Not bow at my feet.
His shadows preceded his powerful form, his essence seeming to blend into the fiery walls of my chambers. It was different from before, his unique energy typically at odds with my own.
However, today his aura appeared to be dancing with mine.Growing. Enflamed with mutual appreciation.
Well, now that is interesting,I mused, eyeing the way my essence responded to his.Interesting, indeed.
I took over my preferred throne, my curiosity piqued by this unexpected change. It seemed mating Camillia had altered Ajax’s magic, his new energy surprisingly compatible with my own.
Melek materialized a moment later, a sinful smile tugging at his perfect lips while he followed Ajax into the room.
Are you going to tell me more about your visit with Zenaida?I asked him.Or perhaps about how you coaxed Az into a conversation about Vivaxia?
My prince’s amusement grew.I believe Ajax was seeking validation from Zenaida. As for Az, I believe that conversation was long overdue.
And you felt it was your place to introduce that conversation?
I simply provided Cami with the means for introducing it herself,he countered.Az needed a way to earn her trust. He—like you—was too stubborn to figure it out on his own, so I provided a solution. That’s not meddling, Ty. That’s helping.
I snorted. “Your definition ofhelpfulismeddling,” I told him out loud.
Melek merely smiled once more and took over the chair to my right. “Did you find Zenaida’s taming spell to be meddling or helpful, Ajax?”
My gaze narrowed. Yougave Zenaida the taming spell?
Not exactly.No elaboration. No remorse. He merely stared at Ajax, waiting for him to reply.
“You mean the spell you left for me with Zenaida’s cookies?” Ajax replied, his own eyes slitting into a glare. “Why would you help me hurt Az?”
“I didn’t help you hurt him, I helped you tame him.” Melek glanced at me. “See, Ty?Helping,not meddling.”
My jaw ticked.So then you gave Ajax the spell Vivaxia used on Az?
A variant of it,he drawled.One Az could easily break had he actually attempted to.
Have you lost your fucking mind?I demanded, entirely focused on Melek now rather than the deal I’d been about to propose to Ajax.Do you have no consideration for Az’s past? The damage that spell could cause?
Melek finally sobered, his multicolored eyes swirling with a myriad of truths and secrets. “The spell was written in a way that Az could break. But he trusted Ajax not to take advantage of his power, thus he never actually fought it. The purpose was to reveal the truth, and I believe the spell accomplished that.”
“What truths?” I asked him. “Onesyouthink Camillia is worthy of hearing?”
“Yes.” There was no hint of teasing in his tone now. “They’re truths Ajax is worthy of hearing as well.”
Camillia needs to know the history of your fall and our Commander needs to be prepared for the coming turmoil—something he cannot do if he is weighed down by the past,Melek added into my mind. The Black Phoenix has finally found his mates. Telling his history to someone safe will help him process that history once and for all.
I am his mate,I countered.He could always talk to me.
You’re not hisPhoenix’smate,Melek replied.
Oh, I supposed not. I had bonded Azazel through my source using the Virtuous Fae spell—but that only tied me to the fae. Not the beast within.
His souls had always been separate in nature. However, mating Camillia and Ajax had changed him. I couldn’t define exactly what had changed, but I could sense it. Almost as though his souls had united and were growing stronger every day.
Yet he hadn’t needed to use me to expunge his power.
Actually, I barely felt his burn. Almost as though he’d found another way to maintain his energy.
Via his new mates.
