Page 167 of Hell Fae King
“The one that says he has to pay homage to me.” She cocked her head. “In exchange for me not mating you. Little did he realize I already knew our bonds would fail. But he’s going to be very upset indeed when you fall. And I fully expect him to react appropriately—by betraying our deal.”
“Homage?” Typhos repeated. “How was that term defined?”
“Oh, Typhos.” She drew her nails down along his bare chest. “You know the kind ofhomageI enjoy.”
My jaw clenched, her little purr on the end of that final word making me want to break out of this strange little recollection and kill her.
But she wasn’t done speaking.
“The offer was for one single instance, at a time of my choosing. No longer than sixty minutes. Only me and him. And he defined the limits.” She arched a brow. “You taught him well, darling. However, there were some fine-print details that he may have overlooked—such as the one that statesno violence.”
Her gray eyes seemed to glitter with triumph.
Meanwhile, all Typhos felt was dread.
Because he already saw where this was headed.
“He thought I meant it as a sensual limit.” She smiled. “Can you believe that? Me? A sadist?” She laughed a little, the sound grating on my nerves. “Does he not realize how alike you and I are?”
Typhos remained silent, his expression still giving nothing away.
However, I felt his emotional state. Experienced it as though it were my own. Yet somehow I could see him.
Or maybe…
Maybe I couldn’t see him. Maybe I just felt the image he thought he was exuding.
He was clamping down his external reactions, ensuring that Vivaxia couldn’t sense anything on the outside. And therefore his memory showcased him as such.
Except, I couldn’t help wondering if that was true at all. His viewpoint was somewhat unreliable.
Hell, everything about him was unreliable. Not because he desired to be cryptic or mercurial, but because Vivaxia had manipulated him in this manner.
She’d tampered with his mind.
Even now, I could feel the effect of her weaving her essence into his and redefining this moment.
Making him forget every word.
“As I’m sure you’ve deduced, our sweet Melek is about to feel quite violent.” She glanced off to the side. “And wouldn’t you know? Our hour has just begun, as it was bymychoice, after all. Which means even the slightest punch will nullify our agreement. And, well, you know how the Virtuous Fae Source feels about betraying our vows.”
Typhos’s mask began to slip, his fury a hot wave to my senses that had me quivering inside.God, this feels so real. Yet I could still sense the Strigoi Palace around me, even while seeing Typhos standing in this idyllic scene.Right in the center of a beautiful courtyard.
One I recognized.
Because I’d been there with my mother. While lost in Vivaxia’s mirage.
Is that what this is now? Another visual trick?
But no. No, this didn’t feel like an illusion at all. Not like the ones I’d seen and previously experienced.
“Do you think Melek will be cast out?” Vivaxia went on. “Indefinitely? I mean, we are beings of peace, are we not? Our deals are founded on loyalty. To break a vow risks our very foundation.”
Typhos scoffed at her words, despite his inner turmoil mounting. “Our games are for us to enjoy, Vivaxia. Leave Melek out of them.”
Her long lashes fluttered as she gave him a coy look, one that contradicted the malice brewing in her gaze. “You invited him to play when you sent him for this.” She held up a journal, one I recognized as Vita’s past.
And everything suddenly clicked.
