Page 42 of Hell Fae Warden

The gargoyle made an unintelligible sound behind me, the apple preventing him from speaking. I supposed we’d help him later.

Because the door shut and disappeared as Az stepped through the threshold.

Camillia’s gaze left me to stare up at Az, her eyes widening in surprise. She had part of a chair leg in her hand, the rest of it lying in pieces before me. Apparently, she’d decided that would make a good weapon.

How very human,I wanted to muse aloud.But Midnight Fae can’t be killed with a stake through the heart.

Alas, it was best that I didn’t speak. Otherwise, Az’s Phoenix might try to rip my throat out and present it to her as a consolation gift.

“Cami is okay,” Az’s Phoenix said, relief evident in his tone. “I protect Cami from Az and Ajax.”

Camillia gaped at him. “What?”

“His Phoenix has taken control,” I told her softly. “He has Az locked up somewhere inside him.” It was the best I could offer in terms of an explanation, as I didn’t actually know how it all worked since I wasn’t a shifter.

“Yesss,” Az’s Phoenix hissed, thesmore pronounced than before. “And I brought you a presssent.” I wondered if his new lisp was a sign that Az might be trying to break free.

Or perhaps the bird was overcome at seeing Camillia and struggling to form proper words.

“I’m the present,” I translated.

“Yesss,” the Phoenix agreed. “Cami punishes Ajax.”

One of her blondish-brown eyebrows arched upward, his lips flattening as she looked from me to Az. Her incredulous expression asked,What game are they playing with me now?

She didn’t trust this, and I didn’t blame her. Mere hours ago, we’d been interrogating her with violent snakes. Now Az’s Phoenix had dragged me in here like a beaten animal and had thrown me at her feet.

Her eyes went to the wound in my leg, the wound slowly healing, thanks to Az’s spelled daggers. They sucked the energy from their victims, which was partly why I felt so weak right now.

I could technically use my wand to heal, but I suspected that would just set Az’s Phoenix off again.

Meanwhile, the hole in his chest was gone, leaving only a smattering of blood soaking through Az’s shirt.

“What exactly am I punishing Ajax for?” Camillia asked carefully.

“For hurting my you,” Az replied, his broken words making it very clear that it was the beast speaking, not the man. “My Cami. You.”

“I… I see.” She tilted her head, which caused Az to do the same. “Is this some sort of trick?” She blinked, then huffed a laugh. “Never mind. If it was, you wouldn’t tell me.”

Az stepped forward, producing a dagger in his hand, and knelt beside the bed. “Another gift for my Cami.”

Both her eyebrows hit her hairline. “Now I know you have to be fucking with me.”

“He’s not.” I pitched my voice low, focusing on keeping it soft and trying not to anger the Phoenix. “I suggested he let you punish me. It was that or death.”

“And you’re not worried I might kill you?” she asked.

I lifted a shoulder. “You probably will. But I would rather it be you than Az.”

“Why?”

“Because you would be exacting revenge and I can accept that. Hell, I deserve it. But if Az’s Phoenix did it… Az, the man, may never forgive his beast.” It had seemed right to give her the truth, considering everything we’d shared in this room today. So I did. Whether she believed me or not was up to her.

“Cami punishes Ajax,” Az’s Phoenix repeated, again holding out the blade. “My Cami accepts my gifts?”

She stared at him, her lips seeming to work soundlessly as she considered what he was offering. She had to know what all this meant—Az’s Phoenix was courting her.

Camillia would be a fool to turn down his gifts, especially after all we’d done to her. AllIhad done to her, anyway.