Page 106 of Hell Fae Prince

“You’re angry,” Lucifer said. “And rightly so.”

I arched a brow. “Oh?”

He gave me a look before knocking back his drink. One of the figment-like waitresses appeared again with a refill, but he ignored her as she set it down before him.

“Look, I said I brought you here for a reason, and yes, it’s punishment-related.” He leaned forward, his blue eyes flickering with fiery intensity. “But it’s notyourpunishment that I seek.”

I frowned at him. “Then whose?” In the next moment, my heart stopped and I instantly connected to Cami’s mind, needing to know that she was safe.

But all I caught were consuming thoughts of Melek and ropes and bonds.

“I’m punishing myself,” Lucifer said, his words shocking the hell out of me. “I brought you here so I could face my wrongdoings and apologize for them. I took your punishment—and Camillia’s—too far. I understand that. I own it. And I apologize for it.”

“Because you give a shit now?” I blurted out, not following this turn of events at all.

Az made a sound and shot me a look that said he was about to tackle me.

But I ignored him.

Because this was between me and Lucifer.

“Actually, yes, I very muchgive a shitnow,” Lucifer said. “Melek’s my prince. And he’s about to mate Camillia for eternity.”

“He initiated that bond almost two months ago,” I pointed out. “And you certainly didn’t care then.”

“Oh, I cared.” He knocked back his drink again, then waved off the incoming refill. “But I also thought she was a threat. Now I realize I was wrong. She’s a pawn in a game that started well before her creation. A pawn that was literally crafted to hurt me. And, well, I have a penchant for saving the fae Vivaxia sends my way.”

He looked pointedly at Az.

Then glanced around his nightclub.

“My realm is filled with Vivaxia’s former playthings. Now Camillia is one of them, and both of my mates appear to be quite taken with her. So, yes, I officially give a shit.”

I stared at him, still uneasy. “And how do you feel about her?”

He smiled. “To be determined, Ajax. To be determined.”

I arched a brow. “That doesn’t make me feel all that confident in your intentions, Lucifer.”

“No, I imagine it doesn’t. But all I can promise now is that I want to save her, empower her, and turn her into a queen. Whether or not she becomesmyqueen, well, that remains to be seen, yes?”

I was about to question that further when a screen flickered in the air before him, drawing his attention away from mine. He frowned. “Hades is calling. I need to take this.”

I blinked, surprised he’d told me who was calling. And also surprised to hear that particular Mythos Fae—the God of the Netherworld—was ringing Lucifer.

Any idea what that’s about?I wondered at Az.

He shook his head.Things have been going on while we’ve been gone. I haven’t received the full rundown yet.

Oh.My jaw clenched as I finally took a drink. Unlike with Lucifer, the figments didn’t immediately return to fill my glass.

Not surprising.

I wasn’t even a real Hell Fae. Not to them.

“What’s your take on his comments regarding Cami?” I asked Az out loud.

“I believe him when he says he won’t hurt her.”