Page 171 of Hell Fae King
But it wasn’t just her I felt—it was Camillia, too.
Her presence was just as potent as Vivaxia’s, her essence touching every part of my being as she unwound invisible strands from my core.
I stole a deep breath, my heart suddenly beating with renewed purpose as my Source heaved a sigh of palpable relief.
I had no idea what Camillia De la Croix was doing, or how she was doing it, but it felt right. It feltgood.
And the shock wave of fury that followed from Vivaxia told me she did not approve.
“Where is she?” I asked, looking around the dark cavern, my brow furrowing once again. “Why the fuck am I down here?”
“You fell,” Melek said, sounding irritated. “Again.”
“It was from some sort of fail-safe,” Azazel added. “You?—”
“I was blocking Vivaxia from sinking her claws deeper into my mind,” I interjected, remembering now.
And it wasn’t just that incident I remembered.
It waseverything. My full history with Vivaxia and so much more.
“That bitch has been playing with my memories for far too long,” I growled. The ire underlining my words was directed more at myself than at Vivaxia.
Because I should have known what she was doing to me. I should havefelther. Though, I supposed that on some level, I had. Which was why my Source had reacted to the intrusion.
Not just today, but on every other occasion where she’d attempted to tamper with my realm.
It’d all been a way to instill distrust in my fae while also keeping me on guard. She’d wanted me to be emotional and reactive.
And I had been to an extent.
But not to the lengths she truly desired.
Which was why she’d escalated her endgame. Why she’d manipulated my Strigoi King and engaged in her final move.
Only, she hadn’t anticipated her pawn becoming a queen. And a few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have expected it either.
However, the men around me had forced me to see Camillia’s worth. Her true potential. Herpower.
Which had my lips curling now despite the furious energy warming my veins. Because, unlike Vivaxia, I’d known Camillia could be a queen. And not just any queen, butmyqueen.
Another wave of hot energy washed over me, dismantling Vivaxia’s aura before it could even touch me again.
She’s still trying to sink her hooks into me,I realized, sensing the clawlike sensation of Vivaxia’s gift lingering in the air.
I’d forgotten how potent her ability could be, howsuffocating. She’d stolen those memories from me, altered their foundations, and coaxed me into being her little puppet. Grooming my power. Guiding my instincts.Ensuring my failures.
I sensed it all now. Her purpose. Her goals. Her desire toascend.
Fuck, she was a crazy immortal bitch.
And Camillia is battling her alone.
I pushed up off the floor, urgency flooding my veins. There wasn’t time to explain everything out loud, so I shoved the knowledge via my bond links to Azazel and Melek…and Ajax.
Blinking, I turned slowly to look at the Midnight Fae, one eyebrow arched.
He held up his hands, his mind telling me he was wary of how I was about to react. “They told me to bite you.”
