Page 122 of Hell Fae King

“Oh, she absolutely did. She wanted his light, as you know. But she helped him master his ability and watched as his power grew. Basically, she groomed him and his gift, knowing all the while that she intended to one day take it.”

“Except the deal didn’t go according to plan,” Cami said.

“Correct. And that deal brings me back to Vita,” I murmured, pleased that I’d finally reached the whole point of this discussion—to explain Vita’s history, just as Ty had requested. “The day I retrieved that journal is the day he penned that infamous deal with Vivaxia.”

Cami sat forward a little, like she was eager to hear more.

“Ty sent me to find that little book, saying he needed it for nostalgic reasons. Of course, I knew the purpose was deeper. By that point, he’d perfected his skills and was using deals as a way to fuel his Source.”

“By collecting debts,” Cami said.

“Yes, exactly that,” I replied as I stretched my arm out behind her along the top of the love seat. “I had thought he might want the journal to pen some of his deals, or maybe just as a keepsake. I later learned that the purpose was to have a place to guard his memories and ensure no one could access his mind.”

Her face expressed confusion, telling me I needed to clarify what I’d just said. Which I supposed was the entire point of this lesson and what Ty truly wanted her to understand.

“He’s been alive a very long time, which often increases the risk of immortal insanity. But Vita allows him a safe space to expunge some of his vast knowledge and experience, which is imperative for someone in his position.”

“But not imperative for you?” she hedged.

I smiled. “I’m not the one with an entire realm under his sole protection.”

“Yes. However, you are mated to the one who is,” she pointed out.

“True,” I agreed. “And if I someday feel a weakening of my mind, I may seek a similar outlet. Ty has simply chosen his method early, which again makes sense for one with his responsibilities.”

She considered me for a moment. “So he didn’t actually need Vita yet?”

“Maybe, maybe not. The point is that he created her in case he does need her, because the safety of the realm will always come first. And he knows the importance of safeguarding his thoughts.”

“Which is what Vita does for him. It’s not a power exchange for him. It’s an outlet for his memories, one that allows him to keep an, uh, open mind.”

My lips twitched at her apt description. “Actually, yes. That’s exactly what Vita is to him. Although, I didn’t know that would become her purpose that day. At that point, we weren’t fully mated yet, so I couldn’t read his mind or his intentions.”

A fact that I hadn’t liked at the time. But I’d understood it.

“Ty couldn’t fully mate me until he mastered his power,” I went on. “He hadn’t wanted to risk hurting me.”

Cami swallowed. “He’d already lost his parents; he didn’t want to lose you, too.”

“Yes,” I agreed, warmth filling my chest.

Of course, that warmth vanished as I recounted what came next…afterI’d found the journal.

I told her how Ty had given me directions, thus making it an easy search-and-retrieval mission. “But while I was gone, he penned that deal with Vivaxia.”

A deal whereby he’d agreed to mate her.

A deal that had broken my heart… for a few seconds in time. At least until I’d realized his true intentions.

He’d wanted to free Az. He’d also wanted to free himself. Which meant he could finally be with me.

So I’d played along by pretending to betray him. I’d thrown that journal onto Vivaxia’s nightstand after telling him I’d bedded her. Then I’d left.

“And later that day, he fell,” I concluded, having provided the entire summary of events out loud.

Cami said nothing, her gaze on me as she processed everything I’d told her.

“To save him, you orchestrated his fall,” she finally commented.