Page 9 of Hell Fae Warden

More so, if she’d hadanythingto do with the current issues plaguing the Hell Fae Realm, then she was a threat to Typhos. And that alone couldn’t be tolerated.

That was why we needed to know how she’d escaped and what she’d been doing. I’d hoped to have those answers for Typhos before announcing that we’d captured her, but she’d been less than cooperative.

Of course, I’d barely interrogated her.

However, that was because my Phoenix hadn’t allowed me to do what I needed to in order to acquire responses. He hadn’t even let me hypnotize her.Fucking beast.

But you’re quiet now,I taunted him.Because I’m in charge. Not you.

And I would rip the answers out of Camillia if I had to. I didn’t care if it damaged her beyond repair.

I suspected Typhos would agree with my intentions, but it wouldn’t hurt to ensure he approved before I truly interrogated her.

Of course, Camillia had run from his trials at the most inopportune time—or perhaps at the most opportune time, assuming she’d somehow taken advantage of the portal distraction.

Or she’s the one who caused it, I thought, my teeth grinding together at the possibility.

Once I had Typhos’s permission to unleash my dark side, Camillia would face the full wrath of my beast.

Except, my animal spirit clearly disagreed. My Phoenix had all but burst out of me to stop me from even scratching the female, and now he thrashed against his restraints, threatening to hurt himself. My ribs ached and my muscles burned with the effects of my animal’s rage.

“What’s wrong with you?” I growled as the fractal wall of mirrors around me filled with the image of black flames. “Why are you acting all territorial over a little blood? I barely nicked her, and you know I can do a hell of a lot more than that.”

I mentally reinforced the binds to the point of breaking his wings.

Betrayal ran through my spirit, followed by a cold silence that sent a chill through my soul.Fuck. I’d done it now. Rage was an emotion I could handle, especially from my Phoenix. But this… this felt…deeper.

I swallowed.It’s for the best,I promised him.You’ll see.

Silence.

Not even a ruffle.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten, needing to right myself before I moved on.She’s not ours,I kept saying to my animal.Our mate is somewhere out there. We’ll find her or him someday. But it isn’t her.

Still no reply.

Sighing, I opened my eyes again and noted that the striking violet had returned to my irises. Not even a hint of black flame remained.

Because I’d squandered it.

Only temporarily,I thought.Until I do what needs to be done.

But first, I had to talk to Typhos.

Huffing, I stormed down the remainder of the corridor with my feathers all in a mental twist.

You’ll forgive me once I prove she’s not ours,I told my Phoenix.I promise.

When I reached Typhos’s door, I sensed the King of the Hell Fae Realm on the other side.

Just as he likely sensed me, perhaps even well before I’d arrived. My raging emotions probably served as a beacon to his senses. But he wouldn’t press me to explain. That wasn’t Typhos’s way.

Besides, he had enough on his mind at present, what with his Nightmare Fae having thrown a mate-hunting party in another realm.

That fucking portal,I thought, shaking my head.Thatwas a true problem. Unlike the one my Phoenix and I were debating.

My animal erroneously thought we’d found our mate. Meanwhile, Typhos was dealing with a potential threat to the Hell Fae Source, which put his entire realm at risk. Very different issues.