Page 56 of Cage Me

Gris slashed his hand through the air. “I'm sure.”

“How do you know?” Cage had been fleeced by Portia before. While he trusted Gris and his judgment, the succubus allure could mess with a dragon's head. Especially, when they were looking for a mate.

“I know. Because she is my mate. Our mate.” Cage glanced at Gris's neck. He no longer wore his soul shard. “Zon to?”

Gris gave a curt nod. “Yes, she lit up our shards like fucking fireworks.”

Cage understood. He glanced over at Azy who was helping another warrior bandage his wounds. Water flowed through her fingertips, soothing the burns.

“Just like your shard is doing now.”

Cage didn't even need to glance down. He felt the tingling buzz of the shard against his skin. It compelled him to go to her.

Azy looked up from her work and met his eyes. A necklace dangled from a cord around her neck. It glowed with a golden hue to. Cage’s gut clenched.

It shouldn't be there. The only thing she should have on was his shard. She'd saved him the first time she wore it.

He would ask her to save him again now.

“We will get Zon and your mate back. I swear to you. This is war and with our mates by our sides we will win it.”

The abject grief on Gris’s face told Cage he didn’t believe it yet. He would.

“Gather the men we have left. We will regroup and my mate has a plan to take the Black Dragon down.”

He left Gris and went to Azynsa. He nodded to the warrior she was helping and pulled her away.

She yanked away from him, not welcoming his touch.

“Is this enough to convince you that we need to fight against this dark evil?” She motioned around to the death and destruction, but Cage saw none of it.

“No,” he kneeled to the ground in front of her, “you convinced me. I was just too scared to admit it.”

Azy opened her mouth to say something but then closed again. She sucked in a breath as if she'd found her words but again said nothing.

Cage had never seen her speechless. He didn't really like it either. She was smart and hilarious and would probably save them all.

“I am truly sorry for my failing you when you needed me the most. Not in hell, but when you wanted me to believe in you. I realize it may take a long time for you to forgive me. But, I hope you will –”

Azy put her fingers over his lips. “Shut up, dragon. You are a royal dumbass. But, for some reason that I don't think has anything to do with being your mate, I am in love with you. And, I learned recently not to harbor or hold grudges against those I love. It's like poison we think we are giving to others, but taking ourselves.”

Cage stood and grabbed her up in his arms. He kissed her for a good long time until several dragon warriors behind them cleared their throats.

“I think they are ready to hear your plans to exact some revenge on Kur-Jara.”

Before another moment passed he would have her and everyone know how he felt about her. “He lifted the soul shard over his head and placed it around her neck. He lifted the necklace to move it aside and it disintegrated into a riot of colorful dragon scales that swirled and blew away in the wind.

“Azynsa, my mate, my love. Take my soul. It is safe only in your keeping. I give it to you freely because I love you and know that it belongs to you. It has for a long time.”

She placed her hand over her heart. “I'll take it. Because I told you back in hell, it was mine.”

Cage chuckled. “Yes, you did.”

“Don't forget this time.” She brushed a soft kiss across his lips. “Because, together we are better. We are stronger and love is going to conquer all.”

Chapter Sixteen

Chp 16 – Hell Freezes Over

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