Page 87 of Hell Fae Commander

They both fell silent for a long moment before they agreed, their word choice exactly the same.Okay.

CHAPTER18

AJAX

What a fucking mess,I thought, dragging my hand over my face.

Not the dragon part—although, that was certainly something—but everything with Cami.

With Az.

With Lucifer.

Withfate.

I blame you for this, fucker,I told Az, my gaze narrowing his way.

His Phoenix fanned out his feathers as he took in my expression.You’re agitating my bird.

“I’magitatingyour bird?” I huffed a laugh. “Are you fucking serious right now?”

The creature faced me fully, his chest puffing out in a way that made him look twice as big. Which was fucking impressive considering the beast was already huge.

Don’t do this,Az said.It won’t end well.

I hate to break this to you, but it’s already not going well,I snapped back into his mind. “Sit down,” I demanded out loud.

The Phoenix visibly winced, then did exactly what I’d commanded it to do, only for a jolt of agony to hit me right in the heart. I flinched away from the bird, my hand going to my chest to inspect the wound.

Except all I felt was the shirt I’d thrown on before shadowing out here.

Frowning, I glanced down, my torso aching from some unknown attack.

It’s me,Az gritted out, his bird flinching again.It’s that damn spell. Ithurtsto comply.

My frown deepened, an uncomfortable sensation building in my chest at the pain in Az’s words.You… you deserve it,I forced myself to say.After what you did to me… it’s only fair.

Az grunted in my mind but didn’t deny it. He didn’t say much at all.

But his Phoenix seemed to be glaring at me.

I glared right back. “You bit me without permission.”

Because you’re his chosen mate,Az muttered.I’ve tried to harness his instincts, but Vivaxia’s spell pushed me into the back of my mind, giving my animal complete control. He bit you to keep you from running from him again.

Who the hell is Vivaxia?I asked him. “Zenaida gave me this spell,” I added out loud. “I told you that.”

“What spell did Zen give him?” someone asked softly. A female. I glanced up and suddenly remembered our audience—Aflora and all her mates.

Shade was standing beside her with a bag of popcorn in his hand—a bag he appeared to be sharing with Zakkai and Zeph because both men were currently chewing. “Something about taming a beast,” Shade drawled before taking a fistful of kernels and popping them into his mouth.

“You’re kidding with this shit, right?” I gestured to the bag in his hand. “Is my life a joke to you?”

“Not a joke,” he replied. “But I assumed you were about to fight the giant Phoenix, and I wanted some sustenance to go with the entertainment.”

The dragon behind him poked his arm, causing Shade to conjure a bone in his hand that he quickly tossed back to the beast. He—or maybe it was ashe—caught the bone and curled up on the ground with Florica on its back, the creature happily munching away while the little girl gazed up at the moon.

“Can we have some privacy, please?” I asked them.