Page 62 of Bite Me

She rushed to his side but hesitated to touch him. Probably because there wasn’t a whole lot of skin to touch that wasn’t burned. “Oh God. What have they done to you?”

“Nothing that won’t heal.” If he could get access to some water. “What about you? Have they--?”

She shook her head. “Fuckers learned to back the hell off about ten minutes after they dragged me in here from those tunnels where we fought them. They only time I’ve seen anyone since is when one of the non-imbecilic ones brings me water.”

“You don’t happen to have any of it now, do you?” His mouth and skin were so dry he felt like he was covered in scales even though he was in his human form.

Thanks to the crone and her scary ass dark magic, he hadn’t been able to shift. If he could, he’d find a way to get them both out of here.

Azynsa slumped and licked her cracked lips. “It’s been a while. Couple days I think. Sorry. Can you use your powers to bring some in?”

At first Ky thought he was literally in hell, but Azynsa said she’d been dragged in here, so they had to be in the inner belly of the caldera where she’d been kidnapped.

He opened his senses as far as they could reach, but didn’t find the water, an underground spring or even a half-empty bottle of water anywhere.

“It’s too hot and the water is too far away.” He’d tried the second his mind had cleared after Jada’s allure hit him during the battle with the Black Dragon. He’d blacked out when they sucked him through the shadows. He’d been blissfully wrapped in the magic of Jada’s sensuality while unconscious. The fire whips had been a literal rude awakening.

His mind fought to control the worry gnawing at his gut. He had no idea if Jada were alive or dead or taken by the Black Dragon.

It’s not like anyone down here wanted to answer his questions.

He would know if she was dead. Down to his soul, he would know. She must be alive.

“Damn. I was afraid you’d say that. I don’t know where we are, but I haven’t been able to feel the water since I got dragged down here.”

That alone had to be torture for a Mami Wata. But, Ky was grateful they hadn’t done worse to her. He’d been afraid that when they’d kidnapped her and he hadn’t been able to save her, she’d be killed. Or worse.

He pulled himself up and rested his side gingerly on the nearest wall. There was no position he could rest in that was comfortable, but sitting up was better than lying in the rocks and dirt.

He sure as shit wished he had some shorts. He’d be digging rocks out of his asscrack for weeks after he got out of here.

They would be escaping.

As soon as he could figure out how.

“I told you to bring him to me when you were done with him, crone.” A terrible voice, crankier than even Match roared through the tunnels.

Ah, shit.

The croaking voice of the crone replied, but their words were growing distant. They must be on the move. “Dispose of him, Kur-Jara. He is mated and of no use to us.”

“Shut up. Your revenge lust clouds your insipid brain. Don’t interfere…”

Their words faded behind the shuffling and hisses of a pack of demon dragons gathering near the prison cave entrance.

“Azza, get back into the dark. They’re coming back for me now. They don’t need to be reminded you’re here.”

“No. I can’t let them take you.” She had a ferocious bravado, he’d give her that. It was a might stronger than his own knowing he was likely in for a hell of a lot more torture at the hands of the Black Dragon.

“We don’t have much of a choice. The crone put a spell on me. I can’t shift, and I can’t heal without the water.”

That was all the time they had to discuss plans. Four demon dragons slithered up to the cave entrance. Two stood guard while the others came in for Ky.

She seemed pretty savvy and badass, so hopefully she would go with his spur of the moment plan to get her the hell out of here.

“Azza. Wait 'til I start fighting back, then make a run for it,” he said out of the side of his mouth. “If you make it out of here, find any other dragon and get a message to my mate, Jada.”

Azynsa’s face said no way.

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