Page 111 of Hell Fae King

I snorted. “Love might be a bit of a stretch.” Fated mates existed amongst some fae species, but not all. And definitely not for me.

“Obsessed is probably more accurate,” Typhos agreed. “However, he knew your potential as a mate, while I denied the possibility. I know he thinks I created the trials to find an ideal match, and maybe I did. But I didn’t do it intentionally. Honestly, I was too caught up in the demands of my realm to even consider my needs.”

After everything I’d witnessed with Typhos, I believed that. “You put everyone and everything above yourself.”

“As do you,” he replied, his gaze searching mine. “You couldn’t control your export of power because your focus was on everyone else’s survival, not your own. It’s a selfless response, the kind made by a queen. But if you’re going to survive in your role, you need to master the art of balance.”

He drew the soap down my inner thigh to my knee and lower to my shin, momentarily distracting me from the weight of our conversation.

“Can you stand up for me?” Typhos asked after a long beat, his touch near my ankles now.

He didn’t back up, just looked up at me with silent expectation.

Swallowing, I reached for his shoulders and used them for balance as I slipped off the bench to stand, the action placing my intimate flesh within inches of his mouth.

However, he still didn’t look there, just up at me as he circled his hand around to my heel and drew a sensual path up my calf.

My nails bit down, this erotic dance undoing me inside.

I used to have reservations about Typhos, concerns about trusting him, worries about what he might do to me… to Ajax…

But seeing the Hell Fae King on his knees like this… it…

My throat worked, my heart hammering in my chest. I couldn’t find the words I needed to articulate my feelings. Everything was jumbled. A chaotic mess of sensations. Of needs. Of fears. Ofdesires.

And that gentle touch,I thought, my eyes nearly closing as he switched legs.Gods, I never knew Typhos could be like this…

I half expected to hear Melek in my head, telling me that he always knew, but my mates were oddly silent.

A realization that had my forehead crinkling and my mind instantly seeking them out.Ajax?I whispered first, his name and connection the ones that made the most sense in this moment.

Because he didn’t trust Typhos.

Or, well, he hadn’t before, anyway. But now… now I wasn’t so sure.

Hey, little rebel,he replied softly, his mental voice sleepier than I expected.

Where are you?I wondered, confused.

In the bed I just fucked you in,he murmured, sounding a little more awake now.Are you all right?

I…I blinked and looked down at Typhos again, only belatedly aware that I’d broken our stare. However, he was no longer gazing up at me but instead focusing on my legs, his expression lacking the heat and intensity of earlier. Almost like he’d chosen to hide behind a mask.

Did I hurt him?I asked myself. A strange question, one I never thought could be possible where Typhos was concerned. Yet… the clenching of his jaw suggested…

Cami?Ajax inquired, drawing me back to our mental conversation.

I’m okay. I was just… trying to figure out why you all are being so quiet,I admitted.

Lucifer said he wanted to take care of you, so we’re giving you privacy. But we can hear you just fine, Cami. You’re in the bathroom only about fifteen feet away from us.

Oh.I knew that. Or, well, I assumed that, anyway. Inferred it? I nearly shook my head to clear it, the inane babble unimportant.Thank you,I told Ajax.

Then I released one of Typhos’s shoulders so I could grasp his chin and pull his gaze back to mine. His eyes were just as blank as his expression, giving me nothing.

Yet somehow I could sense the hurt beneath the surface. Maybe Melek was projecting it to me. Or maybe… maybe my soul just knew.

Still, I felt compelled to say, “I’m sorry.”