Page 77 of Hell Fae Commander

But it did apply now.

Because my Phoenix finally chose his mates.

Had Ajax always been a candidate, and I’d just misinterpreted my bird’s interest in him? Or was this all about Cami?

I’d bitten her for Ajax.

But I’d been in human form.

However, maybe… maybe it was all related? Maybe I’d provoked my Phoenix while playing with Ajax and Cami?

Or maybe she’s been an ideal mate all along, and that’s why I’ve been so drawn to her.

My Phoenix’s primary goal was tomate. Not to just find a partner, but tobreed.

Was Cami an ideal mother for my future progeny?

Is that why you wanted her so badly?I asked my bird.To rut?

Does it matter?Another part of me wondered.It’s done. It can’t be undone.

I also didn’t really want to undo it.

This—despite the circumstances—felt right.

My bird was in pain from the spell, his sense of betrayal still humming through our veins, but inside, my beast was finally content. He’d found the other half of his soul.In Cami and in Ajax.

They balanced my fiery spirit.

But do I balance them?I finally pulled myself out of my mind to take in my surroundings once more. Ajax stood before me, arms folded, expression murderous.

And Cami… I tried to look around, to find her. However, my Phoenix was sitting and staring straight at Ajax instead.

You issued more commands,I realized, sighing inside. At least these commands hadn’thurt.

I did,he confirmed, his mental voice sharp.

Oh. What was my Phoenix doing?

His eyebrows lifted.Your Phoenix just forcefullymatedus. Do I need more of a reason to tame him?

I bristled at his tone and the question.He was reacting on instinct. Similar to how you reacted when I arrived—to talk, not to take you back to Typhos, by the way.

He snorted.He ordered you to hunt us. You do realize I heard that part in your thoughts, right?

I told him I’dtrackyou, Ajax. Nothunt. There’s a difference.

He rolled his eyes at me.Sounds the same to me.

Well, they mean very different things to my beast.I went back into the recesses of my psyche again, searching for the blocks I needed to wall off my mind.

Ajax’s demeanor told me exactly how he felt about thisforced mating.

And Cami, well, it seemed she’d left. I only knew that because of my link to her thoughts. I didn’t want to intrude on her more than I already had, so I backed off and left her to think on her own.

Just as I left Ajax alone in front of me.

If he wanted to play an obedience game with my bird, so be it. I had a job to do.Inside my mind.