Page 46 of Hell Fae King

“Dakota led several of the accused up to that podium,” I said softly. “And that was after all of the manipulative acts she conducted on Constantine’s behalf. Today is her judgment day.”

“That bitch has been in my dungeon for ten fucking years?” Ajax snapped, seeming to come out of his morose state and diving headfirst into one fueled by fury.

I saw his fist coming before his arm even flinched.

Still, I let his knuckles meet my cheekbone, more than ready to accept his brutality. He had a right to be angry. Perhaps not at me, but I’d be that outlet for him if he needed it.

Typhos, Az whispered into my mind.Why does Ajax suddenly want to kill you?

It’s fine.

That’s not?—

It’s fine, Azazel, I replied as Ajax took out a wand.

“You put that treacherous bitch in an Unseelie form and let meguardher?” the Midnight Fae seethed. “I ought to?—”

“Go grab her and deliver her for Camillia to destroy?” I interjected while voicing my words as more of a suggestion than a demand.

He narrowed his gaze. “I’m not letting that bitch anywhere near Camillia.”

“In her current state, there’s not much she can do. And you’ll ensure she stays that way.” I started walking down the corridor, not bothering to tell Ajax to follow because he was already right on my heels.

“You have no idea what that crazy fae has done.”

“Oh, I’m very aware ofeverythingshe’s done,” I countered. “That’s why I accepted her soul from Zakkai. She more than earned her fate here.”

Which served as yet another lesson for Ajax.

For a decade, he thought his role was to simply guard the rogue Nightmare Fae. Little did he realize those rogues weren’t really Nightmare Fae but fae of other origin whom I’d subjected to this prison to live out their worst fears.

Hence the reason so many of them were dangerous and angry.

The paradigm had become a courtyard of sorts while preparing for the Hell Fae Bride Trials, something that had served two purposes.

First, it’d allowed some of my dungeon dwellers to taste a bit of freedom and amplify hope—hope that they might escape. Only for that freedom and hope to be yanked away.

And secondly, it’d provided a training ground for the trials.

I’d let some of the dark souls roam free to see which candidates could see through their mirages, and also to test the goodness of the brides.

So many female fae wanted to join the Hell Fae Realm, as evidenced by all the agreements I’d penned that had allowed them to participate in the trials. Some of them were agreements between me and their parents, but most were between me and the fae themselves.

Naturally, I hadn’t trusted any of their motives.

Which had led me to craft a purpose for all the dark souls lingering in my dungeons.

Some of Ajax’s ire dissipated as I explained all that while we walked, his interest piqued once more.

“How do they live out their worst fears?” he asked, focused on that tidbit of information.

“In a myriad of ways. Each dark soul’s imprisonment is personally crafted, like that cell you once put Camillia in with the enchanted furniture,” I told him, recalling that event clearly. “The whole purpose had been to make her uncomfortable.”

I might not have visited personally, but I knew what had been done.

Just as I’d known about my little prince trying to enhance her accommodations.So many plays. So many games. All of it so much clearer now.Hmm.

I hear you thinking about me, my king,the male in question murmured into my mind.