Page 58

AJAX

“ D o you remember that coin toss? The night Payan went after our final Hell Fae Bride Candidate?” I asked after materializing outside of Zenaida’s house.

Kuro followed, landing right on my shoulder. He’d disappeared during the energy storm in the Morpheus Kingdom. But now that things were calm again, he’d apparently decided to come back.

Or maybe he just wanted to see Zenaida.

“You mean the coin toss that you lost?” Az drawled before his eyes darkened to black orbs and narrowed at my owl. It seemed his inner Phoenix and my familiar were still not on the friendliest of terms.

“Yeah, that bet,” I said, my lips quirking up a little at the memory. It was the night I met our mate. “Kind of glad I lost now.”

“But was it truly a loss? Or fate playing her hand?” a musical voice asked as the door opened to reveal Zenaida holding a plate of her famous cookies. “Hungry?”

“I’m sure he’s starving after all that power-sharing,” a more masculine tone replied.

I rolled my eyes. “I should have known you’d be here, too,” I told my oldest friend.

Shade poked his head out from behind his grandmother. “I see you have the death stone again,” he said by way of a reply, his gaze on my hand as he brought a cookie to his mouth. “Does that mean you finally went out on that date with your mate? To play with zombies?”

I blinked at him, then recalled how he’d mentioned something about that when originally giving me the rock in my hand. “There were no zombies.”

He frowned. “That’s a shame. I’ve heard so many fun tales about the Netherworld Kingdom that I just assumed.”

“They’re Death Fae and Corpse Fae, not zombies,” a cultured tone replied from behind us.

I turned to find a tall male with long silver-white hair standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his vibrant gaze locked on Shade inside.

“I’ll be sure to share your expectations with my cousin,” he went on, still talking to my oldest friend. “Hades will be absolutely fascinated, I’m sure.”

My eyes widened. Cousin and Hades could only mean one thing. This was a Mythos Fae. Or a God, as the Nightmare Fae often called them.

Zenaida sighed. “Well, you might as well all come in, now that everyone has arrived.”

“And why is Morpheus here?” Az asked, the name sending a chill down my spine. “Or is stopping by for cookies more important than properly governing a kingdom?”

“Last I checked, I have no such responsibilities of governance ,” Morpheus replied, his focus now on Az.

“I am simply an icon to be prayed to. Sometimes I answer those prayers. Often, I do not.” He glanced at Zenaida.

“What is it you Fortune Fae always say? It’s frowned upon to interfere with fate?

” He shrugged. “Seems like as good an excuse as any, yes?”

Az folded his arms across his bare chest, his phoenix tattoo seeming to bristle in response to his mounting irritation. “You let a Virtuous Fae into your kingdom.”

“No, the Strigoi throne did that. Which, if we want to be particular about it, was created by Typhos. Ergo, Typhos let the Virtuous Fae into the Morpheus Kingdom. So I suppose I should be displeased, but I’m in a forgiving mood.

” He waved to the door. “Shall we enter? I hear it’s the polite way to respond to being invited in. ”

Az suppressed a growl, one I heard echoing in his mind.

I understood that urge, as I wanted to growl, too.

“Lucifer nearly died,” I told Morpheus. “Would you have stepped in had that happened?”

The Mythos Fae blinked at me, his blue-green irises even more intense as he captured my gaze. I nearly startled at the force of his stare, his features almost too perfect to be real.

I suddenly understood why they called this male the God of Dreams.

“I would have been severely disappointed had that happened,” he informed me.

“Especially since your mate had the death stone. Fortunately, she figured out how to use it.” He again looked at Zenaida.

“You know, for a Fortune Fae who says she doesn’t tempt fate, you certainly have a knack for finding ways to alter paths. ”

“I’m certain I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she replied.

Because of course she didn’t.

Why would she know anything at all?

Fucking flames, we’re surrounded by riddlers, I thought. This really is hell.

Indeed, Az returned, sounding just as irritated.

“Perhaps you’re right,” Morpheus mused, walking around Az toward the house and taking a cookie from Zenaida’s plate. “No need to posture, Kodiak. I have no plans to play with your Omega’s dreams tonight.”

Grumbling sounded from inside the house, causing Zenaida to sigh again.

Fortune Fae Alphas were particularly possessive of their Omega mates.

And I supposed her Alpha mate wouldn’t be all that keen on a Mythos Fae Alpha walking into his Omega’s nest as a result.

I almost hoped the meeting would end in a brawl. It would make for a fitting climax to our very long day.

Though, I also really just wanted to return to our mate.

I trusted Lucifer to take care of her, particularly as I could hear his intentions through our new mating bond. But that didn’t stop me from missing Cami.

If anything, it actually made me crave her more.

Because I could hear what he was doing to her right now.

A bath , I thought, somewhat amused. He’s bathing our mate.

And feeding her, Az replied.

He really enjoys delayed gratification, doesn’t he? Because I definitely wouldn’t have had the patience to bathe a naked Cami after months of holding back my attraction to her. She’s practically begging him to fuck her.

I could feel her desire. Hear her mental demands.

And hear his responses, too.

He was insisting on taking care of her first, something that had Cami growling about not needing to be coddled.

But Lucifer’s dominance was winning, leaving our mate panting for him. Fuck, she’s making me want to shadow back right now, I admitted to Az via our mental link.

Same. As soon as we’re done here, we’re joining them.

I thought we were giving Lucifer the night with her, I returned as I glanced at him.

I’ve changed my mind.

I smiled. I approve.

I assumed you would, Warden. He stepped away from me to enter Zenaida’s home. Unlike Morpheus, though, he didn’t take a cookie.

I opted out as well, though I thanked her with a smile as I moved by her in the doorway. “I presume that you know why I’m here,” I said.

“I do,” she replied, following me inside and closing the door.

Her dining room and kitchen often entertained large parties of eight or more, but something about the space felt smaller today. I suspected it was because of the two Alphas in the room.

Morpheus had taken up a position against the wall, his hands in the pockets of his dress slacks.

Meanwhile, Kodiak and Vadim—Zenaida’s mates—stood near the kitchen island, their narrowed gazes on the God of Dreams.

I hadn’t heard them speak yet, something that was an anomaly for them.

They weren’t exactly loud, but they weren’t necessarily quiet either.

In truth, they were usually much friendlier.

Especially Kodiak. But his cold stare suggested he did not consider Morpheus to be a friend. And Vadim clearly felt the same.

“I don’t actually know why you’re here,” Shade interjected. “But when I heard you might be visiting, I came by to check in. After all, the last time I saw you, your mate had been sucked off to another plane of existence. During Aflora’s ball, in case you need the reminder.”

I winced. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

He shrugged. “Florica creates paradigms full of violent snakes daily. It’s fine. But a little note saying you were okay might have been appreciated.” He glanced pointedly at my owl. “Same with you, Kuro.”

My familiar ruffled his feathers, his head lowering a little in response to the chastisement.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re alive,” Shade went on. “Oh, and before I forget, Aflora wants me to invite you and your queen over for dinner. Given the state of certain things, I suggest that it be sooner rather than later. You’re about to be very distracted with your new roles.”

I frowned. “Why does that sound like a riddle?”

He gave me the most innocent of looks, which only further confirmed my suspicions. “Would I do such a thing?”

“You’re Zenaida’s grandson. So yes. Yes, you would.”

He smiled. “Well, just get back to me on the dinner soon, hmm?” He looked at his grandmother. “Sorry to eat and run, G’ma. I need to go help Kols escape Florica’s fiery ropes.”

“Yes, I do believe you’ve left him to suffer long enough,” she replied, her gaze narrowing. “You should consider?—”

“Nope,” Shade cut her off. “No prophecies or advice today. Maybe tomorrow. Or next year.” He shadowed out of the room without another word, clearly in a hurry to escape his grandmother’s meddling.

I felt similarly.

Which was why I quickly cut in and said, “I need a safe place to keep this stone, and since you gave it to me, I assume you already have an idea for me.”

Her blue eyes practically shone in response, her long, dark hair seeming to wave on an invisible breeze. “In fact, I do.” She looked at the God of Dreams. “Morpheus will take it.”

Rather than comment, he merely held out a hand for the stone.

I scoffed at this suggestion. I’d expected Zenaida to recommend a paradigm or perhaps help me create somewhere to hide the stone for eternity.

But this?

No.

“Why the hell would I trust you to handle this after you allowed Vivaxia to blatantly manipulate the beings of your realm?” I demanded.

He arched a silver brow, the expression almost reminding me of Lucifer. Probably because he looked haughty as fuck, all while boasting a regal flair. “Because I have access to a prison in my home realm that was specially built to hold immortal fae like Vivaxia.”

I folded my arms. “Tell me more about this prison.”

“It’s Pandora’s Box,” he replied, the name meaning nothing to me. “It houses the worst of Mythos Fae kind. And my brother Ares is the Warden there. He’ll find an appropriate place for that death stone.”