Chapter Four

I No Hero, I Just Otto.

"Hell will freeze over before I allow my plans to be stopped. I don't care who I have to step on, or slither over, to accomplish what I've already set in motion." ~Azure

The deposed king stalked the worn floors of the ramshackle plantation house, too agitated to remain still. The bayou's humid air pressed in around him, ripe with the scent of algae and secrets. Azure glanced out the grimy window at the foreboding swamp, wondering if he'd made a mistake coming here.

Everything had fallen apart so quickly. One moment, he'd held the key to unlimited power in his grasp. The next, fire and blood had rained down on the Kingdom of Venom as that thrice-damned Dire Wolf tore through his mansion, seeking his mate.

Azure's hand fisted, and his serpentine eyes narrowed. He should have killed the she-wolf when he had the chance. Though her magic was extraordinary, she wasn't worth this catastrophe.

A heavy scent of tobacco and rum announced his host's arrival. Azure turned with a hiss as the voodoo priestess, Marissa, swept into the cramped parlor. Her voluminous skirts took up what little space remained.

"Such a gloomy face, Your Highness," Marissa crooned, skeletal hands twining in the beads and charms bedecking her garments. "You should be pleased. The spell succeeded."

He barely refrained from striking her. "Two out of a dozen ssssurvived your spell," Azure spat. "The rest turned to ash like all the othersss!"

Marissa clicked her tongue. "Creating life where none exists before takes great sacrifice, Snake. But with time and the she-wolf's blood, the magic will stabilize."

Azure resumed pacing. He was so agitated that he was partially shifted, with his tail lashing haphazardly behind him. Marissa spoke as if victory was assured. But she hadn't seen the unhinged fury in the Dire Wolf's eyes as he tore through Azure's kingdom, hunting for his mate. Gage would not stop until the Kingdom of Venom was razed and Azure's head was parted from his shoulders.

And where was Zeena when the wolves attacked? His mate had vanished, leaving no word of her fate. Unease stirred in Azure's chest. Surely, she hadn't abandoned him. Not when they were so close to obtaining freedom.

A commotion outside caught his attention. Marissa turned, and her skirts rustled as she opened the weathered door. Azure went utterly still when two figures entered the parlor.

Some of Marissa's men had grabbed the captive women who'd survived the fire, and now here they were. They were alive, albeit a little worse for wear.

The women's wrists were bound. They stared at him with gaunt faces and wild eyes as Marissa's burly guards led them inside. Despite how badly they looked, they most definitely lived, and that was all that mattered. It meant that the witch's spell had succeeded in binding their life forces to that of the she-wolf. Elation rose in Azure, chasing away his doubts.

"What have you done to us?" One girl sobbed, her blonde hair tangled around a bruised face.

"I have offered you a gift. Before, you were mere humansss. Now, you will be revered and sought after by malessss who will practically worship the ground you walk on." Azure looked them up and down. "You're welcome."

The king whirled on Marissa, new hope kindling as his mind worked through the nuances of what they'd done. "You can complete the bond without the she-wolf now, yesss? Her blood was only to stabilize them at first."

Marissa tilted her head, her skeletal necklaces clacking together. "I can try, Serpent. But without the source, the magic is weaker. Her death would unmake them completely."

Azure barely kept his roar contained. "That mangy wolf stole her away! You said distance would not matter."

The priestess clucked reproachfully. "I don't think that's what I said." She tapped her chin. "Yes, I distinctly recall saying her death would break the spell. Of course, proximity to the source matters. The pull grows harder to resist over distance."

The girls shuddered at her words, fresh tears coursing down their dirty cheeks. Azure dismissed them from thought. If he wished to cement his victory, he needed to retrieve the she-wolf or force her wolf to return her.

"We have two successes," Marissa pointed out softly. "Is it not wiser to be content rather than risk more failure chasing what is beyond your grasp?"

Azure trembled with the urge to strike her. But sadly, she had a point. Much could still be salvaged from this debacle if he proceeded carefully. The two new animi could be molded into weapons and offered to his allies. Word of this success would smooth over the unrest in his kingdom.

Azure took a slow breath, regaining control. The she-wolf's loss galled him, but he would endure it. Unless… The wheels in Azure's mind started turning as he considered ways to bring the she-wolf back under his control. There was one sure way that she would come running.

Otto.

Yes, there were other paths to power yet left unexplored that didn't involve the girl. But, before he attempted to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, he needed to exhaust one final effort to get Katy Dire back. He just needed that damn little lizard. The Dire Wolf had only stalled the inevitable. For now, he could adapt.

Turning to Marissa, Azure inclined his head. "You speak wisdom, Marissa. We will make do with what we have for now." There was no need to share his plan to capture the she-wolf's Achilles' heel. Marrissa's usefulness would come to an end soon anyway.

He gestured dismissively at the captive women. "Let's get tattoos on them and see where they'll end up. I must contact my allies and take stock of who remains loyal after Gage's rampage."

Marissa bowed low, beads clacking. "It will be done, my king."

Azure didn't bother to address her disingenuous action. She was a prickly witch, and she enjoyed getting a rise out of him.

She snapped her fingers, and the guards dragged the crying girls away. Alone with his thoughts once more, Azure moved to the writing desk tucked in the corner.

Texts to type, calls to make, and allies to appease if he wished to salvage his kingdom from the Dire Wolf's devastation. Gage would rue the day he challenged Azure.

But first, there was the troubling matter of his missing mate. Zeena would never abandon him willingly, which meant she must have come to harm when the mansion was attacked. His chest ached at the thought. Despite their quarrels, he loved her. Maybe not to the extent that she wished, but to the extent that he was capable, and that had always been enough in the past.

Azure added finding Zeena to his growing list of tasks. Once she was safe at his side again, they would welcome a new heir and destabilize the other kingdoms from within. A slow smile curved his lips. He was far from defeated. The Dire Wolf had only awakened a viper's lethal potential. When next they met, it would be Gage begging for mercy at his feet.

Diplomacy and clever machinations would strengthen his position for now. But soon enough, the taste of vengeance would be sweet on Azure's tongue. All it required was patience.

"Fortune always returned to favor the bold," his mother had said. And Azure was nothing if not bold. And also cunning and hungry to reclaim his rightful power. Let his enemies think him weakened and in hiding. The snake king knew that sometimes to find victory, one first must play the victim.

For now, though, there was work to be done. He picked up his phone and sent out a text to one of his most trusted allies. "I need Otto. He is the key to controlling the Dire She-Wolf."

The reply was swift. "Consider it done."

Otto scurried through the dense underbrush, his small heart heavy with sorrow. The forest was shrouded in mist, and faint beams of sunlight filtered down to dapple the loamy earth. But the beauty of the coming evening was lost on the desolate lizard. His thoughts dwelled only on the atrocious circumstances facing his mistress, Katy.

He blinked back tears, his throat tight. Otto had been so happy when the great Dire Wolf, Gage, brought him and Katy here—a place where he didn't have to worry about Azure's abuse, Zeena's crazy, or any other KOV member that might seek to torment him. Katy cared for him kindly, and Gage treated Otto with respect. He had never imagined that life could be so sweet. Katy, even with her hilarious attitude, had always been kind to Otto, seeing him as more than just a dumb beast or oddity. Next to Gage, she was the first one to show Otto genuine friendship.

But now fate threatened to steal his brave, bright Katy away forever.

The small creature crept under a weathered log, claws digging furrows in the dark earth. It wasn't fair. Katy deserved happiness with her wolf, not this torment. If only there was some way Otto could protect her, as she had tried to protect him.

Voices up ahead drew Otto from his melancholy thoughts. Peering out cautiously, he spotted Gage pacing the small clearing. The Dire Wolf's face was drawn, and his shoulders bowed as he spoke urgently into his phone. Otto crept close enough to listen.

"Agreed, the priestess must die," Gage rasped, raw desperation in his rough voice. He raked an agitated hand through his ink-black hair. "I'll kill her myself, and then that damn serpent king as well. I don't need the pack's assistance, and you have a kingdom to run, Nox. Just let me handle it."

Otto's heart squeezed at the wolf's obvious anguish. This strong, unyielding warrior was brought low by the thought of losing his love. It wasn't right.

After another moment, Gage growled out a terse farewell and ended the call. He stared down at the device for a long moment before his hand tightened into a trembling fist. With a roar of agony, he hurled the phone against a nearby tree where it shattered into a dozen pieces.

Chest heaving, the Dire Wolf braced his hands against the tree trunk and hung his head. "Forgive me, Visata," he choked out.

The watching lizard lowered his eyes, feeling like an intruder upon Gage's private grief. Slowly, he backed away until the wolf's tormented sounds faded into the mist. Otto's own anguish throbbed like an open wound in his small chest. Was there truly no way to spare Katy from being sacrificed for those other females?

Lost in desolation, Otto wandered aimlessly through the woods until he came across a sunlit, dead tree covered in lichen. Perched on one gnarled branch was another lizard, watching him curiously. Otto scampered closer, his heart lifting a bit. Perhaps talking to one of his own kind would soothe his spirit.

The wild lizard was smaller than Otto, his brown skin streaked with darker bands. He seemed unafraid as Otto approached, and his head tilted in what appeared to be a friendly greeting.

Gathering his courage, Otto called up to the fellow reptile. "Hellos."

The wild lizard blinked slowly, but didn't respond. Still, he peered down at Otto in obvious interest and welcome.

Taking this as an invitation, Otto began to unburden his troubled heart. "My mistress… She troubled," he shared mournfully. "She caught vile snare that not her fault. Two ladies she don't know will live if she die. But they die, she live. Katy not die … or Otto"—he pointed to himself—"die, too."

Saying it out loud made Otto's heart ache all the more. The wild lizard crawled down the trunk, coming to rest on an adjacent branch and fixing Otto with an intent stare. Encouraged by his rapt attention, Otto went on.

"I save her, but how?" He shrugged. "I no hero. I just Otto." He swiped at a tear with his tail. "Unless…" Otto slowly lifted his head as an idea took shape. Unless those two wretched lives could somehow be extinguished.

The wild lizard cocked his head, hanging on every impassioned word.

Heart racing now, Otto continued in a fervent rush. "I bite, things die." His lips turned up slightly, revealing his sharp teeth. "All except Visata Dire Wolves." He met the other lizard's bright gaze beseechingly. "What if Otto bite females attached to my mistress?" He rubbed his little hands together as a plan began to form.

His feral little cousin did not react, but Otto was too caught up in constructing his daring plan to notice.

"Yes, yes! Could work," he exclaimed, claws flexing in anticipation. "I stalk them wherever they are go. Otto good at hiding. And then I bite!" He mimed striking, lost in thought.

The machinations swirled around in his head. Those girls' deaths would free Katy from the spell's cruel snare. She would live and have her happily ever after with Gage, never knowing of Otto's heinous, but necessary, act. His conscience pricked faintly, but he pushed it aside. For Katy, he would brave any darkness.

Filled with newfound purpose, Otto turned to his silent woodland companion. "Thank you listening to Otto. You are good buddy." He touched the lizard's nose gently in farewell. "I save my mistress. Luck me give!"

The little reptile slowly blinked his acquiescence. With a final grateful look, Otto scampered off into the underbrush. His path was clear. Katy's life would be spared, no matter how bloody Otto's own claws must become. Where love dwelled, sometimes darkness must follow. With luck, Katy would never know the true cost of Otto's devotion. For her, his soul would pay any price.

When he reached the window that would lead to Gage and Katy's room, Otto scurried up the wall to the ledge. The window was kept slightly cracked so he could come and go as he pleased. He peered in and saw Katy on the phone, as she was every evening about this time. No doubt talking to her two friends, Lola and Maddie. Otto couldn't wait to meet them. They seemed to be just as odd as Katy, but also just as kind. Usually he would just go right in, but Katy's words gave him pause. He pushed the window open a little farther so he could hear better.

"What do you mean, the women are missing?" Katy asked, her voice rising.

Otto strained his supernatural hearing so that he'd be able to hear the girls on the other end of the phone.

"Link called and said Slick had informed him that the two females who'd survived are gone." It was the girl Otto recognized as Lola speaking. "Either they took off or Azure managed to nab them."

"Who's in control over at KOV now that Azure is in hiding?" Katy asked.

Otto had to bite his tongue to keep from answering. He imagined that it was most likely Azure's great-nephew. He hadn't talked with Katy about it yet because she slept so much, and when she was awake, she always seemed so fragile. Otto couldn't bring himself to burden her with anything. So, he would let her rub his head and talk until she fell asleep.

"Wait. Back the truck up." Katy's voice drew Otto's attention from his thoughts. "A demon? Like sulfur-breathing, from the depths of hell, honest-to-goodness demon?"

Otto froze. His entire body went still as stone as he focused all his attention on Lola's voice.

"He's an incubus, and he claims to know where Azure has slunk off to. Callon has given me the all-clear to go hunt him down."

"Given you the all-clear?" Katy teased.

"Shut up." Lola laughed. "Go tell Gage you're going to follow a demon around the swamps of Louisiana and see how he takes it."

Katy snorted. "I think I'll pass. As it is right now, he's had to replace several cell phones. They keep jumping out of his hands and hitting walls."

Otto bit his bottom lip to keep from snickering. His mistress was funny.

"So you, Maddie, Taras, and Lyra are going to follow an incubus Demon into the bayou?" Katy confirmed.

"That's the plan," Lola said. "Well, first he's coming back here tomorrow to go over the actual plan. Then we will head off after the snake king."

"Why don't you wait on Callon to get back from his visit to the Kingdom of Silk?"

"Because, Katy, apparently, it's rude to rush the arachnids." Maddie's voice came through the phone. "Roan said the king and queen are easily offended. And if they want their cooperation, then they need not offend them. I asked Callon why on earth they took Roan if that was the case. That dude offends the air simply by having the gall to breathe it in."

Once again, Otto had to bite back his laughter. Maddie wasn't wrong. Shaman Roan was quite a grump.

"You two better not get your asses lost in a swamp or eaten by a crocodile," Katy warned. "I will be ticked the hell off if you do."

Otto saw his opportunity and scurried under the window and into the room. He hurried down the wall, across the floor, and then launched himself into the air, landing on the bed next to Katy. She was so used to him popping up like that she didn't even jump.

"I go." Otto pointed to himself. "I go with the Lola and the Maddie, Mistress. I keep them safe."

Katy's eyes widened. She appeared to be considering his offer.

"What if you get eaten?"

"I bite." He snapped his sharp teeth at Katy. "Everything die."

"Have I mentioned that your new friend is a little creepy?" Lola asked through the phone.

"He's not lying," Katy said. "His venom is apparently dangerous to everyone except Gage and me, because of the Dire Wolf in us."

"So is Otto saying that if a croc takes a nibble, he could kill it?"

Otto nodded vigorously at Maddie. "I not goin' die," he told Katy. "I protect the Lola and the Maddie."

Katy stared at him for several heartbeats, her eyes softening as she held his gaze. "Okay." She nodded. "Okay, you go and keep my friends safe, but you stay safe, too."

He smiled and resisted rubbing his hands together. His plan was coming together, and soon his Katy would be free of her bonds.

"He can use the pack jet," Gage said from the doorway.

"Lurker." Katy looked over at her mate, a small smile forming.

Gage shrugged. "You're mine. I can lurk if I want."

Otto chuckled. These two were perfect for each other.

"Okay, send your lizard A.S.A.P. Raphael will be here tomorrow mid-morning. I don't know exactly the time frame on when we will leave, but I don't want to wait if we don't have to."

Katy hung up the phone and looked at Otto. "Swear to me that you won't let anything happen to you."

Otto held up his clawed hand. "I swears."

She opened her arms, and Otto didn't hesitate to give her a hug. It was like embracing the sun after the coldest winter. Otto had never experienced such affection, and he thrived from it, feeling more alive than he ever had.

"Okay, Otto," Gage growled, though there was no heat in it. "That's enough flirting with my female. Let's get you on the plane."

Otto gave Katy's hand a final pat and then jumped from the bed, heading for the doorway. Gage passed him on his way to his female.

"Can I get you anything before I take him?" Gage's voice was full of concern.

"I'm good," Katy said, a little breathlessly. "Just be safe."

"Always am."

"Liar." She chuckled. "Love you, Otto."

"Love you, Mistress. Rest or I bite you."

Katy laughed. "Wouldn't have you any other way, Little Man."

Otto watched as Gage pressed a kiss to Katy's forehead. His heart squeezed in his chest to see the huge Dire Wolf brought to his heels by his mate. If anyone deserved the peace of a mate, it was Gage.

"All right, lizard," Gage said gruffly. "Let's get you to the Kingdom of Claws so you can watch out for Katy's friends."

Otto waved one last time at Katy and then followed after the Dire Wolf. His plan was falling into place. Within a couple of days, Katy would be free.