Page 30 of Hell Fae King

“There’s a lot I need to teach you,” Lucifer interrupted before I could reply, his large form moving between me and Melek as though he thought I might actually embark on some of theideasMelek had just mentioned. “Both you and Camillia, I mean. So we should go.”

“I wasn’t going to attack your prince,” I told Lucifer honestly.

“I know.” His blue eyes flickered with fire. “However, if today has proved anything to me, it’s that you and Camillia are both woefully unprepared for your roles in my court. That’s my fault. And I’m going to fix it.” He held out his hand. “Starting now.”

CHAPTER 8

TYPHOS

Ajax eyed my hand with obvious distrust, the look one that wounded me more than I cared to admit.

Did I deserve this reaction? Probably yes. But that didn’t mean I liked it.

Hades’s words circulated through my thoughts regarding weakened minds and how easily they could be manipulated. He didn’t mean by any ordinary fae, but by Virtuous Fae. The creators of fae kind. Fae like Vivaxia.

Was Ajax’s mind susceptible to her influence as well? Was his loyalty to me so far gone that she could squeeze through the cracks in his psyche and manipulate him into working against me?

Because that was what had happened in the Netherworld Kingdom tonight. Vivaxia had been able to control several dozen Death Fae and Corpse Fae, acting as a puppet master as she drove them to attack Az.

And she’d accomplished that because there were already seeds of distrust blooming in their minds.

Seeds that had been planted by me.

My punishments, I realized.

Hades hadn’t mentioned that part, but he hadn’t needed to. I’d understood what he was telling me—some of my fae were displeased with my leadership.

I’d known this for a while, hence the development of the bride trials. But it seemed that hadn’t been enough.

Disquiet in the Netherworld made sense. I’d punished the fae here—as well as those in Morpheus Kingdom—for partaking in Monsters Night. But perhaps I’d been too harsh.

Or maybe my men didn’t feel I’d done enough to sate their needs to take a mate.

Had I?I wondered.Were the trials too much?

I’d meant to test the brides, not my fae males. However, I supposed everyone had been tested along the way.

Including myself.

The Hell Fae Source had never approved of unmated female fae entering my realm because the Source was part of my heart. Part of me. AndIharbored insecurities where females were concerned unless a powerful Hell Fae had vetted them. A leftover consequence of Vivaxia’s betrayal.

I recognized that. Owned that. And had developed the trials as a way to force myself to see beyond my ingrained bias. To learn to trust. To embrace all fae, not just male fae.

Logically, I understood that males could be just as untrustworthy as females. Thus, the trials had been designed in a way that would force me to acknowledge that logic, to see that women could be just as trustworthy as men.

The heart of fae kind existed in the soul, hence the importance of distinguishing light and dark souls in the Hell Fae Realm. Intentions were important. Nightmare Fae were often misunderstood, and I’d wanted to ensure their intended mates could see through their monstrous masks and into the heart beneath.

Alas, looking at Ajax now and the distrust painting his features, I again realized how much I’d failed.

Here stood my Hell Fae Warden, the man I’d assigned to guard the infamous Nightmare Fae prisons, and not even he could see through the charades.

Because I’d never taught him how.

I’d never guided him.

I’d nevermentoredhim.

That was about to change.