Page 84 of Hell Fae Commander

I blinked at it all, stunned by the beauty of the landscape. It was fresh out of a fantasy book with all the foreign wildlife prancing around.

And wow, she hadn’t been kidding about having phoenixes. They weren’t black like Az’s beast, but fiery red and orange. They lit up the night sky as they flew overhead, their majestic forms glowing with flickering embers.

“Az is a lot bigger than that,” I told Aflora as I watched one land on a perch nearby. “Like twice the size.”

“Probably because he’s a Shifter Fae rather than a proper phoenix.” She wandered over with her hand outstretched, some sort of flower forming in her palm. The creature bent to pluck it from her fingertips, its sharp beak careful not to nip.

Unlike another Phoenix I know,I marveled.

He’s not enamored with or imprinted on her the way my Phoenix is with you,Az replied quietly, our link apparently open once more.

I didn’t immediately reply, instead poking at the connection he’d created and trying to determine how deep it went. But it seemed I couldn’t hear anything from his mind now. That, or he just wasn’t thinking of anything at all.Did you finish your wall?I asked, referring to the one Ajax had mentioned.

I’m still building it, but the preliminary layer is there, yes.

To keep us from hearing your thoughts?

To keep you from feeling my magical outbursts,he corrected.I can dismantle it at will, but it needs to be there to keep you both safe.

I wanted to accuse him of lying, but I couldn’t. Because I’d overheard part of his realization before I’d left the room earlier. He’d been so stunned by his Phoenix’s antics that he’d left his mind wide open to us, providing me with a deep insight into his nature. His intentions. His fears. His insecurities.

It’d been… overwhelming.

Yet something about it had also been somewhat forgiving.

My body had been on display in front of all those Hell Fae, and it didn’t even come close to having one’s mind suddenly ripped open for others to explore. It’d been almost invasive to have that kind of access to his mind.

However, it’d helped me understand him a bit.

Forgive him? No, not really.

But I’d heard his frustrations with Ajax for not understanding his purpose, his need to protect him from Lucifer’s potential wrath. Az’s duty to honor his commitment to the Hell Fae King.

His hurt and loneliness at Ajax’s lack of comprehension.

His sadness over Ajax accusing him of being like Constantine.

Az wasn’t Constantine. And Az didn’t feel Lucifer was either.

Although, deep down, he acknowledged that Lucifer’s actions had been similar, and for that, he was eternally sorry.

A part of him was terrified that Ajax would never forgive him.

That part of him might have even coaxed his beast into biting Ajax, to ensure he couldn’t escape him again.

I’d overheard all of that and so much more in the brief moments after our connection had snapped into place. I had no idea what Az had pulled from my own mind, if he’d even had the same sort of access. But it’d sounded like his immediate focus had shifted into protection mode once he’d gotten over the initial shock.

“It took me a while to understand the intentions of my mates,” Aflora said after the phoenix took another magical flower from her palm. “They were essentially protecting me, by either pushing me in training or establishing boundaries to guard our secrets. But it was all a learning curve.” Her cerulean eyes met mine. “For them and for me.”

I nodded. “Most relationships work that way.”

“They do,” she agreed. “But powerful relationships often come with complex obstacles. It seems you’re reaching one or two of them now.”

“We have some, yeah,” I muttered, thinking of Lucifer’s desire to kill me. Az’s errant Phoenix. Ajax having turned his back on the Hell Fae. Melek’s cryptic bullshit. “Just a few obstacles.”

Aflora dipped her chin in understanding. “I’d tell you it gets easier, but sometimes, I’m not so sure. Obstacles keep things interesting.” Her attention went to a nearby tree, her eyes slitting with a glare. “Veryinteresting.” A whistle sounded from her lips in the next second, the unexpected echo having me cover my ears as her power whipped around us in unanticipated waves.

Cami?Az and Ajax asked at the same time.