Page 58 of Hell Fae Captive

“Then your silence is compliance,” I replied softly, flipping a page and pretending to read the contents. It was all for show, of course.

The spells I wished to teach her weren’t the words scrawling across these pages as the book chose what it wanted to display with no real order at all.

Right now it was showing me a summary of ancient events involving the Virtuous Source. I ignored the historical text and focused on what Cami actually needed to know.

“Ah, yes. Here it is,” I lied.

I began to recite a passage from memory out loud, giving her the incantations required to create natural shade and another enchantment that would cool her body in the sweltering heat.

“I do hope you’re paying attention, Cami,” I mused without looking at her. “This is riveting information.” And truly, it was, because I’d flipped to a page within the text that talked about the creation of the Hell Fae Source.

How fascinating that you’re choosing to show me this now,I thought at the charmed book, curious.

The book wasn’t a standard manual with a table of contents. Instead, it showed authorized readers—meaning those with a link to the magical pages—information pertinent to an existing situation. Which was why Cami’s ability to see and understand the words had fascinated me so intensely.

This treasured item belonged to Ty. It was spelled to react to his energy signature, and his energy signature alone. I could only read it because I was his mate. Az would also be able to read it.

And, apparently, Cami could as well.

Hence, my intrigue.

I glanced up to find her glaring at me. “Do you not approve of the spells?” I asked conversationally.

“Did you give me the cupcake and say it was from the Warden?”

My lips curled at her direct change in subject. “Why would you think that?”

“Because he didn’t seem to know what I was talking about.”

“Ah,” I hummed. “Well.” I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter much now, does it?”

“Your charm is the reason I’m in this cell.”

“Hmm, no,” I said thoughtfully. “You using my charm is why you’re in this cell. That was your decision to make, not mine.”

Her expression told me she did not like that answer. “Why are you here?”

I studied her, questioning her ability to hear. “I’m providing you with thegiftof knowledge. So I do hope you’ve been listening.”

She muttered two spells back at me, causing the air to tingle a little with magic. “I’m listening,” she added. “Just not sure I should trust anything you say.”

“And yet, you can probably sense the correctness of my words now, yes?” I asked her, noting the sweat along her brow and her visible sigh. “Feeling a bit cooler, hmm?”

She opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but paused before any voice could escape, and instead furrowed her brow.

“Yes, I can see that you do.” I flipped the page, noting the continued history lesson about Ty creating the Hell Fae Source from his Virtuous heritage, and skimmed the page while saying unrelated words out loud about other spells regarding atmospheric items.

Technically, the limit was three gifts per captive.

But that only applied to tangible gifts, such as food—which Ty had said I could give. He’d never said anything about knowledge.

So I spent the next hour pretending to read while I gave her all the magical tools she would need to survive her opening game.

“Ah, and this section is about creation,” I said, partially telling the truth since it was still showing me notes about the Hell Fae Source. But instead, I told her the enchantments that could turn rocks into edible items and lava into drinkable water. Then I hummed a few additional items about morphing sand or other items into weapons.

By the time I finished, she was watching me seriously, her gaze telling me she’d not only heard every word but had also committed them to memory.

Smart little angel, I thought, pleased.