Page 134 of Hell Fae Warden

Time to formally ignite the show,I decided.

“Warden Ajax took hissponsorshipwith Camillia De la Croix a little too far. Not only was he technically ineligible as a non-Hell Fae, but he also didn’t follow our preestablished rules.No. Fucking. The. Candidates.”

Those last four words whirled around the room on a wave of power, ensuring everyone heard and felt that command.

Several Hell Fae sobered, their expressions turning angry as they looked at Ajax.

“I’ve said you’re allowed to touch and play, so long as the candidate consents. But penetration isn’t permitted. That’s reserved for mates.” I glared at Ajax. “And Camillia De la Croix isn’tyourmate.”

She was technically Melek’s intended, but I couldn’t add that part out loud. Not until I finished testing her worth and deciding if I supported that union.

If Melek wanted to share her with Ajax and Az, so be it. I had no problem with that. I honestly didn’t even care that Ajax had fucked the girl.

This was about making a statement for my Hell Fae.

And hiding the real reason for her disqualification.

“As a result, Camillia De la Croix is disqualified from the trials. And, Warden Ajax, you have been temporarily removed from your post while I determine how to handle this situation.” I glanced at the crowd. “Meanwhile, all of you deserve to earn some recompense from this situation, yes?”

This time my words were met with snarls and growls more than cheers of excitement, their expressions hungry and underlined with a hint of envy.

Ajax had touched something that didn’t really belong to him.

Had he wanted to participate in the trials, I would have allowed it. But he hadn’t even asked, instead taking on his Warden role and helping corral bridal candidates. That had left him in an unfair position to seduce, something the Hell Fae would assume he’d taken advantage of with Camillia.

That had to be punished.

And this was my way of acknowledging that.

I met the former candidate’s gaze, noting the blazing hatred in her gray eyes. Melek was right—this certainly wasn’t going to impress her in the slightest.

But I didn’t want to curry favor with her.

I wanted to test her. Make her prove her worth for my men. Find out why they cared so much about this female. Maybe determine if she truly was worth all the fuss.

If that happened, I’d be the first to grovel.

However, I very much doubted she would prove herself to be worth my time.

I stepped closer to her. “If you won’t remove the jacket, then I will.”

She responded by trying to wrap it more tightly around herself.

“Az,” I said softly.

His sigh was loud in my mind, but he didn’t outwardly betray his emotions at all as his palms slid down her arms to clasp her wrists.

She wriggled a little, then flinched, likely from the chains pulling at her sensitive skin. Her lip disappeared between her teeth, her body jolting a little as Az deftly pulled her hands away from her coat.

Her eyes narrowed at me, more of her delicious anger taking over her expression.

But then something strange happened.

The fury lining her shoulders seemed to disappear as a sense of resolve stole over her features. She no longer appeared irate so much as confident, as though she knew something I didn’t.

It had me suspicious.Did she forgo the chains for something else?I wondered.Would she defy me in that way?

My lips nearly curled down at the notion, my mind unclear on how I would proceed if she had.