Melek’s eyebrows lifted. “On the screen? What screen?”
I pointed to the one in my living area. “That one. She died during the Centaur trial. It went black.” A not-so-subtle choke swallowed that last word, making it barely audible. But I’d obviously said enough, as understanding overtook his expression.
“Oh, the portal period,” he said, waving it away. “Yes. Ty made them spin for a while. It’s part of why Cami is so exhausted. And her trek through the Minotaur maze.”
“Minotaur maze?”
“Yes. The second half of today’s trial.” He gave me a curious look. “Did you miss it?”
“I… I didn’t watch everything…” I trailed off, his words starting to form a new reality in my mind. “Cami’s here?”
“No. She’s in her cell. But I would like her to be here.” He gave me another one of those concerned looks. “Seriously, Ajax. Have you spent too much time around the Sirens? They have a penchant for mind games. Dreadful creatures. Glorious, too.”
Of course Melek would insult them and praise them in the same breath.
But that didn’t matter.
Only his comments about Camillia did. “She’s alive and you want her to sleep here.”
“Yes,” he replied slowly. “I’ve mentioned that at least twice now.”
“And you want me to train her for the next trial.”
“As a gift, please, yes. Unless you think training is a tangible gift, then… then I would preferyougive her that knowledge. Just as you cansharethe items you’ve recently acquired.” He smiled. “I’ve given her nothing other than food, which is allowed within the parameters of the deal.”
I had no idea what “deal” he was referring to, nor did I really care.
Because he’d just confirmed that Camillia was alive.
And he’d given me cause for a second chance.
A chance to truly help her. A chance to make things right.
It was a dangerous reality. A potentially lethal twist of fate. But I couldn’t deny the pounding in my heart or the need to see this through. “I’ll help her.” The statement wasn’t just for Melek, but for me as well.
It would be risky to attach myself to her.
But I accepted that risk over losing her again.
This was the second chance I’d never had with Emelyn. A second chance I wouldn’t deny myself now. Not when I had the opportunity to finally do something right.
“She’s in her cell?”
“She is,” Melek confirmed. “Shall I bring her here?” He held out his palm. “It’s a simple spell, and I would be doing it for you, not her. Which again does not break the deal.”
His obsession with this deal must be important, but my focus remained on Camillia. “Bring her here.” Not because I didn’t want to go to her myself, but because it was a faster method that would either prove all of this was true or quickly morph into a realistic nightmare to remind me of her death.
Melek grinned. “I’ll settle her in your bed.”
He started toward the bedroom, words humming under his breath. His magic differed from mine, his spells in a language that sounded similar to the one Midnight Fae used for spells. And yet it was vastly different at the same time. Still lyrical, almost like a song. Just unique phrases that I couldn’t understand.
But whatever he’d said had worked.
Because Camillia was asleep in my bed by the time I reached my bedroom door.
“I suggest enchanting the snake-vines to keep guard and ensure she doesn’t leave without permission. That way, she’s still technically incarcerated,” Melek murmured as he wandered over to tuck a strand of damp hair behind Camillia’s ear.
She sighed in response, her breath the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.
