I finished the drink he’d poured for me, then relaxed into the chair across from him. “So what does that mean for us? What does it mean for Camillia?”
“I’m going to train her,” he replied, surprising me. “No more punishments. No more threats. No more questioning her intentions. I see her now. I realize the mistakes I’ve made with her. And I’ll atone for them. But before all of that, I’m going to teach her everything I know.”
“Why?” I asked. “So you can use her against Vivaxia?”
“No. She’s not a toy or a weapon, and I won’t treat her like a pawn. I’m not Vivaxia. And you questioning my intentions shows just how tarnished our mate-circle has become. I’m going to fix it. And I’ll start by healing whatever spell Vivaxia has put inside Camillia.”
I leaned forward, caught up in what he was saying and zeroing in on that last line. “You feel the magic, too.”
“Of course I feel it. The stench of it is all over her.”
“Like a fucking bouquet of sickly flowers,” I muttered.
“Vivaxia’s trademark perfume,” he drawled. “We’re going to dismantle whatever gift she’s left inside Camillia, then embolden Camillia with knowledge and skill, so next time, she can properly defend herself. It’s what I should have done from the moment I met her. Instead, I tried to imprison her.”
“For protection,” I translated, recalling his earlier comments about what he’d done with all the pawns. “You feel bad for what you’ve done to her.”
“Feeling bad is irrelevant,” he said, his gaze falling to his glass. “I made a mistake. I’m owning that. Apologizing for it. And now, I’m going to fix it.” Tidal waves swirled in his irises as he looked back up at me. “Can you forgive me?”
I stared at him. “Would you forgive someone for trying to corner Melek into a mating agreement?”
His lips twitched. “He asked me something similar.”
“And what did you say?”
“That I’d kill the asshole.”
I almost smiled. “I suppose that’s one answer.”
“Are you saying you need to drive that flaming sword of yours through my heart?” he asked, arching a brow. “Would that make us even?”
“Not even close,” I admitted. “But I’ll consider it as an option for later.”
“Later?” he repeated.
“We have more important things to do right now,” I told him. “Like help Cami and take down Vivaxia.” I pushed away from the chair. “After that, I’ll consider stabbing you.”
He smiled. “It’s a date.”
“Don’t get too excited, Typhos. You know I’m going to make it hurt.”
“You realize that just excites me more, yes?” he said, standing as well.
I shook my head. “You’re a sadist, not a masochist.”
One of those neatly shaped eyebrows rose. “Been talking to Melek about my preferences?”
“I’ve been inside your mind long enough to know,” I tossed back at him. “But if you hurt Cami, I really will kill you.” That part I uttered in all seriousness.
He lifted his hands. “I have no intention of touching your female mate.”
I studied him for a long moment, recalling everything we’d discussed. “Hmm. We’ll see.” Because it seemed pretty clear to me that he was beginning to fall for Cami, just like the rest of us had.
“We won’t be seeing anything,” he informed me flatly.
I nodded sagely. “Okay.” If he kept saying it enough, perhaps he’d believe it.
Az,Ajax said, instantly seizing my attention.She’s starting to stir.
