Page 73 of Hell Fae Commander

My bird released a soft, sad little sound, perhaps understanding the intentions swirling in the air. Or maybe he was echoing the pain piercing my heart.

Because this was more than a punishment. It was revenge. Harsh. Fucking cruel.

Just like Vivaxia.

CHAPTER15

AZ

Cami crouched beside Ajax,her sinful scent catching my Phoenix’s attention and drawing his focus to her. She hadn’t wielded the spell. Thus, he didn’t fear her. If anything, he seemed to think she would help him.

Her gray eyes studied me, her expression giving nothing away as she took in my beast form. I wasn’t a small Phoenix but a towering creature that looked down at her even while sitting.

She didn’t seem to be afraid, though. Instead, she seemed curious. Awed, even.

Her open admiration had my bird preening in response, his pleasure humming through our joined being despite the haunting memories circling my mind.

“How long do you think this spell will last?” she asked quietly, not remarking on Ajax’s offer to chain me up in a cage.

“I don’t know.” He didn’t appear as taken with my beast as she did, Ajax’s gaze wary rather than admiring. “I need to find a way to detain him because the second Az is free, he’ll take us to Lucifer.”

I frowned inside.Is that what you think? That I’m here to drag you back to Typhos without remorse? Without even offering to have a conversation first?

I’d told the Hell Fae King I wouldtrackCami and Ajax. I hadn’t agreed tohuntthem.

But Ajax didn’t know that.

And he hadn’t given me a chance to explain it either.

Because he no longer trusts me.

I’d bound him with my power, and now, he’d bound me with his magic.

My Phoenix canted his head, his focus still on Cami as she continued to gaze upon him. He blinked a few times, his demeanor far softer than usual. Almost contrite, even. He knew she was upset, and he didn’t like it. Just like he knew Ajax was mad, too. Which was probably why he didn’t appear to be fighting Ajax’s hold over us. He was embracing it instead.

Granted, he’d also done that with Vivaxia.

The enchantment required full compliance. It worked by wrapping around my soul and tethering the Phoenix spirit to the obedience spell.

Like a leash.

Or chains.

The thought had me frowning once more, the parallel between Vivaxia’s spell and Lucifer’s punishment shining brightly in my mind.

No,I told myself.Lucifer is not Vivaxia.

Just like he wasn’t Constantine.

He’d devised a sensual punishment for Cami, one that essentially put me and Ajax in our places as well. It hadn’t been violent.

Yet the emotional damage…

Is that worse?I wondered.

Ajax no longer trusted me. Over a decade of companionship had been dismantled in one night. All because I’d been trying to protect him from making matters worse.

I’d just wanted us to survive the incident and move on.