Page 32 of Hell Fae King

With her, you might,he replied, a twinkle in his alluring eyes.

Eyes that told me he was far worse off than he allowed anyone else to believe.

“Ajax, if you want to stay here, that’s fine. But if you want answers, please join us in the palace,” I said, my focus still on my prince. “Melek can’t remain here any longer.”

I stepped forward, wrapped my palm around my prince’s nape, and pulled him to me. But before I could take us home, he reached out an arm for Camillia.

And she shocked me by stepping forward to join us.

My gaze slid to hers, a dozen questions peppering my thoughts, none of which I could voice.

“I’m hungry,” she said by way of explanation. “We never ate breakfast.”

Amusement touched my lips. “Indeed we didn’t.”You know where we’ll be, Azazel, I told my other mate.

We’ll be along shortlywas his reply.

Wrapping my power around Melek and Camillia, I escorted them back to my quarters in the palace. The scent of food littered the air despite the tray having long since disappeared. “I need to ask Garmr about Payan.” This had all started when he delivered the letter with our meal.

But before I could focus on that, I needed to ensure Melek healed properly.

Mere seconds in the palace and his color was already returning, his eyes flickering with life.

“Payan was one of the Hellhounds you sent after me in the beginning,” Camillia muttered, causing my brow to furrow.

“In the beginning?”When did I send a Hellhound after her? Or did she mean Ajax?He’d been in charge of Hell Fae Bride recruitment.

“You know, when I became a Hell Fae Bride,” she said, confirming my thoughts on what she’d meant. “I stabbed him in the balls.”

Melek chuckled. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“That’s why Ajax had to come kidnap me,” she went on, shrugging. “Seems like a lifetime ago, but I recognized the Hellhound when he entered. I guess it’s a good thing he didn’t notice me. I doubt he likes me all that much.”

Amusement rippled through my bond with Melek, causing my lips to twitch. After everything that had happened today—hell, over the last few months—Camillia still maintained an air of nonchalance. Like nothing had truly fazed her.

Because her commentary on Payan had been more of the musing variety, not a concerned statement. I suspect she would have happily stabbed Payan again had he reacted to her presence.

And something about that just intrigued me more.

She’s fearless, I realized.

Except… she feared me. I’d seen that in her gaze earlier, felt the prickle of her terror against my subconscious.

Something I’d done, perhapseverythingI’d done, had wounded her warrior heart and caused her to look upon me with dread.

That knowledge—thatrealization—wiped the smile from my lips.

“I’m going to prepare breakfast,” I decided aloud, needing something to do. A way to show her favor. To start bridging this void between us.

Training required trust, something she clearly didn’t feel for me. And it seemed Ajax didn’t either.

Maybe I need to give them a few days to acclimate before we begin,I thought as I left the room.Prove my intentions through actions. Leave them to get comfortable in the palace. Allow them to see the real me… in my palace.

I also needed to figure out a way to fix the fractures in my Hell Fae, determine how to regain their faith and make them less vulnerable to Virtuous Fae influence.

The Hell Fae Bride Trials had been put on hold as a result of the portals. Maybe I should take a few days to determine next steps, have some meetings with my lieutenants to discuss ideas and needs, and move from there.

That would allow me to be productive while Camillia and Ajax grew more comfortable.