He glanced at his hands, then at me, and sighed. “Why are you here, Melek?”
“For you,” I said, deciding to be straightforward. “Ty’s requesting an audience.”
His jaw ticked, not because he was surprised, but because he wasn’t thrilled by my announcement.
“And why would I do that?” he asked.
I casually leaned against the wall and crossed my arms. I had no doubt we’d both be heading back to the audience chamber in the Hell Fae Kingdom shortly. I always got my way. “Because Ty has a deal for you, and it’s one you’re going to want to consider.”
A dark eyebrow shot up. “What kind of deal?”
I clicked my tongue and wagged my finger. “You’re going to have to talk it out with Ty. I assume you want to negotiate the terms, and I can’t do that by proxy.”
I could, actually, but I needed Ty to come to the inevitable conclusion I had reached.
There was only one way we all got what we wanted.
“And Cami?” he asked. “You just expect me to leave her unprotected?”
I smiled. Cami was safe, at least until the ball. I’d made sure of that.
“She has Az, doesn’t she? She’s his mate, too. And she has protection as a guest of the Midnight Fae Royal Circle. She’s a Midnight Fae herself now, thanks to you. If that’s not protection enough, I don’t know what is.” I stroked my chin. “And it would be a real shame if you didn’t have enough time to consider all the facets of this deal before the ball. Especially when it could protect Cami like you seem so keen on doing.”
If he was wise, he’d make sure the wording was perfect.
The Hell Fae King was a master of loopholes. Vivaxia was to thank for that.
And I fully expected Cami to help Ajax with the deal that Ty proposed. I’d been giving her examples of past deals not just for her sake but also for our dear Warden’s.
Ty thought we had lost him, but we could get him back if this played out correctly.
“Hmm,” he said. “Protect her how?”
“Come with me and find out.”
“I’m just supposed to trust you?”
“Yes,” I replied, pulling out a card from Ty. “He gives you his word that he won’t keep you there. He really does just want to talk.”
Ajax glanced down at the writing, his brow furrowing at the elegant script. “A one-way ticket out of Hell?”
I lifted a shoulder. “Ty knew you’d be hesitant.”
“And he expects me to believe the writing on a card will save me?”
“Considering his penchant for deals and the fact that he used his favorite pen to craft that note for you, yes.” I studied him. “He doesn’t want to hurt you, Ajax. He just wants to talk. Ask Az. He’ll tell you.”
“That would require me to trust Az.”
I tsked. “You might be mad at him, but you know deep down that his Phoenix wouldn’t let you leave if he thought you might be in danger. Your life is tied to his now.”
Ajax’s jaw ticked, his blue-black eyes flashed as he tongued his lower lip.
Energy hummed in the air, suggesting that he was reaching out to Az, just like I’d recommended.
I waited, not bothering to mention the consequences of what would happen if Ajax didn’t consider hearing Ty’s deal. I didn’t need to threaten him, and that would only cause division when there needn’t be any.
Ty would eventually find a workaround to the Interrealm Fae law that protected Ajax and Cami. It would likely have something to do with their new mate-bond with Az. Given Ty’s mate-bond with Az, that made things a bit murky.
