Page 7 of Cage Me

Not that anyone would believe a word. Azy couldn’t imagine being made to have sex with that asshole, much less bear his demon spawn only to have them become pawns in his deadly game with the dragons.

The Annanuki demons didn’t seem to care either way. They didn’t give a fudge about anything but what the witch told them to do. Then they did it. Had to be under one of the Black Witch’s spells, like the demon dragons.

Azy sure as shit wished she didn't know anything about the inner workings of hell. She'd only just gotten used to the bizarro world of the Mami Wata. Five years ago she hadn't known anything about mermaid, dragons, witches, demons, or any other paranormal being except what she'd read in romance novels. Now, the human world seemed a million miles away, getting further every minute.

Honestly, at this point she'd take the dumbass dragons and the xenophobic mermaids over this hellhole. That was a sentence she thought she'd never say in her life.

Damn, she really needed to get out of here.

She would, she had to believe that. But, in all of her observations, spying really, she hadn't found a single shred she could use to convince Fallyn to leave with her.

It was the reason she had taken this risk in hiding almost in plain sight here in the main cavern. She'd almost blown her cover and still hadn't learned anything new. Except, that even under direct questioning, Fallyn hadn't given her away. Azy's debts to the woman just kept piling up. Maybe, just maybe, it meant Fallyn felt the tiniest bit of loyalty toward her.

Better than the blind, brainwashed woman she'd spoken with a few days, or maybe it was a whole week, ago.

Each time they met and Azy thought she was making headway, the Black Witch would undo it all. One step forward, two steps back in a macabre dance for Fallyn’s life.

The old witch and Fallyn didn't leave the cavern after Kur-Jara threw his fit. Normally, Azy he stayed as far away from the Black Witch as she could. Hiding and kicking demon’s asses was one thing. There was no defense against dark magical spells.

She rarely heard what kind of manipulative information the crone said to Fallyn. If she was very lucky, maybe they would stay where she could see and hear them and Azy would get a head start on damage control.

Because the witch hadn't seen her, and Fallyn didn't reveal her location, Azy crept forward along the high wall to get closer. Her big ole thighs kept a tight grip on the rocks as she crawled along them. She'd lost a lot more weight in the past two weeks than any other time in her life. But honestly, she did not recommend the demon diet.

As soon as she got out of here she was getting a tray of fully loaded Chicago dogs, a crap ton of greasy French fries, and an entire banana cream pie. She was not sharing any of it with anyone. When she had eaten her fill, she was getting a blender and a bottle of tequila and drinking margaritas in a swimming pool for at least three days.

That day was not today. If she ever expected to get out of here she needed to keep her head in the game, not at Portillo's.

A few tiny pebbles scattered when she hit a patch of loose rocks with her knees. She froze and waited to see if anyone noticed.

“You are not trying hard enough, girl. How will we ever be safe from the dragons if you won't try?”

Oh, yeah. The crone was laying it on thick. Azy had seen enough manipulative losers do the same thing to woman back home. Women who should have been smart, savvy, and sexy were turned into quiet idiots with zero self-confidence all in the name of having a man.

Was that same promise of love what kept Fallyn from seeing the truth about the hell she lived in?

“I’m sorry. I’ll try harder.”

“Good girl. You wouldn’t want to make me have to send you to Geshtianna would you?”

Fallyn jerked her chin almost as if she’d been struck. This Geshtianna chick must be bad news if Fallyn was afraid of her.”

“No. Don’t. I don’t like her what she or Dumuzid do.”

“I don’t want to, child. But, Tianna helps us. She never says she can’t. Not like you. She’s grateful for what I’ve given her.”

Nobody should be happy the Black Witch ever gave them anything. Except complete psychopaths probably would love to cozy up to someone this powerful. Azy’s guess was that whoever Geshtianna and Dumuzid were, they were besties with the likes of Bundy, Dahmer, and Lizzie Borden.

The Black Witch tsked and folded her arms, withdrawing. “If you don’t find the mate, it won’t be my fault if she has to use her bite to get what we need from you.”

Fallyn put her hand to her neck.

Dear God. Enough was enough. Azy had hidden and spied, cajoled and begged Fallyn to leave with her. She was completely brainwashed. As soon as she could get Fallyn alone she would smack her upside the head and drag her ass out of here if she had to.

Azy squeezed the shard tight against her chest and closed her eyes. Whoever was on the other end of this connection couldn’t help her. No one could, but herself. But, just knowing he was there gave her strength, and she was going to need it.

The Black Witch left Fallyn standing in the cavern alone, her hand still at her throat. Azy would wait a few minutes to see if anyone returned, then she was nabbing Fallyn and getting the hell out of hell.

Fallyn didn’t move, like she was in a trance. Azy had seen her do that more than once. She’d also seen her talking to herself, having a one-sided conversation with someone in her head.

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