Page 39 of Hell Fae Commander
“I bet he does,” I drawled.
“Zeph, too.”
“So you love them,” I surmised.
“Naturally.” Devious twinkles entered his icy irises. “I’ve taught Florica how to hunt them.”
“And what does she do with them when she finds them?”
“Hides them.” His eyes smiled, telling me he very much likedwhereFlorica chose to hide them. “One turned into a porcupined-sphinx the other day.” His dimples flashed. “In Zeph’s bed. While he was asleep.”
Despite my dark mood, I couldn’t stop my lips from twitching. Zeph had been a headmaster at the Academy during my final year there with Shade. As a Warrior Blood, he’d handled all the defensive arts training, and he’d been a bit of a dick at times.
Thinking about him being attacked by a porcupined-sphinx was mildly entertaining.
“What did he do?”
“Killed it and fed it to Raph.” Shade’s expression sobered upon mentioning Zeph’s familiar—Raph, the three-headed snake. “Florica… is very much like her mother. She didn’t take it well.”
“I see.”
“Zeph’s still groveling.”
“And you?”
He flashed me an innocent look. “I had nothing to do with it. I taught my daughter a valuable skill. It’s not my fault Zeph doesn’t appreciate her talents.”
A huff of a laugh escaped me as I shook my head. Over a decade of being a mate-circle and clearly not much had changed.
What’s that like?I wondered.Having a family that tolerates all your quirks and choices? Even the ones that are downright devious in nature?
I would never know.
Because my decisions were probably going to get me killed.
I glanced down at Cami, noting her now-closed eyes. She had her head against my chest, her delicate features making her appear more youthful than usual. Trusting, too. Kind. Soft.Defenseless.
My heart ached at the sight of her obvious exhaustion. Lucifer’s antics had sucked the literal life out of the warrior in my arms, leaving behind a vulnerable female I hardly recognized.
I swallowed, a vow threatening to leave my lips, one I couldn’t voice. Because I wasn’t sure I could maintain it.
Lucifer will never touch you againwasn’t a promise I could make, even if I wanted to.
In truth, I probably wouldn’t be alive long enough to truly protect her.
But I didn’t regret my decision.
My choice had been made.
There wouldn’t be any further struggle with my alliances. No turmoil over honoring Lucifer’s laws or the demands of my heart. I’d learned from my mistakes.
Mistakes that wouldn’t be happening again.
The effect left me lighter, as if I could spread wings and take to the dark Midnight Fae skies.
I wonder if this is how Az feels when he’s in his Phoenix form.
Probably not, because he squelched the poor beast any chance he had.
