I’m not doing that again.
Gathering a limp Camillia in my arms, I squeezed her as shadows began to unfurl around us.
I knew what I had to do.
At my core, I was still a Midnight Fae. And there were still those I could trust in the Midnight Fae Realm.
They’d eradicated a powerful being like Lucifer. Opened their lands to those with gifts similar to Camillia’s. Allowed a queen of mixed origins to rule.
Theywould provide us with sanctuary.
They would give Cami a fucking fighting chance.
The door creaked open, and I glared through the growing shadows to see Az and Typhos staring at me.
Az’s eyes widened with shock, whereas Typhos, wearing nothing but a royal robe, settled his vacant stare on the female in my arms.
There was no going back now.
Az dared to appear hurt, like he couldn’t believe I would leave him like this.
I’d joined him as the Warden with a role to track monsters and keep them in check.
But Cami wasn’t a monster.Wewere.
This isn’t what I signed up for,I thought.
Then the Hell Fae Realm dissolved around me as I shadowed Cami to the one place she would receive welcome.
To the one person who would understand.
I hope you’re ready for us, Queen Aflora.
Because I’m coming home.
CHAPTER7
AZ
Fuck.
The look on Ajax’s face as he disappeared was one of resignation and determination.
He’d made a choice.Cami.
And now he was gone.
I blinked at the empty space before me, my mind whirling. The only evidence that Ajax and Camillia had just been there a moment before was the remnant shadows dissipating over the couch.How the fuck had this gone so wrong?
I… I hadn’t meant…I was doing myjob. Why can’t he understand that?
My fingers flexed, my hand itching with the need to palm my heart. It was a maddening reaction, one I didn’t have time for. Yet I couldn’t help but feel…betrayed.
Except it was my fault. I’d pushed Ajax too far, and now…This has to be repairable.We had history. Over a decade of it. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—reject me after all that time over a female.
My Phoenix bristled inside, his reaction stirring a burning sensation through my veins. He seemed to be saying,He would and should.
Because my bird was pissed, too.
