Page 74 of Hell Fae Captive

Ajax was providing me with much-needed details that might help me with this insane trial.

“Stay away from any tunnels that smell like sulfur. Minotaurs guard them, and if you’re lost inside them, they’ll find you. Their sense of direction is impeccable, and they never lose their way. They’ll know exactly how to trap you.”

“No tunnels. Got it.”

He readjusted his position on the floor, crossing his long legs. My gaze threatened to fall, but I snapped them back up to his face. Because I wasnotabout to be distracted by the way his white shirt clung to his body. Or the way his black track pants defined his thick, muscular thighs.

Focus, Cami,I told myself.Your life depends on it.

“The creature you should be extra wary of,” he continued, “is the Naga. Their true forms are snakelike, with female heads and chests. But they can camouflage themselves with magic to look like Hell Fae or someone you might trust. If you see someone who doesn’t belong, or seems suspicious, or perhaps too good to be true, thendon’tapproach them until you’re sure of their identity.”

I swallowed, thinking of Melek’s vow of protection. What if I called on him and ran to the open arms of a Naga, thinking he had come to help me?

I made a mental note not to trustanythingout in the Barren Lands. Or Nightmare Fae kingdoms. Or wherever the fuck I was going.

Hell Fae Rule #4: Don’t Trust Anyone.

I could only trust myself.

“You may also come across Banshees and Harpies. They’ll act intimidating, but they won’t harm you as long as you leave them alone. They’re both scavengers and can be found among the dead.” He gave me a serious look as he added, “Of which there will be many by the end of the week.”

“How exciting,” I deadpanned with a shiver, then wrapped my arms around myself. I suddenly found myself leaning toward Ajax, craving the warmth from his body.

How was I actuallycolddown here?

Focus.

“Where did all these creatures come from?” I asked instead of doing something stupid, like curling up against Ajax’s side. “Did Lucifer create them?” Melek had already told me one answer, and I was curious if it was the truth.

Ajax shook his head. “No. At least, I don’t think so. The Hellbeasts, otherwise known as Nightmare Fae, were once other types of fae. Specifically, fae who reneged on a deal with Lucifer. These forms are their punishment, which makes them dangerous and angry and oftentimes lethal.”

Double-crossing Lucifer probably led to a fate worse than death.Noted.

Ajax rubbed his hands together. He was agitated, which meant he wasn’t supposed to be helping me.

I shuddered to think who would punish the Warden.

“Next, it won’t be easy, but there is sparse nutrition available in the Barren Lands if you know where to look. Fire plants, namely, although they’re rare. They’re red and resemble fire—hence the namefire plants—but their stems are edible. Just don’t eat the leaves. Those will kill you.”

My jaw ticked.

Melek’s spell that could conjure food from objects sounded like a better option, but magic had its limits, so I took a mental note of the edible plant. Although, I would have to be pretty fucking starved to eat something that resembled fire and had poisonous leaves.

“Only the stems,” I reiterated when I realized he was waiting for confirmation. “Understood.”

He narrowed his eyes. “For water, there’s a cactus-like plant—it’s obsidian and spiny. If you break into it, you’ll find a few droplets. But avoid the thorns, because—”

“Let me guess,” I interrupted. “They’ll kill me.”

“They’re coated with deadly toxins, yes.”

Great.

Everything in the Barren Lands was fatal.

Literal Hell.

Survival sounded impossible. But at least now I was more prepared than before.