Page 32 of Hell Fae Warden

“I’ve never been fond of that human colloquialism, as it’s never true. And besides, the image of someone shitting themselves in surprise isn’t all that appealing.”

He pushed off the wall he’d been leaning against and stepped toward me, his multicolored gaze sweeping over me in an instant.

“You’re hurt,” he said, frowning as he moved closer to me. “That’s not acceptable.”

My eyebrows rose, surprised by the vehemence in his voice. It had me taking a step back into the wall as he approached, which caused him to freeze.

“Camillia.” There was a note of concern in his voice that seemed to radiate through his expression. “You’re afraid of me?”

“I…” Was I? “No, not really.” It’d just been a really long day, and I hadn’t expected to see him here.

I didn’t know what to expect at all.

Everything was so confusing. I’d apparently missed thirty days of my life, and rather than trying to figure out what that meant, I’d been too caught up in being interrogated.

I rubbed my hand over my face and winced at the dull pain shooting down my arm.The snake bite. I’d forgotten about it while focusing on the food. Technically, I had multiple wounds that were going to leave marks.

Twisting my arms, I started searching for the other ones before lifting my shirt to check my torso.

Melek’s sharp intake of breath reminded me of his presence, but I didn’t bother acknowledging him. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen me in various stages of undress. After all, he’d provided some of mybridal wardrobe.

“Are there any snake bites on my back?” I asked him as I turned around. “Ajax failed to provide a mirror.”

“Snake bites?” Melek repeated, his fingers brushing my skin and sending a subtle shiver through my being in response. “What kind of snake?”

“You’d have to ask Ajax about his hissing friends,” I muttered, starting to pull my shirt down again.

But the fabric caught on Melek’s hand as he quickly yanked it in the opposite direction.

“Hey!” I snapped as he removed it completely from my head with a deft tug. “This wasn’t an invitation to—”

His soft murmur cut me off, the words gibberish to my ears.

“What?” I tried to rotate toward him, but he stopped me with a hand on my hip while his opposite palm branded my back.

I flinched at the heat pouring off of him, then sighed as it spread across my skin.

Oh. That… that feels nice.

I hadn’t considered how cold I’d become until now, his warmth a blanket I hadn’t realized I’d needed.

A hum of contentment filtered through me, my body relaxing into his touch as he continued speaking in soft tones. I didn’t understand anything he was saying, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. All that mattered was the warm sensations swimming through my veins.

His arm came around me, holding me back against his chest as whispered some of those foreign words in my ear.

I melted, his comfort drugging my senses.

I’m no longer alone. No longer cold. No longer hurting.

My eyes fell closed, my limbs suddenly heavy.

I’ll just rest for a few minutes,I decided.It’s been so long since I last slept…

I felt as though I was floating on a cloud, my body one with the air, my soul flying free.

It was disconcerting yet beautiful. So soft and placid. Reminding me of feathers drifting on the wind.

Maybe I have wings,I thought groggily.