Page 43 of Hell Fae Warden

She’d wanted to escape the bride trials since the very beginning. But I had been the one to finally subdue her and take her to the paradigm for imprisonment. Just as I had been the one assigned to her cell when Typhos had decided to relocate her to the prison. And today, I’d been the one to lead the majority of her interrogation.

I more than deserved her wrath.

She was an innocent woman caught up in a debt that truly had nothing to do with her. Her father had been the one to give her away. He was why she’d been ensnared in a contest and forced to play against her will. Not because she’d done anything wrong, but because her father had chosen that fate for her.

But I’d been the one to ensure she stayed.

I’d been the one to track her down with the threat of taking her back after she’d magically managed to free herself.

Only, she hadn’t actually freed herself at all. She’d been provided help by some magic book. For all I knew, Melek had orchestrated all of this. It would be just like him to give a candidate a bespelled text that would allow her to flee, just so he could watch us all track her down and torment her for information.

Is that why he visited?I wondered.To check in on his little pet project?

“Please?” Az’s Phoenix said, his tone very unlike the Az I knew. “Accept my gifts?”

Camillia studied him for another long moment, then looked at me before staring down at the dagger. Her eyes narrowed, then she reached for the blade.

Az’s Phoenix positively preened in response, pleased that she had accepted his weapon. She tensed like she expected some sort of repercussion for her actions, but when none came, she finally started to relax.

It seemed to be dawning on her that this was real.

That she not only had me at her mercy but also had a violent, birdlike male ready to burn down the world for her if she asked him to.

“So you’re Az’s Phoenix,” she murmured, studying him again.

“Yes,” the beast replied, lowering his head once more. “And you are my Cami.”

“Am I? Because your other half doesn’t seem to think so.”

“My other half isss not in charge,” Az’s animal replied.

“I can see that.” She twirled the blade between her fingers. “Thank you for this.”

Az bowed again, then stood and backed away. “Cami punishes Ajax.”

The bird really seemed to like that phrase.

“Yes, I would very much like to punish Ajax,” she agreed, her gray eyes finding mine. A wild sort of grin spread across her face, painting an expression of bloodthirsty glee that I’d only seen from Az’s Phoenix.

Compatible indeed,I thought.

And regardless of Camillia’s true heritage, she was definitely half Hell Fae. That much was confirmed, given that Lucifer knew her father.

Meaning she had a ruthless side to her just like all Hell Fae did.

“I was shoved into this room completely naked and tied up with ropes that turned into snakes,” she said as she stood, her words making Az’s Phoenix hiss in response. “I think Ajax should experience what that feels like.”

Az cocked his head like he was considering it. “Yesss.”

“Will you undress him for me?” Cami asked, her words seeming to be a test for how far she could push Az to do her bidding.

The Phoenix made a clicking sound, one I recognized as eagerness. Which meant he was all too happy to comply with her request, something that didn’t shock me at all. His bird had always been a sensual creature. Violent, yes, but he absolutely loved sensual torment most of all.

He moved toward me and ripped my cape off first, then lit up his fingers with black fire to burn off my shirt. I flinched, the heat singeing my skin. It didn’t quite burn, telling me he hadn’t wanted to hurt me. He’d just wanted me tofeelhis power.

My pants were next. Az yanked at them, uncaring of my wound and the blood that oozed toward the ground. Then he used his fire to remove my boxers, the heat along my groin a carnal torment that had me growling in response.

Az knew all about my preference for pain during sex.