Page 17

AJAX

W hile my mind spun with potential ways to fix this, Lucifer pressed onward.

Because he clearly didn’t grasp or sense Cami’s mounting fury.

“You want a reason?” he asked, sounding bored.

“Okay. That someone hurt your mate. You felt his pain. She was part of the cause. And if you look into her soul, you’ll see just how dark and twisted it is, how there’s no coming back from everything she’s done.

So technically speaking, she deserves to live in agony for eternity.

But I’m offering you a chance to end her cruel existence, should you choose to. ”

“ Cruel is a rather ironic term coming from you, given that you’re the one who created this cruel existence ,” she told him.

“No, Dakota did that to herself,” I said before Lucifer could explain. “All of the cells are crafted by the inhabitants’ nightmares. Their memories and sins create the illusions; Lucifer’s magic just fuels them to life.”

She blinked at me. “Wait. Do you… do you agree with this lesson?”

“I agree that Dakota should die,” I answered vehemently. “But if you don’t want to kill her, I’ll do it myself.”

She blinked at me. Then she looked at the still-frozen Unseelie inside the room. She hadn’t moved an inch despite her cell door being wide open. She literally couldn’t. Because her nightmare had essentially turned her into a statue—just like Constantine’s magic had done to me.

“Okay, so… so maybe she deserves it,” Cami conceded after a long, thoughtful moment.

“But what about the others? How many of these dark souls are here because of deals you tricked them into signing?” Those questions seemed to be for Lucifer because she looked at him, not at me.

“We both know your deals are never fair.”

“Do we?” he countered. “Or do you just assume you know everything about my deals?”

“Can you prove otherwise?” she challenged him.

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation, causing her jaw to snap shut. She obviously wasn’t expecting him to respond so quickly and adamantly in the affirmative. “In fact, I think that’s where you and I will go once this is done. Because you clearly need a lesson on how I draft agreements.”

She took a step away from him, only to realize that it put her nearly in Dakota’s cell, so she paused mid-move. “I…” Her brow furrowed, and she returned to her spot beside me, only she fully focused on Lucifer. “You would show me your deals?”

“Yes.” Uttering the word the second time had the same effect as before, causing Cami to blink at him.

He arched a brow, his expression challenging her now, just as she had with her previous tone.

She remained silent in response.

“Well?” he taunted. “What do you see in Dakota? Is she redeemable?”

Cami’s jaw ticked, but rather than reply, she looked at the former Midnight Fae. It only took her a few seconds to say, “No. She’s not.”

“Why not?” Lucifer pressed. “Because of how Ajax feels about her?”

Cami slowly shook her head. “There’s no light inside her.”

“And what about Ajax? How much light is inside him?”

Cami looked at me, her gaze assessing. “He has some spots of gray, but his soul is good and his intentions are admirable.”

“Now evaluate me,” Lucifer dared her.

“No,” she replied.

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not ready to see your soul yet,” she whispered.

Lucifer stayed quiet for a moment, then conceded with a nod. “Can you sense any of the other dark souls here? In this dungeon?”

She didn’t answer right away but eventually gave a small nod.

“How do they compare to Dakota?” he asked.

More silence as she considered his question, the answers seeming to float through her mind as she evaluated all the souls she could sense. It was fascinating to observe as her mate, her ability unique from my own.

I could sense darkness and the occasional intention, but she was almost tasting their auras.

Because she’s a siphon , I realized, intrigued by how her gift worked.

She was taking a bit of each soul, evaluating their power and how it had been used in the past… and how it would be used if freed from this hell.

Too many of them were unapologetic, including Dakota. All she wanted was status, and she didn’t care who she hurt to acquire it.

There was no compassion in her soul. No regard for others. Her only aspiration in life was to seek her own happiness.

Which would have been fine if her happiness weren’t manifested by hurting those she considered to be beneath her.

She has no conscience , I heard Cami think. None at all.

There were a few others who gave off the same impression and a handful more who derived pleasure in harming others.

By the time Cami finished, she was shivering and shaking her head. “I don’t want to stay here.”

Melek stepped forward, but Lucifer held up a hand to stop him. “Camillia.”

She looked at him, and whatever he saw in her expression silenced him. As I could hear her mind and feel her fear of what this place represented, I understood.

This was too much. She wasn’t ready to kill anyone, even a dark soul. Not when she didn’t fully understand how all these souls had become so evil.

Part of her still questioned Lucifer’s deals, though deep down she seemed to be accepting that perhaps she’d misjudged some of this.

But until she knew for sure, she couldn’t proceed.

“Please,” she whispered.

Lucifer lifted his palm for her before anyone else could respond. “Come. You and I will continue this lesson in my den,” he said.

She started to lift her hand, then paused. “Just me and you?”

“Yes,” he replied. “I want to show you how my agreements work, and the Warden has work to do here.” He glanced at me knowingly. “The dungeon is officially his.” His focus shifted to Azazel. “I think you should help him.”

Az—who had been interestingly silent throughout this entire “lesson”—simply nodded. “There are things we should discuss.”

I frowned at that. What kinds of things?

Things, he simply echoed in my mind.

“What about Melek?” Cami pressed, drawing my focus to her before I could question Az’s vagueness. “No. Let me rephrase. I’ll agree, but only if Melek comes with us.”

Lucifer’s lips curled. “You’re negotiating with me? After just criticizing me for my deals?”

She stared at him. “Can he come or not?”

The Hell Fae King’s smile grew. “Melek is welcome to go wherever he desires, little one. He’s my prince for a reason.”

“I’ll only go into your den if Melek comes with us,” she rephrased.

Lucifer eyed her with open curiosity. “Any other terms?”

“Melek stays with me. By my side. Until I say otherwise.”

“Those are much better terms,” Lucifer praised.

“Melek also takes me to wherever we’re going, not you.”

“You think I mean to take you somewhere nefarious?”

“ Den is a vague term,” she pointed out, causing Lucifer to fully smile now.

“Someone has been studying deals.”

“Someone recently tried to take my mate,” she informed him. “I was forced to learn.”

Some of Lucifer’s amusement died as he glanced at me, aware that she was talking about the mating agreement he’d tried to force on me.

“Well, that someone was a fool. But unlike the souls in this prison, he seeks redemption.” Completely sober now, he dropped his hand and looked at Melek. “You know where I’m going.”

He didn’t wait for Melek to confirm, just blinked out of existence and left a solitary burnt feather behind, one that changed form and melted into a golden key.

I stared at it, startled by the magic and what it represented.

He’d said the dungeon was officially mine.

And he’d meant it.

I could feel the magic settling all around me, looking to me as its new master. He hadn’t removed his protections or his warped enchantments, just left it behind for me to wield and manage as though it were my own.

I could feel the power of it crawling over my skin, causing the hairs to lift along my arms.

It was… invigorating. Terrifying. Fucking electrifying .

“Ajax?” Cami asked, drawing my attention to her. “Are you going to be okay?”

I held her gaze for a beat, fully thinking through her question.

For years, I’d answered similar inquiries with sarcastic retorts or muttered affirmatives. I’d taught myself not to care, because deep down, I hadn’t been okay at all. I’d been in pain. Destroyed from the inside out.

But then a little rebel changed everything.

In this very fucking dungeon.

She’d challenged me. Called to me. Made me see her. Fall in love with her.

And Az had been there as the backbone behind it all, coaxing us to play, seducing us in every way.

The two of them had stirred my soul, forced me to live again, and taught me how to heal. I wasn’t all the way there yet, but I was on my way. Walking down a path toward a brighter future. One where I would be… okay.

More than okay.

Amazing, even.

Because I had them. I had a family. I had this .

I leaned down to pick up the key, aware that it meant so much more than what it resembled. Because this wasn’t just about being Warden. It was about being a Hell Fae. About being part of Lucifer’s inner circle. About being an extension of his power. About being mated… to the Hell Fae King.

Perhaps not romantically or intimately, but through my bonds with his mates. Cami via Melek. Az directly.

We were a circle now. United. Maybe not entirely or completely yet, but we were headed in the right direction.

And because of that… “Yeah,” I said, finally answering Cami. “Yeah, I’m going to be okay.”

I pulled her in for a kiss and let her hear my mind, feel my emotions, see into my soul.

Thank you, Cami, I whispered into her mind. Thank you.

I didn’t do anything, she argued as my tongue slid into her mouth.

On the contrary, little rebel. You did everything and so much more. She just didn’t understand it yet. You made my heart beat again. Taught me what love really means. And I’m going to spend eternity ensuring you know just how thankful I am .

But first, she had a lesson to attend. Just as I had a dungeon to explore.

When you’re done playing with deals, let me know, I murmured via our connection. I want to worship you with my tongue.

She shivered. We could just go do that now…

I smiled against her mouth and shook my head. “I know you’re a rebel, Camillia De la Croix. But even you can’t renege on a deal with the devil. Now go continue your lesson.”

“I didn’t actually agree to anything,” she pointed out.

“Nor did he force you to,” I returned. “So have a little faith and see where it goes.”

Her eyes rounded a bit. “You’re telling me to trust him?”

“I’m suggesting you give him the benefit of the doubt and see what he wants to show you.”

Her brow furrowed. “Did he drug you?”

The key warmed in my palm as my lips curled. “No. He just showed me the truth.” I looked over her shoulder at the cell beyond—to Dakota’s still form and the faces on her walls. “And now I’m ready to start healing.”

Lucifer had punished Dakota for long enough.

It was time for her soul to move on.

And it was time for me to finally let go.