Typhos was my mate. My best friend. Myking.
Ajax… Ajax was supposed to be a passing fancy. Yet he’d become so much more. And Cami…
I swallowed.
You’re fucking with my head,I accused my Phoenix.
My inner beast huffed in reply.
And Typhos cleared his throat. “You pledged your fealty to me,” he said, his words seeming to be for my animal more than for me. “In blood.”
“Fealty, yes,” I agreed, sensing my beast’s irritation. “But fealty doesn’t mean blind obedience.”
Which was precisely what my bird was trying to convey now—he might be my other half, my inner spirit, but that didn’t mean we would always agree on a path forward. We were just usually in sync with one another, gliding along the same current in the wind.
However, Cami resembled a ripple in our airstream. A divide I couldn’t ignore. Because it had me going one way and sent my bird in the opposite direction.
“Perhaps it would be wise to begin the pursuit in the morning. Give everyone a chance to thoroughly process tonight’s events,” Melek offered.
“You mean the event where aHalflingnot only accessed my power but also used it?” Typhos asked, his focus still on me despite his reply being for his Hell Fae Prince. “An event that happenedafterI warned her not to touch my source again?”
“An event that saved lives in your kingdom,” Melek replied. “An event that showcased a talent we need to investigate and analyze, not squander and destroy.”
Typhos’s jaw clenched as he shifted his attention to his royal mate.
Silence fell as the two of them engaged in a silent conversation, one I couldn’t hear even with my link to Typhos’s mind.
Just as Melek wouldn’t be able to hear me speaking to Typhos.
Although, I could sense the emotions inspired by their conversation. And right now, Typhos was simmering with barely restrained anger. Outwardly, he appeared calm and collected, his expression almost bored. But inside, he was furious.
Fortunately, Melek was well versed in tempering the Hell Fae King’s rage, something that became evident within minutes as Typhos’s mind began to calm.
“Ajax chose the girl over us,” Typhos finally said aloud, his gaze going from Melek to me. “He’s reneged on our deal, Az. You know what that means. But if you wish to prolong his eventual agony, so be it.”
My eyes narrowed. The Hell Fae King was baiting me by providing a choice. He was essentially saying,Find Ajax now, and perhaps I’ll lessen his punishment. Wait, and I’ll take my wrath out on his sentence.
“Camillia was never part of his deal with you,” I replied.
“No. Our deal revolved around his promise to protect me and the Hell Fae, and he’s turned his back on everything we’ve given him by choosing the Halfling.”
“We promised to protect him, too,” I pointed out. “Yet we failed him tonight. We reneged on the agreement first. Therefore, the deal was already null and void.”
Typhos’s eyebrows shot upward. “You dare accusemeof breaking one of my own contracts?”
“Yes.” I stepped forward, my gaze holding his without remorse. Without fear. Without hesitation.
Because I was his Hell Fae Commander. His right-hand man. Hismate.
He kept me here for a reason—to help him maintain balance. To guard him and his kind. To stand at his side for all of eternity and ensure no one ever hurt him again.
But he granted me that right because I’d earned it through my faith in him. And part of that faith involved an undercurrent of unerring honesty between us.
“Our actions tonight reminded Ajax of Constantine. I froze him with my power to protect him, but that’s not how he perceived my actions. He felt we were forcing him to watch you torture Cami, just like Constantine did when killing Ajax’s loved ones.”
Typhos’s nostrils flared at the mention of Constantine, his oceanic irises darkening with violent waves. “I am not Constantine.”
“No, you’re not,” I agreed.
