Page 107 of Hell Fae Commander

Ajax held out his arms. “Don’t make me ask again.” The threat hummed between us. Ajax still had access to the taming spell. He wouldn’t use it, not unless he had to.

The Phoenix’s jaw flexed as if he was going to resist, but maybe Az was trying to reason with him. I could hear the hum of power that went with his coaxing voice, as well as a thread of magic I didn’t understand.

I found myself following it, curious as to where it led.

To his soul.

His soul burned, and not just because he was part Phoenix. Because we’d hurt him.

The notion felt ridiculous after all he’d done, but it seemed like I was missing something, too.

How much did we really know about Az? About his past? Aboutwhyhe was so damn loyal to Lucifer?

It made me wonder if we’d gone too far. If I wasn’t careful, I might start feeling sorry for him.

Or entertaining other feelings, too.

No feelings,I chided myself. Not after learning I was a glorified Black Phoenix baby maker.

But he said he mated me because I’m perfect…

Ugh.I felt so damn conflicted.

Magic worked underneath Az’s skin, and for a moment, it felt similar to strands in a web. It stretched and went taut before he finally moved and held me out to Ajax.

Did Az do something? Is heupto something?

Due to the terms of the agreement, the Phoenix was still in full control. Az must have reasoned with him, or otherwise done something to force him to comply. But there wasn’t any reasoning with a bird, was there?

Then how had he gotten the beast to listen?

Too tired. Don’t care…

I felt weightless as the two males exchanged me, like some sort of precious gift they shared.

Az’s voice swept like a caress in my mind in response to that thought.When you realize this is forever, Cami, I won’t be sharing you. Not at first, anyway. Our mating will be just the two of us. Ajax will join after, and then the both of us will make you come until you black out or beg us to stop. Even then, we won’t.

A swallow worked down my throat as I tried to pretend I hadn’t heard Az say that.

But I certainly had.

And if I was being honest with myself, I liked it.

I’m so fucked.

CHAPTER22

CAMI

Az’s Phoenix had complied.Although, based on the low burn of hatred in his dark eyes, he didn’t like it.

Ajax easily held me in his arms, and I couldn’t help but relax into his embrace. I felt sotired.

I wasn’t sure if Ajax knew about thebreedingissue. If he did, I imagined he would have been pissed. So maybe he hadn’t considered it.

Instead, he appeared satisfied that the Phoenix had obeyed his order. The deal we’d made seemed to be working as intended—keeping Az in the back of his mind while his bird remained in control. Although, that was proving to be annoying and possibly problematic.

His bird acted on instinct, and given the crescent shape mark on my wrist, it felt dangerous to have him in charge for long.