Page 88 of Hell Fae Captive

Shade narrowed his gaze a bit. “And my mate.”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“Then you may want to watch your tone.”

I folded my arms. “You waltzed into my den uninvited, Shade. Now you’re telling me about an event we both know I have no desire to attend. What do you really want?”

“To check up on my friend?” he suggested. “To make sure you’re still alive?”

“Clearly, I am.”

“But are you living?” he pressed, placing his glass of untouched wine on the bar and facing me fully. “You’ve been hiding in this paradigm for a decade, trying to run from your past. That doesn’t make it any less present, Ajax.”

“When did you become your grandmother?”

“Probably when I had a child,” he replied without missing a beat. “It’s a surreal change, truly, but that doesn’t make me any less concerned for you.”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you?” he arched a dark brow. “My grandmother seems to feel otherwise.”

“And what do you feel?” I wondered aloud as I strolled over to my couch to relax into the leather seat again. My gaze flicked to the screen, but it was still dark.Fuck.I hope Camillia is all right.

The pull on my heart had me frowning.

Maybe this distraction from Shade is what I need. I shouldn’t care what happens to her. She’s just a candidate, right?

“I think death is painful,” Shade replied, joining me on the couch and leaving his wine behind. “I think you’re trying to cope and this paradigm is helping you hide from that pain. Which I understand and respect. That’s why I don’t intrude often.” He looked at me.Reallylooked at me. “Just don’t mistake that lack of intrusion for a sign that I don’t care. Because I do. We may have grown apart, but you’re still a brother to me, A.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to nag him about getting sentimental on me.

But something about his words unsettled me too deeply to form a sarcastic retort.

I found myself swallowing and nodding instead, then muttered a spell to call my wine glass to my hand and took several healthy sips.

He followed suit, his nose scrunching at the flavor.

“Not to your liking?” I asked, attempting to distract from the moment that had just worked its way between us.

“It’s a bit sour,” he replied, frowning at it.

“You’re addicted to your mate.”

“Among other things,” he replied, his lips twitching again. “But yes, I tend to only drink from her. Sometimes Kols.”

I grunted. “Talk aboutsour.”

“He’s come a long way since you knew him last.” Shade almost sounded fond of the former Midnight Fae Prince—the same one Emelyn had been engaged to—causing something to stir in my chest.

So much had changed in Shade’s world.

I supposed a lot had changed in mine, too. Just in an entirely different manner.

He was living the dream.

Meanwhile, I hunted disobedient Nightmare Fae and imprisoned them.

How darkly fitting.