfor her motives. Hard times called for hard choices. With a heavy heart but determined spirit, Zeena committed to this new hunt.
The serpent queen lifted her chin, moving with a new purpose among the crowds. When the Dire Wolf crossed her path, she would be ready. No more hiding or equivocating. If they worked together, Azure’s twisted vision could be undone before it was too late.
The devoted queen was dismissed. In her place stood a fierce warrior, ready to battle the encroaching darkness. Zeena accepted her fate without hesitation. She had watched from the shadows for too long. Now it was time for action, and she answered the call, a champion of justice. No matter what came her way, she was prepared.
Chapter Fourteen
I’m Going To Kick You.
“I’ve experienced hundreds of situations that were dangerous and never blinked an eye. I just did what was expected. I protected our kingdom and our Prime and Prima. So it’s new to me to feel something other than simple determination to defeat my foe. As I head toward our enemy, with my mate at my side, I have never been more scared. What if I fail to protect her? What if I lose her? I know these are questions that will do me no good to linger upon. And yet every horrid scenario that could happen is running through my mind.” ~Callon
“Something is coming.” Marissa stood on the old porch, looking out into the dark night.
“Are you ssspeaking metaphorically, or is there actually something coming?” Azure asked dryly. He was growing tired of the priestess’s eccentricities. Despite the large size of the home, it only had enough room for one ego. Alas, Azure needed Marissa in order to accomplish his goal.
“I don’t speak in metaphors,” she said vehemently. “If I say something is coming, then Imeansomething is actually coming.”
Azure started to respond, but his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, read the name, then swiped to answer the call. “News?”
“Sorry, boss,” the informant said. “But there’s no sign of Otto in the Kingdom of Venom, Kingdom of Claws, or Kingdom of Fangs. Would he have gone to any of the others?”
Azure thought for a moment, trying to get inside Otto’s head to think of what would he do, or where he would go. “Try the Kingdom of Chaos. He might be trying to hide among them. Keep a low profile. I don’t need to deal with Wolfgang or his pushy mate.”
“Yes, sir.”
Azure ended the call and forced himself not to crush his phone. Things were moving too slowly. He needed more progress. He’d already sent out a text to his two supporters. But he’d been ignoring their calls all day because he had nothing new, or anything reassuring, to say.
He heard Marissa begin to chant. It was something she did when she wanted to channel the spirits, A.K.A. the souls of dead people. She used them like spies, but she could only cast the spell while out in the bayou, where the old magic lived. Marissa claimed the souls would tell her if any danger was near. Azure had refrained from telling her she didn’t need souls to tell her about danger. The crocodiles and water snakes were plenty of warning.
He walked through the rickety home, the ancient wooden floors groaning and creaking with his steps. The air was musty, and layers of dust coated every surface. At first glance, one might believe the home hadn’t been lived in for a long time. Azure thought Marissa was just a slob. But she claimed the souls liked the dust and that it helped her art for the house to be as undisturbed as possible.
He reached the circular stairs and began ascending. Holes were worn through in the rug. The banister felt sticky, as though a toddler had run their candy-covered hand down the rails. Azure had had the misfortune of learning that already, so now he carefully kept his hands and clothes from touching the banister.
When he finally reached the room where they’d placed the human women who were in a transitional state of becominganimi, he felt as if he’d hiked a mile. He was tired.Why?His kind rarely tired. Damarians didn’t need nearly as much rest as humans. But here he was, ready to take a nap. He shook his head trying to dispel the thoughts. He opened the door to find the two females on the farthest bed from the door. Two pairs of eyes widened, and they both pushed as far back into the headboard as they could get without actually climbing it.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” Azure told them. “What use would you be to me if you were dead?”
“What are you going to do to us?” the braver of the two females asked.
“I’m going to give you the incredible gift of being a compatible mate to a Damarian male. Preferably in my kingdom, but there are others that I’d be willing to sssend you to for the right price.”
“And if we refuse?” the shyer one asked.
