Page 31 of Cage Me

There was no way he could allow them to harm Azy. She had already willingly sacrificed her own well-being for Fallyn's for long enough.

“What you think I've been doing? If it weren't for me they would already have killed you and your mate, and probably taken me prisoner.”

He hissed and growled again and this time Cage realized two big demon dragons at the front of the pack were replying in kind.

“What are they saying?”

Jett half laughed. “They say I can go, if I give them you and the mermaid.”

Great. “I'm afraid our deal will be null and void if I die here and now.”

“No shit. We have to give them something to take back to Kur-Jara. They know better than to return empty-handed and say that we've escaped.”

Cage had very little to give. The sword from the First Dragon, Azy's mirror, and his pants. That was all he had left. Except himself.

He'd known since Azy first touched his soul shard that he would give his own life for hers. What he wanted more than anything else in the world was to spend the rest of his life learning to love her, be made she deserved. That may not be what she needed.

He knew very little about the mating habits of either dragons or mermaids. He suspected that neither would mate again. Hopefully, he was wrong, and she could find another.

He glanced down at Azy's round cheeks and luscious lips. Even in the dark he could see she was even paler than before. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, not trusting himself to give her anything more knowing he was only going to take it away again forever. “Please, forgive me.”

A shard could only be given, never taken.

He knew that better than anyone.

“Azynsa, wake up, love.”

She moaned and her eyes fluttered open.

“That’s my girl. Will you give me the shard?”

Her eyes were tired and unfocused. “It’s yours.”

He lifted the shard from her neck and pulled the cord over her head, then slipped it over his again.

“What Kur-Jara really wants is me and my soul. Tell them they can have it if they let you and the women go.”

The demon dragons must have understood what he was saying, because they crept closer and hissed and clacked their teeth at him.

“Don't be a dumbass. Didn't we just decide I don't get my favor if you die?”

Cage turned and lifted Azy to hand her over to Jett. “Gris already has instructions on what to do in the event I don't return. Take Azy to him and you'll get whatever you want.”

Jett shook his head in that way that meant he still thought Cage's plan was stupid but would go along with it.

Cage might be going to his doom willingly, however he wasn't going to make it easy for the little fuckers. He knew he had enough light in him to blast at least the first dozen or so into dust. More would fall to his teeth, claws, and tail, before they took him down. Were they on the surface, with even a setting sun, he could take out at least half of them. The darkness had taken taken its toll on his soul and his powers.

Before he could hand her over, Azy reached her hand up and clasped the soul shard. “Don't even think about it, dragon. This is mine.”

Her voice was weak and thready and still brooked no argument.

“All will be well, my little mermaid. Jett will get you back to your people or mine whichever you choose.”

She blinked like the words coming out of his mouth didn’t make any sense. After a deep breath, she got a second wind, all of which she blew at him. “I’m not some Disney princess. I’m a fierce fucking mermaid, and if you die on me now, I will kill you.”

“Azy.” They didn’t have another choice. She had to see that.

Or not.

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