Page 13 of Cage Me

“You can’t afford what I want.”

“Try me.”

Jett was silent, but not because he didn’t want anything. Cage could practically see the cogs turning in his mind.

It was well known that Cage was the wealthiest dragon in the world. When one’s family had been collecting fine things and building wealth like greedy bastards for centuries, one had some cash to spare on bribing people to do what they wanted.

He was prepared to give up his entire fortune if it meant he could rescue Anzysa and make it possible for the gold dragons to get their mates.

“There is something I want, but I’m not prepared to reveal the details to you.”

Then it wasn’t money. When he and Portia had been together, Jett had been after a soul shard. Well, Cage didn’t have one of those to give.

“What do you suggest then?”

“I want a future favor. To be named and delivered upon my request.”

Whatever it was this black dragon wanted from him would hurt, or he’d simply say what it was now. It was a negotiating tactic Cage understood well. There wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it because he would do whatever Jett needed. “As long as it does no harm to my mate, or any dragon’s mate for that matter, you may have your favor. But, I will not fulfill it or let you go until you give me what I want.”

“You dragons have me now, but I will not ever give up my freedom. What do you want from me?”

That was all the in Cage needed.

“Not much, all I need is a guide.”

“Where – ah. You’re going to hell.”

In more ways than one. The rogue may be trouble, but he wasn’t stupid.

“You should have said. Anything that will give let me make Kur-Jara’s life hard, I’m down for. But, now you owe me a favor and I intend to cash it in, dragon.”

Fuck a lucky duck.

“I will honor my debt, but only upon Azynsa’s safe return to Seven Pines.”

With or without him. Cage would make arrangements with Gris to get Jett whatever he asked for in case he didn’t make it back himself.

“Out of the caldera. I’m not hiring on to be her nurse maid once she’s out. I’ve got other business to take care of.”

“Fine.” He wasn’t discussing semantics. “We will transport you to Africa, tonight.”

That gave him enough time to get Gris up to speed on all of the plans, including what to do in case he didn’t make it, and fly down to Western Africa. Not on his own wings, but he had a back-up.

“I don’t need your commandos to take me anywhere. I’ll honor my word. This arrangement benefits me as much as you. Find me tonight at Candy’s, not far from the Malabo airport.”

“Who’s Candy? Your new stripper girlfriend?”

“It’s an Irish pub.” Cage could practically here the fuck-off in Jett’s reply.

The fates, or the White Witch had known what they were doing, he had to trust in that. Because what else did he have now that his dragon was lost.

“Tonight then.” Cage didn’t wait for Jett to agree. He had a few short hours to make final preparations in case of his death and do everything he could think of to mentally and physically prepare for the upcoming battle.

Gris and Zon could take care of getting Jett released and put a tail on him to Malabo.

Cage took care of his Wyvern business and left for the airfield before dusk. On his way, felt a pull toward one of his lairs. Cage rarely visited his this one even though it was the closest, partly because he preferred to have most of his treasure right out in the open.

Seven Pines was filled with antiquities and high-end modern design. He also had some stashed in a monastery high in the mountains of Nepal, where the air was so thin that it felt like he was in the sky. But, like any smart wyvern he had his hoard divided into several locations just in case any of them were compromised. That didn't happen very often, but Jacob's lair under his villa in the Czech Republic had been discovered by demon dragons not that long ago.

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