Chapter Three

Many Devious Things.

"My mind understands, but my pride? Well, she's a fickle bitch who wants her way. Anyone else feel what I'm saying? No? Liars, all of you." ~Lola

Lola paced the lush carpet of the suite she shared with Callon, irritation biting at her. Once again, the men had ridden off on some grand adventure while she and Maddie got left behind like helpless damsels. Okay, so it wasn't "once again." She and Callon hadn't been mated long enough for there to be any "once agains" in their relationship. Perhaps she was allowing her imaginary book world to spill over into her real-life supernatural saga.

"This blows chunks," she grumbled, fists clenching and unclenching at her sides. She felt like she needed to crawl out of her own skin, as if it were stretched too tight across her muscles and bones.

Maddie looked up from where she lounged across an elegant chaise. "Agreed. We're just as capable as them." She tapped her lip and then amended. "Actually, we're completely incapable and would probably just get in the way, and then they'd get distracted in the middle of a bloody battle, and we'd all wind up dead."

Lola gave her a deadpan look.

"B-u-u-u-t-t-t… we can still be useful in a battle, so they shouldn't have left us behind for any of those rational reasons. Dummies."

Lola snorted and then waved an agitated hand. "I know I'm still new to this whole supernatural mate thing, but come on. I'm a beast now, same as Callon. Why am I not out there hunting Azure with them?"

"I … uh … I just listed some reasons, but those don't seem good enough for you, so I'm going with ‘because men are idiots,'" Maddie suggested wryly.

Lola shot her a frustrated look. "You're not helping."

Maddie held up her hands innocently. "Hey, don't get mad at me. I don't like being sidelined either. But short of stowing away on the jet, I don't see much we can do about it."

Lola growled low in her throat, the sound much more lioness than human. She resumed wearing a path in the plush carpet. She'd been basically decommissioned with the whole Katy catastrophe, and now she'd been set aside for the hunt of the snake king. In her books—This isn't a damn book, Lola. I can't keep comparing it to a book. It's real life, with supernatural beings. Suck it up.

Pep-talk received … and promptly ignored as her brain continued brooding. Sure, part of her understood Callon's protectiveness. She was his newly claimed mate, after all. But she didn't need cosseting like some fragile doll. Lola was a beast now. She longed to test her mettle, not languish uselessly in the mansion.

"He better not get a scratch on him," she muttered. "Who's gonna protect that stubborn lion if I'm not there?"

Maddie shrugged. "I bet Callon doesn't need anyone to protect him."

A light knock interrupted Lola's gloomy thoughts. Glancing over, she saw Lyra poke her head in; the woman's amber eyes were sympathetic.

"You two look ready to bite something," the lion queen remarked, entering gracefully. "I thought I'd see if you fancied a walk to stretch your legs."

Lola deflated slightly, touched by Lyra's thoughtfulness. Lola sighed and motioned the older woman to join them. "I'd just really like to stretch them by running down my idiot mate and shaking some sense into him."

Maddie snorted. "Get in line."

Lyra's lips twitched. Settling on the settee across from them, she said gently, "I understand your frustration, believe me. When Taras first claimed me, he wanted me wrapped in lamb's wool at all times." Her regal expression turned wry. "We had some colorful arguments, to put it politely."

Lola perked up at this show of solidarity from the Prima. "What did you do to make him lay off the overprotective crap?"

"Oh, many devious things." Lyra laughed lightly at the memory. "But what finally got through to him was realizing that his fear of losing me made him hold too tightly. Love gives wings. It does not cage."

She smiled reassuringly at Lola. "Callon loves you, but he is still learning how. Be patient with your mate. Guide him, but also trust in the bond between you."

Lola worried her bottom lip. As usual, Lyra's insight and empathy made Lola feel understood. Maybe she was being too hard on Callon. Fear was a powerful force, even in supernatural lions.

Maddie spoke up tentatively. "If you don't mind me asking… How did you handle feeling powerless when someone you love is in danger?" Her face clouded, no doubt thinking of Katy.

Lyra considered her words. "It's difficult, I know. But choosing faith over fear makes all the difference. Despite how dire things seem, have hope." She leaned forward, taking Maddie's hand in a gentle grip. "You and Katy have a bond to weather any storm. Trust in that, and in her strength."

Maddie's eyes glistened, but she nodded, squeezing Lyra's hand in return. Lola blinked back her own tears, moved by the Prima's compassion.

She took a bracing breath. "I just hate this waiting game, not knowing what's happening." She frowned, thinking of Katy tied to those innocent captives. Lyra and Maddie grew somber. Link's news of the attack on Azure's prisoners had given them the knowledge that there were possibly still two women alive. Still tied to Katy's life force.

"Link seemed certain some survived." Maddie's voice was devoid of hope. If those girls died, Katy would live. The thought made Lola equal parts desperate and guilty.

Lyra's frown turned thoughtful. "If any do still cling to life, perhaps the witch who cast the spell could be persuaded to break it."

Lola's head jerked up. "Can her magic be forced?"

"Most magic requires consent," Lyra said. "But if she could be compelled or tricked…"

Maddie nodded eagerly. "So we just need to get our hands on this voodoo lady, make her undo the curse saving Katy, and, boom, problem solved."

Lola started pacing again, but this time with excited purpose. "I don't think any situation is ever fixed with ‘boom, problem solved.' But"—she held up a finger to keep her friend from interrupting—"if we find the witch, and convince her to break the spell, then the guys just have to hunt down Azure. Teamwork makes the dream work."

"That still feels pretty much like ‘boom, problem solved,'" Maddie pointed out.

Lola shrugged. "I'm trying to be the voice of reason in my head but still have some hope. It's a precarious balance."

Lyra cleared her throat as she clasped her hands in her lap. "I know you want to help, but we must be cautious in seeking out such darkness."

"With respect, Prima"—Lola grinned—"we're from New York. It'll be just like taking the subway at 3 a.m. We've totally got this."

Maddie laughed. "She's not wrong. We can handle ourselves against a voodoo witch."

Lyra still looked hesitant, so Lola pressed on. "At least let us start researching. Knowledge is power, or so the saying goes. I've yet to have any knowledge that didn't make me feel powerful."

When Lyra slowly inclined her head, Lola and Maddie exchanged fierce looks. Finally, they could be useful instead of just worrying.

Link had given them a few clues to track this mysterious voodoo witch. She lived in the bayou and had a shop in the old downtown of New Orleans. That at least gave them a place to start. Lola rubbed her hands together as they headed for the mansion's extensive library.

"I'll scour the web for creepy, witchy stuff. You dig into the books for New Orleans lore," she told Maddie. "We're gonna find this lady and make her undo whatever she did to Katy, even if I have to go all New York on her magical ass."

Several hours later, Lola shoved back from the ornate desk with a growl. Her eyes stung from staring at the computer screen, but she was no closer to uncovering anything useful about Azure's pet witch.

Maddie glanced up from her pile of dusty tomes across the table. "No luck?"

Lola scrubbed both hands down her face. "I've looked at so much freaky, supernatural crap, I'm gonna have nightmares. But nada on Mistress Voodoo."

"Same here." Maddie sighed, snapping the large book shut. She grimaced and coughed at the cloud of dust that poofed up. "Everything I've found on voodoo is vague history or spooky legends. Nothing concrete linking any witch to Azure, or a witch to the Damarian people at all."

Lola's shoulders slumped. "There's got to be some clue about this magic woman. She owns her own store. We should at least be able to find a name on the internet from a simple search of witch shops in New Orleans. But none of the sites I've come across mention the owners by name." She tapped her chin. "So maybe we go to New Orleans and see if we can spy on her. She's gotta, like, buy groceries and clothes, right?" At Maddie's pointed look, Lola amended, "Okay, granted, she probably conjures her own food or whatever. But surely she leaves her creepy little shop at some point."

Maddie started to agree when a knock interrupted them. One of Taras's lion warriors poked his head in. "Your presence is requested downstairs, ladies. We may have a development you'll want to hear."

Lola and Maddie exchanged excited looks and hurried after him. Perhaps their frustrating research session was about to pay off. They followed the warrior to a cozy sitting room where Taras and Lyra were waiting. Lola's gaze zeroed in on the unfamiliar man standing by the cold fireplace, his stance tense.

Though dressed in casual human clothes, she instinctively knew he was a supernatural being from the inhuman beauty, contained power in his muscular frame, and unusual purple eyes. Ridiculously lush, dark hair brushed the collar of his leather jacket. Yup, he was way too handsome to be human. But he wasn't a shifter. Lola felt like her beast would know if he was something like her.

When those uncanny eyes fixed on Lola, she tensed. Every protective beastly instinct flared to life. There was an undeniable connection between them, as if electricity arced across the space separating them. WTH, Lola Leo! she chastised herself. She shook herself mentally. Down, girl. You're mated, remember?

Taras cleared his throat pointedly. "Lola, Maddie, this is Raphael. He has offered information that may prove useful in the hunt for Azure."

The stranger inclined his head politely, though his piercing gaze never left Lola's face. "A pleasure to meet you both. Nico speaks highly of you." His voice was smooth and cultured. It flowed over her like warm honey.

Get it together. Beside her, Maddie made a small sound, no doubt picking up on the weird tension. Lola shifted uncomfortably under the newcomer's intense stare. Something about Raphael set her inner lioness on edge. "What information do you have regarding Azure?"

The man's full lips quirked. "Straight to business. I can appreciate an efficient female."

His velvety voice sent an uneasy tingle down her spine. Lola frowned, trying to place what exactly was setting off alarm bells.

As if reading her thoughts, he said, "Forgive my poor manners. Despite Taras's introduction, it's rude not to greet you myself." He bowed slightly. "I'm Raphael, an ally of Nico's, from the Kingdom of Chaos." He moved with a fluid grace to perch on the settee's armrest. His posture was relaxed, though his sharp eyes continued assessing her reactions. Lola had to resist the urge to bare her teeth at him. Her unease deepened. The Kingdom of Chaos was still a mystery to her, and after meeting Nico, the Shaman that represented them, she wasn't inclined to trust anyone affiliated with the kingdom.

Seeing her guarded expression, Raphael continued, "I'm an incubus demon, not a shifter like yourselves." His grin turned razor sharp. "We demons tend to make others … uncomfortable."

Lola stiffened. No wonder her beast disliked him on instinct. Supernatural creatures like incubi fed off sexual energy, or at least that's what all her paranormal-fiction books depicted. She angled herself subtly in front of Maddie.

"If you have information on Azure, let's hear it," she said coolly, suddenly eager to get out of his presence, despite the part of her that was filled with questions. Curiosity killed the cat, Lo. And that thought made her think of Dog, her cat. She missed his grumpy self. Lola would have to send a text to her mom to check up on them and reassure them again that they don't need to send out a search party.

"Don't play games, Demon," Taras warned, his eyes narrowing and taking on the shape of a lion's.

Amusement sparked in Raphael's purple eyes. "Apologies. Some old habits are difficult to break."

"Do better." Somehow Lyra's soft, kind voice seemed even more threatening than Taras's louder, sterner tone.

Raphael inclined his head to the Prima. "Of course. I recently learned Azure has been seen at an old plantation deep in the bayous."

Lola exchanged a look with Maddie. That could be a promising lead on the voodoo priestess they sought. If a voodoo priestess was going to live anywhere, surely it would be in a swamp.

"How did you come by this information?" Taras's eyes narrowed a bit.

Raphael shrugged, and his eyes held a mischievous gleam. "Demons talk … or brag, rather. A little scratch demon got so excited that he actually saw the snake king in the flesh. So, of course, he had to tell everyone he came into contact with."

"Scratch demon?" Lola asked. She shouldn't be curious, but come on. How can she not ask about a scratch demon?

Raphael's smile turned sly. "You ever get an itch for something you know you shouldn't try, or do, or say, or want, etc.? You can bet that a scratch demon is whispering in your ear, encouraging you to scratch that itch. Even if it is to your detriment. Especially if it's to your detriment."

"Snap." Lola breathed out. "That's creepy as all hell."

"You should see what they look like." Raphael visibly cringed.

"Moving on from creepy scratch demons, can you take us there?" Maddie asked eagerly. "To where the snake king was seen?"

Raphael's gaze turned predatory. "I could arrange it, Lovely."

Lola's skin crawled, and she moved further in front of her friend. "Why would a demon want to help us? From all my research?—"

Maddie snorted at her words, no doubt because her "research" was simply bookshelves full of YA fiction novels.

Lola cleared her throat. "From all my research, incubus demons aren't to be trusted. And demons, as far as I know, are like, burn-in-hell kind of bad."

"Perhaps you've been researching in the wrong places." Humor shone on Raphael's too-handsome-face.

Lola's eyes narrowed. "Maybe." She tilted her head as she continued to examine him. Maddie bumped her, and Lola felt as if she'd suddenly woken from a daydream. She shook herself and shifted her eyes to the right.

Taras spoke up, breaking the tension in the room. "We'll discuss this information with Callon, Roan, and Nico when they return before we take you up on your offer. Thank you for taking your time to come and share the information with us."

Inclining his head, Raphael turned his unsettling stare on Lyra. As he took her offered hand, his sleeve rode up, revealing strange markings on his wrist. They almost resembled … chains? Lola's eyes narrowed. What strange tattoos?

"A pleasure, Prima," Raphael purred over Lyra's hand.

Lola bristled, ready to forcibly remove him, but Taras intervened, ushering the demon out. She practically vibrated with tension in his wake.

"Well?" Lyra asked mildly once Taras returned. "What do you make of our … guest?"

"He gives me seriously bad vibes," Lola bit out. "Incubi, in all the paranormal books I've read, aren't exactly known for their altruistic nature. They're portrayed as mischievous, deceitful, and evil. And he's buddies with Nico, who I'm pretty sure is insane."

Taras looked thoughtful. "Those are pretty appropriate descriptions of Raphael's kind. But our shaman have made the demons less dangerous. And over time, they've become a part of the Kingdom of Chaos community."

"So they didn't come with you guys from Damaria?" Maddie asked.

"Demons come from one place," Taras answered. "Hell."

"Then how'd you guys end up dealing with them?" Lola questioned.

Lyra took a seat on one of the couches and motioned for them to do the same. "You might want to sit down for this."

Taras took a seat next to his mate, while Lola and Maddie sat on the couch across from them. Lola rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans as she tried to imagine what Taras could possibly tell them that would shock them at this point.

"Remember how Callon told you our kind came to the human realm?"

Lola nodded at Taras.

"Well…" Taras reached over and took one of Lyra's hands in his, giving it a visible squeeze. "When our shaman opened the portal that let us through, we weren't the only thing that came through."

Maddie sucked in a sharp breath. "You brought demons through your portal?"

Lola leaned forward intently as Taras explained how the demon incursion had happened centuries ago.

"The tear in the veil between worlds weakened the boundaries keeping darker forces contained," he said grimly. "A horde of vile creatures poured through before we could stop them."

Lola shuddered at the thought of demons flooding into their realm. "But you managed to contain them eventually, right?"

Taras and Lyra exchanged a look heavy with memory. "Eventually, yes," Lyra answered gently. "But only after much bloodshed and suffering. They reveled in spreading chaos and tormenting mortals."

Maddie paled slightly. Lola didn't blame her. The idea of malicious demons running amok was straight out of a horror movie.

"So how did you get them under control?" Lola pressed. This history was important if they were going to be dealing with creatures like Raphael.

Taras stared into the fire, his eyes distant. "We drove most back through the crumbling veil by strength of arms. But some dug deep, possessing beasts and mortals alike to mask themselves." His expression turned bleak. "They are cunning parasites, not easily rooted out."

Lola frowned. "But Raphael seems sort of... I don't know, tame, even if he is kinda creepy? If he's a demon, shouldn't he be all murdery?"

Lyra smoothed her elegant skirts. "That is thanks to the shaman. Their magic binds the remaining demons, curtailing their power and crueler impulses. Most now reside in the Kingdom of Chaos."

"So they're on a supernatural leash," Maddie said. "That explains Raphael's funky tattoo—it must be a binding mark."

"How do you know what a binding mark is?" Lyra's head tilted curiously.

"Television, Prima." Maddie winked. "Paranormal shows galore and the old adage that there's a little bit of truth to all myths."

Lola turned this over. She still didn't trust the incubus, but maybe he wasn't totally evil if his magic was shackled. Though the hungry way he'd looked at Maddie still made her want to claw his eyes out.

"I don't care how domesticated he seems, I don't trust him," Lola declared. "He might be a chained attack dog, but he's still dangerous."

Lyra inclined her head. "A fair concern. We know little of his motives in offering aid. He could be genuine. Or he could have an alternative motive."

"I'd bet my claws on the latter," Taras said.

"He said he was friends with Nico," Maddie pointed out. "Perhaps we should give him a call and see what his take on it is?"

Taras pulled out his cell phone, tapped the screen, then set it on the table in between the two couches. It rang loud enough for everyone to hear, and Lola realized he'd put it on speakerphone so they'd all be able to participate in the conversation.

Three rings later, Nico's voice came through the line. "Miss me already, Prime?"

"About as much as I miss that thorn I had in my paw for three months," Taras said flatly, though his eyes held humor. It was obvious the Prime liked Nico, despite the fact that the Chaos Shaman seemed a tad unhinged.

"What can I do ya for?"

"Raphael stopped by to—" Taras was abruptly cut off by a deep, pissed off voice.

"What the hell was that demon doing in KOC territory?" Roan asked.

Lola's eyes widened at the vehemence in the shaman's voice. Maybe he was spending too much time with Nico and the crazy was rubbing off on him.

"If you wouldn't interrupt, I'd happily tell you," Taras snarled.

"Don't mind him, Dad," Callon's voice came through. "He's been striking out with the fem—" Callon's words were cut off by a sharp grunt, and then Lola's mate laughed.

Maddie looked at her, brow raised in a "what the hell" expression. Lola shrugged. Apparently, going on a hunting mission put Nico and Callon in good moods but pissed Roan off, which really wasn't shocking. Lola was beginning to think everything pissed Roan off. Lola leaned forward eagerly when Callon's rich voice came through the phone's speaker. Hearing her mate sent a rush of warmth through her, even if he was annoyingly far away.

"Raphael paid you a visit?" Callon was all business now. "Did he threaten you in any way?"

Lola smiled at the protective edge to his question. "No threats, but he gave me seriously sketchy vibes. He said he had a lead on Azure's location and offered to take us there. And he flirted with Maddie."

"I'm going to kill him," Roan snarled, sounding almost as impressive as Callon did when he went all growly.

"Yeah, Raphy can be kinda extra when he wants something," the Chaos Shaman said, amusement in his raspy voice. "But he's mostly harmless. He does like the ladies."

Lola snorted. "Mostly? And he's an incubus. Of course he likes the ladies."

Nico chuckled. "All right, he's a pain in the ass. But if he offered to help find Azure, he probably meant it. That demon hates that snake more than any of us."

Lola and Maddie shared a surprised look. That gave them pause. Why would an incubus demon bear such hatred toward Azure?

Perhaps sensing their confusion, Nico continued. "Let's just say Azure and Raphy have some ugly history. I'll let him tell you the details sometime. It's quite the tale." His voice turned serious. "But if he says he knows where Azure is hiding out, believe him. Few can track the shadows like Raphael."

Lola worried her bottom lip. This new context changed things slightly. And they desperately needed to locate the voodoo witch to save Katy. Could they afford not to pursue Raphael's lead, as questionable as he seemed?

Maddie must have been thinking the same thing. "We should check out his tip," she said reluctantly. "Who knows how much time Katy has?"

Lola nodded. As much as she disliked the demon, she had to agree.

Callon spoke up, hesitation clear in his tone. "I don't like you putting yourself at risk around him, Sazzi."

Warmth spread through Lola at the concern in her mate's voice. "We'll be careful," she promised. "But we need to find this witch, and Raphael might be our best shot."

"Your mother and I won't let any harm come to her or Maddie," Taras added.

There was a long pause before Callon finally conceded. "All right. But keep me updated on everything he does. At the first sign of betrayal, I'll rip his horns off."

"Umm, he didn't have horns," Maddie said slowly.

"Not that you could see," Nico said playfully.

"Good grief," Maddie muttered. "When did my life get so weird?"

"Just watch yourself around him," Callon said sharply. "Regardless of where he claims his loyalties lie, he's still a demon."

Lola grinned fiercely. Her mate's possessiveness could be annoying, but also weirdly hot. "Deal. We've got this, babe."

"Maybe Maddie should stay with Lyra at the—" Roan began, but Maddie clicked the end button on the phone.

Lola's mouth dropped open. "Did you just hang up on him?"

Maddie nodded enthusiastically. "I totally did."

Lyra laughed, which made Lola laugh.

Taras shook his head and sighed. "I swear you young ones are going to be the death of me."

"What?" Maddie shrugged. "He's a bossy, overbearing ass."

Lola, still laughing, said, "She's not wrong."

After they calmed down, Lola met Maddie's determined gaze. "Let's go find us a witch and save our girl."

With the men's reluctant blessing, the path ahead was clear. Okay, it was murky as hell. But it was more than they had before the demon had dropped in. They'd hear Raphael out about his lead to the bayou plantation. But Lola would be watching the incubus like a hawk. One false move and she'd ask Callon to turn Roan loose on him. The KOC shaman seemed like he could use a good fight. Maybe it would loosen him up a little. Lola shook her head. Nope, the only thing that was going to loosen him up was Maddie. Dude had it bad for her.