Page 74 of Hell Fae Commander

However, my actions had done more damage than good.

But what if he’d reacted? What would Typhos have done to him in response?What would he have done to Cami?

Guilt welled in my chest as the female in question continued to stare at me.

None of this was her fault.

She’d merely been thrust into a life she’d never asked for, dragged into a set of trials she hadn’t even realized existed, and essentially put on display like a trophy simply because of what she was.

Rare. Coveted. Powerful.

She and I aren’t so different,I realized.Because Vivaxia once did the same thing to me.

“So Az isn’t in charge at all right now,” Cami said slowly. “Meaning whatever we command him to do… we’re actually commanding his Phoenix?”

Ajax considered me for a long moment, then nodded. “The spell was meant to tame his beast, so I think that’s the case.”

“And you don’t know the limitations or what else that spell is doing?”

“No.”

“Yet you used it anyway?” she pressed, her brow furrowing. “What if it’s hurting him?”

His eyebrows lifted. “You would care? After what he’s done?”

“Well, no.” She glanced at him. “I don’t know.” Her gaze returned to my Phoenix. “But his beast isn’t the problem. His beast seems to actually like me.”

I like you, too,I thought at her, irritated by the insinuation that only my Phoenix liked her.How is that not obvious by now?

I’d defended her in front of Typhos. Taken her side andthankedher for closing the portal. I’d only gone to him to ask him to help battle whatever magic seemed to be hurting her while she’d slept.

But I hadn’t been given an opportunity to say anything before Ajax had disappeared with her.

And now that opportunity had been stripped from me again because of this damn spell.

My beast bristled, seemingly annoyed on my behalf as well. Perhaps he could sense my emotions, my dismay that she thought I didn’tlikeher. My sadness over Ajax’s lack of trust. My frustration over not being able to speak my piece.

Cami lifted her hand toward my Phoenix, causing Ajax to freeze.

“Cami,” he cautioned. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

Wow,I thought at him.You really think my beast is going to attack her? He’s fucking infatuated with her. All he’s going to do is purr for her.

Which, of course, he did, the vibrations loud and obnoxious and momentarily drowning out all other sound in my mind.

Cami’s lips twitched as she gave my Phoenix a scratch behind the ear, like one would a dog. “You’re kind of cute like this,” she told me. Or I supposed she was talking more to my bird than to me. Maybe both. Who the fuck knew?

Ajax rolled his eyes.

My bird just purred louder, his beak nuzzling her wrist.

A rose in the evening shade surrounded by a field of mint and pine,I marveled as my Phoenix inhaled deeply.Fuck, that’s an addicting scent.

No wonder my beast was purring.

It smells like home.

Like where we belong.