Page 64 of Hell Fae Captive

Via Virtuous means.

That shouldn’t be possible.

“ConsiderhowI was able to bond her.”

His words whispered through my mind, my ire weakening in favor of the puzzle unfolding inside my head. I slowly opened my eyes, the room coming back into focus.

Az was no longer standing near me.

He sat in a lounge chair, drinking his own crystal tumbler of auburn liquid. Some sort of hellsprite, I imagined.

The glass I’d shattered was nowhere to be seen, suggesting he’d cleaned it up.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, my voice gruff.

His lips curled, his Phoenix staring back at me through his darkened irises. “It’s not the worst of your messes I’ve cleaned up.”

I grunted and walked over to fix myself yet another drink.

Then I took the chair opposite him.

We drank in silence for several long minutes before he asked, “Was it Camillia De la Croix?”

“Is that her name?” I hadn’t even bothered to gather that information from Melek. “The girl with the necklace? Candidate Sixty-Six?”

He dipped his chin. “Camillia De la Croix.” He took another sip, then set his glass to the side. “She’s quite spirited. Ajax seems rather taken with her, too.”

My eyebrows lifted. “What is with this female? Does she have a magic pussy?”

Az smirked. “I’m not sure, but if you’d like someone to take it for a trial run, I volunteer.”

“Fuck. You, too?” I blew out my breath and drew my fingers through my hair. This female had earned the attention of both my mates and my Warden. That couldn’t be a coincidence. I put my drink on the table beside me and held out my palm. “Vita. Ven ad me.”

Az said nothing, aware of what I wanted.

It took a few minutes—longer than expected—but my book finally appeared, the familiar leather putting me instantly at ease. “Show me everything about Camillia De la Croix,” I commanded.

The pages flew open to reveal the contract between me and her father, a Hell Fae I barely knew. “Pierre De la Croix, mated to a human, desired freedom from the soul payments he owed for my continued protection.”

All fae under my rule gave back to the Hell Fae Source via soul payments—simply energy exchanges that tied them to me and the source, allowing the underworld to flourish with renewed energy.

“Find him for me,” I said, looking up at Az. “I think we need to have a discussion about hischarmingdaughter.” Because I didn’t trust her in the slightest.

Melek hadn’t been drawn to anyone other than me for thousands of years, yet this woman had seduced him into a bond within days.

No. Something was very wrong here.

Az nodded. “Would you like him brought here to the paradigm?”

“Here,” I said.

“Understood.” He picked up his glass to finish the contents, then wandered over to put the glass in the sink. “I’ll likely be gone for tomorrow’s trial.”

“I’ll supervise the proceedings,” I told him. It would give me an excuse to observe this little captive who had captivated my men.

Az dipped his chin again. “Speak soon.” He phased once more, his dark energy a kiss to my senses.

Thank you,I whispered into his mind.