Is a puppy too much to ask for? Lions may rule the concrete jungle of New York City, but the hidden world of beastwalkers, unseen by humans, contains a multitude of kingdoms, and not all of them share the same commitment to peace. Far to the south in New Orleans, King Azure rules the Kingdom of Venom with power, cunning, and treachery. And the scheming serpent has just found an animus he wants in the Big Apple. It turns out, Lola Katz isn’t the only new animus–the human females gifted with the ability to bring out a beastwalker’s true animal form–to be discovered. Lola’s friend, Katy Dire, also has the gift, and Azure has taken her for his own vile purposes. Lola refuses to sit idly by while her friend is in the clutches of the cold-blooded king of snakes. Her new mate, Callon Leo, prince of the Kingdom of Claws, vows to bring the entire might of their kingdom down upon Azure to ensure Katy’s safe return. But the lions may already be late to the party. Someone else has his sights set on Katy’s rescue. As soon as it was discovered the girl bears the tattoo of a wolf and should be rightfully mated to a member of the Kingdom of Fangs, No, the kingdom’s alpha, dispatched his most fearsome warrior to New Orleans–the Dire. From their first electric meeting, Gage, otherwise known as the Dire, recognizes Katy as his mate, destined by Visata. But sinister forces conspire to keep the fated pair apart. Gage is a powerful ancient warrior, a guardian of the shaman, but even he may outmatched by the might of the Kingdom of Venom. Gage must race against time to save Katy and expose Azure's wicked plans before it's too late. But once they’ve grabbed hold of their prey, snakes never let go.

What's a girl got to do to get an antidote? The Viper King Azure, ousted from his throne and driven into hiding, is far from forgotten. Lurking in the shadows, he's meticulously planning his return, intent on unleashing a sinister plot to grow his powers by creating counterfeit animi. The relentless forces of the Kingdoms of Claws and Fangs are on a desperate hunt to find him before he can wreak further havoc. And Azure is not without powerful allies. A mysterious voodoo priestess with her own hidden agenda aids him, making the pursuit even more treacherous. For one determined warrior, Katy Dire, this mission is personal. Under the priestess' dark spell, Katy's life is bound to the souls of two captive women—if they die, Katy is freed, but if Katy perishes, they survive. Her mate, Gage, knows what Katy would sacrifice to save others. Frantic and resolute, Gage races against time to locate Azure and the priestess, determined to break the curse and save his beloved from a perilous limbo. The stakes are high, and the clock is ticking in this epic battle of courage and love.