Page 146 of Hell Fae Warden

He added a new pair of shoes, similar to the ones I’d discarded, but flat this time.

Then he handed me a set of throwing knives.

My eyebrow rose in surprise.

“I figure I owe you several of these after what happened today,” he explained with a shrug. “And probably a thousand apologies.”

Hmm. “Maybe you’re not an asshole after all.”

“Oh, I am,” he promised. “But I expected Lucifer to punish me, not you. And had I known what he would do…” He trailed off and shook his head. “I told you a memory with you was worthy of punishment. I meant it. But that…”

I considered him for a long moment, then nodded, understanding what he was trying to say. He’d been okay with everything knowing he would be the one punished, but he hadn’t known Lucifer would do what he’d done today.

“Az bound me with magic,” he added as the ground started to tremble again. “Otherwise… I would have done something.”

“Lucifer made him bind you.”

“Yes.” Rage filtered across Ajax’s expression. “Just like the day Constantine froze me in place while Emelyn and my family were killed.”

I swallowed, suddenly realizing just how bad Ajax’s punishment had been today.

Except… I hadn’t been killed. Just sensually tormented. And I wasn’t Emelyn or his parents.

So why is he comparing the two?

I nearly asked, when an Unseelie burst into existence in front of me, staring me down.

Stunned by not only his presence but also his incredible beauty, I dumbly stared as his wings broke into multicolored lights and disappeared.

Leaving a very attractive, powerful fae standing before me.

One that was wearing a crown.

He had a few feet on me, and his long hair reminded me of liquid mercury. It floated around him, making him look both ethereal and dangerous.

I held up my two new daggers in self-defense, but that only seemed to amuse the creature.

He raked his gaze over me as his nostrils flared. “Well, you’re certainly a pretty thing, but not who I’m looking for. Have you seen a female pass through? Perhaps one with a penchant for cupcakes?” he asked, his panty-melting accent indecipherable.Irish, sort of? Maybe a hint of Scottish, too? A mixture of multiple accents?

His vibrant eyes locked on me with an invisible pull, the sensation reminding me of how Az’s Phoenix tended to hypnotize me. I suddenly felt dizzy, my blades falling to my sides.

Only for Ajax to rush forward in a blur of shadows, his back knocking me free of the alluring spell the Unseelie had just cast over me.

“King Erebus, I assume,” Ajax greeted.

King?I repeated, peeking around Ajax to evaluate the Unseelie again.I suppose that explains the crown.

“Warden,” the king purred in response. His expression lit up with a grin that seemed borderline psychopathic, like he was just as likely to hug Ajax as he was to kill him.

My guess was the latter.

Lethality radiated off the Unseelie as the ground trembled around us. I wasn’t sure if the quake beneath my feet was because of the portal or the angry Midnight Fae in front of me.

“I mean no disrespect, but I would appreciate you not enchanting my female,” Ajax said.

My eyebrows lifted.Your female?I wanted to ask.In what way, shape, or form is that accurate?

And why do I like the way it sounds?