Page 155 of Hell Fae Commander

I’d threatenedher.

Which made me the enemy here. The one he no longer admired or trusted. Yet he still stood there now resembling an equal.A king.

Az’s Phoenix had chosen wisely, at least where Ajax was concerned.

With Camillia—that remained to be seen. However, I was beginning to understand the appeal.

Melek had told me to consider making Ajax an offer for more than just his position. I’d thought of nothing else since he’d said it, my mind wielding all sorts of possibilities and promises that I could bestow on Ajax to win back his favor.

However, none of those were good enough now.

Not when faced with an equal. A changed immortal.A male in love.

There was really only one thing I could offer him that would make him consider returning to his post, returning tome.

“I want to offer you a deal, Warden,” I said, driving straight ot the point.

“Ajax,” he corrected me. “I’m no longer your Warden, if I recall correctly. And even if you do consider me your Warden, I resigned the moment I left.”

The words were delivered with precision and no hint of fear.

Yes, definitely an ideal candidate for my circle, I decided. Because Az spoke to me in the same way.

As does Cami,a small voice whispered into my mind. One that sounded a lot like my mental tone, but Melek’s words.

However, my prince was focused on Ajax, not me. I could feel his intense stare as though it were my own, his anticipation palpable.

He’d played his hand.

Now he wanted to see how I would play mine.

I suspected I was about to lay down the cards he’d sorted for me, which would normally make me want to shock him by doing something unexpected—just to increase the excitement of his games.

But I was tired of the one we were already lost within.

I needed a change.

I needed a way forward.

I need a stronger circle. Without it, I might lose my kingdoms and the fae within them. Because whoever was behind all these attacks, was far more clever than any adversary of my past. They were using others—manipulating them with Virtuous Fae magic—to attack my home, myfae.

To battle them, I would need to be at full strength. I couldn’t achieve that when my powers were being stretched all over the realm, fixing these destructive portals, and healing my battered fae.

Ajax was an asset, one I should have promoted long ago. Welcomed into the fold.Made into a Hell Fae.

But I’d kept him on the outside. Choosing to use him where I could without ever really letting him in.

That changed now.

“Camillia De la Croix has accessed my power more than once, her ability to siphon and use my abilities something I cannot stand for in my position,” I told him.

His lips parted, his stoic facade fracturing beneath what I imagined would be an argument in her defense. However, I stalled it with a raise of my hand.

“That said, I’m willing to guarantee her safety in my realm,” I said, beginning the terms of the deal. “I’m willing to overlook her abilities and offer her a home here. With you. If you wish to return.”

His jaw snapped shut, shock seeming to render him mute.

“While I’m sure you’re enjoying your stay with the Midnight Fae Queen and her mates, you can’t remain there forever. Sure, you could find a Midnight Fae home somewhere, but what would you do? What purpose would you serve? Is that what Camillia wants?”