Page 9 of Cage Me

There was the lightest touch of magic wrapped around the root, from who or where, Azy didn’t know, and didn’t care. Every once in a while, a drop of dirty, mineral-filled water would pool on the tiny hairs of the plant’s root and pooled into the leaf’s little cup. It was the only water she’d had access to in weeks.

When she first found the drops, she’d wet her lips and mouth. She was thirsty as… well, hell.

It shouldn’t have been enough, but that same magic was in those drops and they sustained her. She lifted her finger to the tip of the leaf and let the droplet fall onto her finger.

The tiniest of reflections glimmered in the little water drop, like the golden mirrors of her mother’s people. Azy closed her eyes and knew she was falling asleep but couldn’t talk herself into consciousness.

The drop of water in her hand shimmered and grew until she held a hand mirror like the one her mother had intended to leave for her. She’d had this dream before. Many times growing up, but now, it came every time she fell asleep.

In the mirror she didn’t see her own reflection, but that of a man, a warrior. His hair was a golden blond and his skin was the polar opposite of hers, light to her dark.

She longed to see the contrast of his hands on her body. He was her mate, her soul mate, if the dragons and Fallyn were to be believed. But, she’d never seen him in dragon form.

Azy was so damn tired she almost wanted to call out to him, ask him to come and rescue her, take care of her.

Even if he was real, she wouldn’t do that. She would take care of this herself. She didn’t need a protector, a guardian.

Her father had tried to be that for a lot of people. It was what got him killed. If Azy hadn’t asked for help that day, he would still be alive.

So, no. She would not ask for anything from this man, whoever he was, except for this connection.

“I’m coming for you, little mermaid,” a voice like honey and charm whispered into her mind.

Azy almost dropped the dream mirror. The reflection had never spoken to her before. Could he hear her too? If he could she had to warn him off.

“Don’t do that. You’ll only get hurt. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“I don’t accept that. I will find you, and when I do I will claim you for my own.”

Oh for jesus sake.

“Don’t be a…douchecanoe.” She’d never said that word in her life, but it felt like divine intervention had given it to her. Fit perfectly.

The reflection chuckled. “I am coming for you. But, I haven’t yet gotten what I need to get into the hellhole where you’re trapped. Soon though.”

“I said don’t come down here.”

“That isn’t an option.”

For the first time since her father had died, Azy felt like crying. Oh, god damn it she was crying. She turned her head away so he wouldn’t see.

She didn’t cry. She wasn’t weak like that.

“Shit. My love. Don’t cry. What can I do to help you? It’s killing me to be here while you’re there.”

“I’m not crying. I’m trying not to kill you.” She didn’t need him to be a dickhead now. This was her respite, her time to recharge.

“You can kill me all you want later. For now, kiss me.”

Azy looked back and the mirror was no longer in her hands. The big, muscled chest of a very naked, very sexy man was.

He was here.

He wasn’t here.

She could feel his touch. But, it wasn’t real.

“Azynsa, you’re fucking beautiful.” His fingers caressed her arm, working its way up, skimming so lightly across her skin that it was more like a breeze.

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