Page 79 of Hell Fae Commander

It’s real,I marveled, stepping closer to the black bark. “What kind of tree is this?” I asked, confused by the color as well as its location.

“My re-creation of a burning thwomp tree,” the woman replied. “I call them sturdy thwomps.”

Sturdy thwomps?I repeated to myself.An odd name.“They’re pretty.”

“Thank you.” She sounded pleased by my compliment. “My garden is full of them, if you want to see more. Although, there are other things there, too. Like peach trees.”

I glanced at her again. “Peach trees?”

“One of my oldest friends loves human peaches. He made me a fan of them, too. So now I grow them.”

“Oh.” I was a fae of a lot of words today, apparently.

No idea why,I thought sardonically.

My fingers curled into a fist as I looked at the source of my current frustration. The fiery crescent mark on my wrist had already cauterized, but it didn’t appear to be fully healing.

Your bite is going to leave a scar, isn’t it?I thought at Az.

He didn’t reply, his mind quieter than before.

I frowned.Az?

Nothing.

I turned to face the hallway I’d just wandered down, like I could somehow find the room I’d left however long ago.Ajax?

Yeah?he replied instantly.

Did you knock Az out?I asked, my heart skipping a beat. Ajax wouldn’t kill him… right?

No. But I can, if you want.

I frowned.I… no. I don’t want that.At least, I didn’t think I did.I can’t hear him.

He’s erecting some sort of mental wall,Ajax muttered.Or that’s what I’ve gathered from his mind, anyway. He kept thinking about what a power explosion would do to us if he kept his mind exposed.

Oh. There was that brilliant word again.Is he okay?

I couldn’t see Ajax, but I felt him bristling.He’s fine.

Are you okay?I hedged.

Silence fell for a long beat. Then I heard Ajax mentally sigh.Yeah, I’m okay, little rebel. You?

I pinched my lips to the side.I don’t know. I’m kind of?—

“Did one of my creatures bite you?” the female asked suddenly, reminding me of her presence. Her cerulean blue eyes were focused on my chest. Glancing down I realized I’d pressed my fist to my heart, but it was rotated a little to reveal the dark crescent mark in my skin.

“No, it was a Phoenix,” I told her.

Her eyes widened. “A Phoenix? Truly? They’re usually so docile.”

I couldn’t help the responding laugh that escaped me. It was more sarcastic than humorous, but the thought of Az beingdocilewas absolutely hysterical. “Not this Phoenix,” I assured her. “This one is intimidating and downright dominant.”

“Dominant?” she repeated with a frown. “I suppose they can be perceived that way. They’re majestic, regal beings that…” She trailed off and tilted her head. “Wait, you’re talking about a man, aren’t you? Not the actual animal?”

“Well, hisanimalis the one that bit me.” I rotated my hand to give her a better view. “And I’m guessing this isn’t going to disappear since apparently we’re now mated for eternity.”