Page 126 of Hell Fae Commander

Whereas my end of the bargain was much more solid, and even more painfully evident as Melek repeated it aloud.

“And you will recite the incantation we spoke before while we cut our palms, one that will deepen our soul connection, to allow me to better protect you.”

It was interesting, though, that he included his protection in his terms. Maybe it was to show me that the deal might be more even than it sounded.

“This sounds an awful lot like yourvow of protection.” Actually, it sounded like a blood vow.

“Because it is,” he said with a sensual smirk. “It’s the next level of that particular spell, anyway. Do you remember the words?”

How could I forget? The incantation had released an initial burst of power within me, feeling like I had dipped my toes into both frost and fire at the same time.

While my training underneath my father’s tutelage had made foreign spells natural on my tongue, there was something different about the words I had once repeated back to Melek.

Nadeehar Laki Nafsi.

It wasn’t just about protection. That incantation, paired with Melek’s kiss on my cheek, had fundamentally connected us. His talisman fueled me with power, and even now with it tucked away in the nightstand, I could still feel his essence curling around me like Ajax’s shadows.

The truth was evident now. It wasn’t the talisman that gave me Melek’s power. It was nothing more than a medium to strengthen a connection that was already there.

Now, I couldn’t deny what was happening as Melek’s gaze dipped to my lips.

This was a mate-bond. I knew what he was doing. That much had already been illustrated. That the so-called vow of protection had been the first step to mating me. But just like the bite of a Black Phoenix, it was already permanent.

I couldn’t back out of it anyway.

And hopefully, it behaved the same way as the Midnight Fae bonds, thus requiring three steps to reach fruition instead of one or two.

I didn’t think my soul would accept Melek at the final level, even if I wanted to, but the second might be possible.

Something to consider, because this might work in my favor.

Growing closer to Melek would place me in an advantageous position against the Hell Fae King. It was Melek who had prevented my execution—something I imagined would not have been possible had hisvow of protectionnot been in place. Lucifer had hesitated not just because of Melek’s protests, but because I was linked to Melek’s soul.

Killing me would hurt him.

And that gave me leverage—leverage that would only deepen if I took the next step with Melek.

“Little angel?” he prompted. “Do you remember the words?”

I cleared my throat and nodded. “Yes. I do.” The words sounded stupidly like a marriage vow.

My skin tingled as energy hummed in the room. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I knew I was stepping into dangerous territory.

I became acutely aware that I was, once again, naked. Melek seemed to time his visits around the state of my wardrobe.

Or lack thereof.

A beautiful dagger flashed into existence in Melek’s palm. Another appeared beside me on the bed.

Feeling numb, I picked it up.

He placed the tip of his own dagger at the top of his palm, then waited for me to do the same.

“We must say the words together, and at the same time. You must also trust me, or this won’t work.”

Do I trust Melek?

No. Yes. Maybe.