Page 38 of Hell Fae Prince

I shouldn’t have stayed to watch, but I couldn’t quite pull myself away.

Az and Ajax were ravenous, their need to overpower my scent turning them borderline feral. Too bad for them, I was under Cami’s skin now. She was mine just as much as she was theirs.

Soon, it would be me she moaned for. Me she begged to feel inside her. Me she wanted to touch and stroke and lick.

Alas, that time was not today.

Little prince?Ty murmured into my mind.You feel… sad.The way he said it suggested it was a strange emotion to sense from me. Hearing the label on his tongue was also a bit strange, as I… I hadn’t even realized that was how I felt until he’d voiced it in my head.

I suppose I am,I admitted.Ajax and Az won’t let me help them craft a counteroffer for you.

Ty remained silent for a long moment.You want to help them.Not a question, but a statement.

I want to join them,I replied.But they’re not ready to trust me yet.

And a part of me—a very small, rather unique part of me—worried that they may never be ready.

They’ve determined that I’m the enemy,Ty said, and a flicker of sadness seemed to underline those words. It was barely there, but a fleeting realization that had my king feeling a bit perplexed.Azazel…

Is currently consumed by his Phoenix’s instincts,I finished for him.He knows you’re not the enemy, my love. But he’s also not pleased with you propositioning Ajax in an attempt to control Cami.

Ty sighed, long and heavy, into my mind.Camillia De la Croix is slowly dismantling everything I’ve built.

No, my love. She’s simply challenging you in a way you’ve never experienced before. It’s both refreshing and terrifying, and you’re attempting to face her in your own way. Unfortunately, it may not work.It was probably the most straightforward response I’d ever given him, similar to the ones I’d awarded Azazel with a few moments ago as well.

Perhaps Ty wasn’t the only one feeling out of sorts over Cami. She wanted me. I could sense it every time I stared into her eyes. Yet she seemed just as determined to push me away. I typically enjoyed a good game of cat and mouse, but lately, all I’d wanted to do was beg her to let me worship her.

It was as though a part of me had become lonely without her. Which was strange, as I had Ty. I was complete.

Or I should be, anyway.

Perhaps it was initiating the bond without finalizing it.

I didn’t want to force her—Iwouldn’tforce her.

However, I would seduce her.

I nearly connected to her mind now to do just that, but a presence lingering nearby captured my focus.My meeting is about to start,I told Ty.Are you with Maliki?

Yes. He’s just sitting across from me and not saying a word.

I arched a brow. Most fae bowed to Ty’s every demand, his intimidating presence a force of nature they could feel lingering all over the Hell Fae Realm. He wasn’t an unkind ruler, just a powerful one. And most fae yielded to such power. Yet Maliki didn’t seem to fear Ty at all.

That’s impressive,I admitted.

It’s infuriating.

I smiled, but it didn’t quite feel as natural as it should.Sounds like you have many challenges to keep you occupied, my love. At least you’re not bored.

He snorted back at me.With you in my life, I’m never bored, little prince.

With the compliment fresh in my mind, I materialized in the Midnight Fae Palace corridor just as Zakkai rounded the corner. “So you’re a Virtuous Fae,” he said in greeting.

I could deny it.

But why bother?

“I am.” I leaned against the vine-covered wall, ignoring the hissing sounds telling me I wasn’t welcome to be there. If one of the snakelike creatures bit me, they’d be in for a hell of a shock. Literally.