“Oh.” I eyed the male’s open palm and warily gave him mine in return. “Cami. Short for Camillia. But please don’t call me that.”
“Then call me Kols instead of Kolstov,” he replied, releasing my hand.
“Deal, Kols.”
“Deal, Cami,” he echoed before glancing at Aflora. “Ifyou need my help with Dragonya, let me know. Otherwise, I’ll leave you to your garden stroll.”
She offered him a relieved smile. “Thank you.”
The male winked and walked back into the house rather than vanishing into a cloud. He softly shut the door, leaving me alone with Aflora on the stoop.
“Shall we, then?” she asked, gesturing to the black brick path before us.
“Sure,” I agreed. “Why not?”
Seeing the grounds would help me think. Or perhaps it would just be an escape. Regardless, it was definitely what I needed right now.
I’m here if you need me,Ajax murmured, his words reminiscent of the ones Kols had just given Aflora.
Thank you,I replied, understanding Aflora’s sentiment.
CHAPTER17
CAMI
Aflora ledthe way in silence, seeming to understand that I needed a few minutes to process everything that had happened.
It was all a lot to take in.
I just needed to breathe.
To process what Az had done.
To determine the best way forward.
Not that there was much I could do about the mating now. His Phoenix had staked his claim, bonding us for eternity. I’d heard that in Az’s mind, understood that there was no choice in the matter.
We were officially connected.
The strange part was—I didn’t feel all that upset about it. It confused me because I should be furious. Yet I wasn’t.
Maybe it was hearing all those immediate thoughts in Az’s mind that had calmed whatever ire I would have otherwise felt. But he’d been just as conflicted, just as alarmed and surprised by his Phoenix’s actions.
He’s suffering, too,I’d realized almost right away.
The spell Ajax had cast over him hurt, had brought up some sort of past I didn’t quite understand, and left him vulnerable. His Phoenix had reacted to that vulnerability and completed a bond he’d apparently already initiated via Ajax.
An animalistic reaction.
Not an emotional one.
Az—the man—hadn’t meant to take my choice away. And his bird didn’t really know any better.
Was I angry? Yes. But I also understood.
So confusing,I muttered to myself as Aflora led me to her gardens.
Although, they weren’t reallygardensin the traditional sense of the term. It was more like a gothic forest, littered with leafless branches, random peach trees, and flowers thatburned.
