Page 46 of Hell Fae Warden

I’d wanted to, anyway.

Grinding my teeth, I tried to ignore the pain as the potion yanked the truth from my mouth. “You probably don’t want to know. No one really does. But it’s a well-known death. She stood up for the abominations, just like my family. Just like me. And Constantine turned them all to marble while forcing several of us, myself included, to watch.”

Camillia winced.

And I looked away. “I vowed never to care about anyone like that again. But you… you’re too much like her. Yet you’re not like her at all. You’re even stronger. Resilient, too. I never thought you could escape, but you did.”

“You just thought I used you in the process,” she replied.

“Yes. No.” I shook my head. “I did feel betrayed, yes. But mostly, I… I didn’t want to admit how I felt about us, how I felt aboutyou. And to think you might have used me… usedus…” I glanced at a silent Az before looking back at Camillia. “It infuriated me.”

“But you told me you were upset about your Warden reputation and how I’d tainted it by breaking free from your prison. That’s true, too, right?”

“My reputation as Warden is all I am now. So yes, that’s also true. However, I used that excuse to mask my real hurt. It was easier to be upset about a slight against my record than to admit my feelings were hurt by a woman I’d started to care about.”

Fuck. If I survive this, I’m going to kill Melek.His spell was reverting me to the fae I used to be, the one who wasn’t afraid to feel things.

And I really did not want to feel anything right now.

Nor did I want to be telling Camillia all of this.

She’d stopped twirling Az’s blade, her expression no longer exuding the murderous rage I’d seen on it before. Instead, she appeared… complacent. And I had no idea how to interpret that.

“How do we get rid of the snakes?” she asked, her gaze going from me to Az.

“Ajax can whisper a simple command to remove them,” Az replied, causing me to glance at him. His irises glittered a vibrant violet shade, making my heart squeeze in my chest.

You’re back, I nearly said, more relieved than ever to see my friend. I wondered how long he’d been standing there silently, listening to Camillia’s interrogation without intervening.

Hell, he’d probably heard everything.

But I was surprised he hadn’t tried to take over or subdue her. Perhaps he’d come to some sort of compromise with his Phoenix. Whatever it was, I was just thankful to have him back in control.

Camillia didn’t seem to notice, her focus on me. “De-spell the snakes.”

I wasn’t going to wait for her to say it twice and obeyed by uttering a few words. The vines vanished in an instant, leaving me naked and fully exposed on the chair.

“Can you heal yourself?” Camillia asked.

“Yes.”

“Then why haven’t you?”

I shrugged. “Because that would defeat the purpose unless you want me fully healthy before you kill me.” She wouldn’t be able to now that Az was back—something his narrowing eyes told me—but I wasn’t going to fight her if she tried.

“I don’t want to kill you, Ajax.” She slid the blade into her jeans pocket rather than handing it back to Az. “I mean, I wanted to a few hours ago, but now…” She trailed off, her shoulder lifting and falling. “I think all of us have misunderstood each other at some point.”

“Yes, I’m beginning to agree with that sentiment,” Az murmured as he stepped closer to Camillia.

“Az,” I warned him, my instincts starting to fire. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” he asked in a silky tone, his vibrant eyes locking on Camillia like prey.

She suddenly seemed to understand that the Phoenix at her back was no longer in charge, her shoulders stiffening as she slowly turned to face a very pissed-off Commander.

“I’ll be taking that blade back now,” he told her, his hand appearing palm up. “Please.”

CHAPTER11