Page 5 of Cage Me

He could throw her in the dungeon and feed her on rats and she’d take it. Lucky for her he was offering something a lot better.

“What do you want from me? I can’t take you down there. I was just along for the ride and lost everything while your dragons were off saving the day. Go ask them to help you.”

“They’ve done enough. Besides, they don’t have what you do.” He had no intention of taking Portia back down into hell. She wouldn’t be able to help him, only one dragon could do that.

“Quit dicking me around and tell me what you want. My allure might not work on you or your golden retriever, but I’m pretty sure those two at the door are ready to come in here and fight you for me.”

This sparring was the most fun he’d had in weeks. At least Portia didn’t treat him like everyone else in his life at the moment. They were each vulnerable and that put them on an equal footing. “Why is it you haven’t just turned your allure on me again? We both know you could simply make me tell you my plans and take whatever you want in the process.”

“Yeah, like I haven’t tried?”

He hadn’t felt a thing.

Portia sighed. “Jada says our allure doesn’t work on dragons who are mated, you bastard.”

That may be true, but it wasn’t why she didn’t have any power over him. If he was mated, then the rest of his dragons would be finding their mates too. He was in a weird half-mated limbo.

She hadn’t been able to dissuade Gris from his task of capturing her either. Her allure must be on the fritz from not having fed. The human side of her was probably the only thing keeping her alive.

Once their deal was done, he’d have Gris bring her a nice big meal, of human food. If she wanted or needed more than that, he’d feed her himself if he had to. But, only blood this time.

Cage had drawn this game out with Portia long enough. She was desperate already, but now that he’d dangled a safe future in front of her, she’d be ready to give him the one person he needed, betrayal or not.

“I’ve got the money and resources to give you everything you need. All you have to do is help me with one thing.”

“Like I have a choice?”

“We always have choices, babe. We don’t always make the smart ones though. I’m proof of that, aren’t I?”

Portia crawled out from under the desk and stood, the letter opener still gripped in her hand, but finally she faced him. “What do you want?”

“Your boyfriend.”

She frowned and held out the letter opener. “Fuck off. Jett’s not mine to give. Never was.”

Yeah, and that black dragon bastard never should have let her think otherwise. But, he had started this and Cage was going to finish it. “But, you’ll find a way to get him here and get him to do what I want anyway.”

She bit her lip and shook her head. “I don’t know if I can.”

“You’ll find a way, because, once he and I retrieve my mate,” that was the plan, “you’ll get yours.”

She backed away. “Get my what?”

“Your mate, Portia.” Boom.

“I don’t think it was a coincidence you came to me to get a soul shard. Your mate is a gold dragon. Once I claim Azynsa, your mate will be able to claim you.”

Portia dropped down into the chair, shock and awe on her face. Cage knew the feeling.

“Jett is going to kill me for this.”

Not if Cage got to kill Jett first. But only after they went to hell and back.

Chapter two

Chp 2- Just Another Day in Hell

Mermaids had been hiding from people for centuries and her mother’s people, the Mami Wata, had taught Azynsa some brilliant techniques in the past couple of years for evading prying eyes. For two weeks, or what she guesstimated was about that long, she’d used every damn trick they’d taught her plus the ones she’d learned growing up, to stay alive.

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