Page 22 of Cage Me

She didn't move, in fact, she wasn’t even breathing. Cage tried to pull her into the tunnel, but she swatted him away.

“He'll be fine, let's go.”

“But, she won’t,” Azynsa said and pointed to the other side of the cavern.

Cage popped his head back out and saw an old woman appeared there, gripping the arm of another younger woman, hauling her along.

“You lied, child,” she croaked. “Now, face the consequences.” The old woman shoved the girl between the Black Dragon and Jett. She would be crushed between the two combatants.

“No.” Azynsa jumped forward, reaching her arms out as if she could save the woman who was at least ten meters away.

Cage grabbed for Azynsa but missed her and she ran into the fray.

The Black Dragon, who had his claws aimed directly at Jett's chest via the woman, pulled up and swerved at the last moment, catching her in the face and snapping her head back. She crashed into the floor and rolled toward the lava pool.

Azynsa dove and reached the woman before she could tumble into the liquid hot rock. Cage put on a burst of speed and caught up with them both, pulling them back away from the edge.

“Well, what do we have here? A weak warrior, a missing mate, and a traitor. The exact three things I've been looking for.” The Black Dragon landed and hulked over the three of them. “Release her.”

Cage put himself between the Black Dragon and the women. The fucker would have to go through him first. Although, it would be nice if Jett continued his berserking.

“Your new friend can't help you now.” The Black Dragon lowered his wings and stepped to the side. Jett was behind him and pinned to the ceiling with absolutely nothing holding him there.

“The Black Witch has him now,” Azynsa whispered from behind him. She had shoved the mirror into her belt like it was a sword and cradled the head of the woman, who was unconscious, in her hands.

This woman was obviously important to the Black Dragon. Maybe he could trade her for Jett. But, what if she was another mate, kidnapped by him. That was a no-win situation. If Cage had learned anything in his two hundred years, it was how to negotiate. There was always something that could be bartered. “What is it that you want Kur-Jara?”

The Black Dragon chuckled or growled, Cage couldn't be sure which, and demon dragons sprouted up from the shadows beneath his wings. They surrounded Cage and the two women, pinning them with only the lava to their backs. It shifted into his human form, a man with long dark hair that reminded Cage more of a clichéd vampire than a dragon warrior.

“So, you and your Wyverns brothers have finally learned who I am. I'm a little surprised, seeing as your fathers weren't smart enough to even learn of my existence.”

“We know all about you now and how you are the Black Witch's bitch.” This guy had the ego the size of hell itself. Any slight would keep him off guard.

“You know nothing. If she and her spells weren’t useful to me, I would have roasted her centuries ago.”

The Black Witch scoffed from behind them.

“I'll deal with you later, Ereshkigal.” The two glared at each other.

The interaction made Cage even wonder if they were working together. He'd remember that and try to use it against them when he could.

“You haven't answered my question. What do you want?” Cage recognized the stalling tactic when he saw it. There was something about the situation that was off for Kur-Jara. The longer he could draw that out, the more time it gave him to come up with a plan.

“I want a lot of things, little golden boy. My birthright, for instance. But, for now I'll be happy with your soul.”

Interesting and also nope. “It's not mine to give.”

Azynsa owned his soul. He had yet to even claim hers. The tiniest ray of an idea shined into Cage's mind.

“Ah, yes. Your mate. She's given me almost more trouble than she's worth.”

A ripple of power burst from behind Cage and Azynsa told the Black Dragon exactly how she felt about that. “Fuck you, asshole. Why don't you call off your guard dogs and come at me like a man for once?”

Yep, that was his mate calling out the Black Dragon like he was some little punk.

What a woman.

“Stop touching her,” Kur-Jara snapped.

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