8. Az
CHAPTER 8
AZ
I handed Cami a cup as soon as she reached the living area, the coffee fixed to her preferences already by the helpful gargoyle.
She took a sip and moaned, the sound going straight to my dick.
We’d only fucked once. I needed more. So much more .
Ajax did, too.
He’d enjoyed taking my ass, his desire to do it again humming between us. You can take Cami’s ass next, I told him. While I fuck her pussy.
He nearly choked on his coffee, his dark eyes finding mine. I’m never going to get used to you being in my head.
I shrugged. I’ve been there for weeks, Ajax.
Yes. While I thought you were imprisoned and your bird was in charge.
Why is now different?
Because I know the truth, he replied, still looking at me. Or at least what truths you’ve told me.
I’ve confided everything, I told him. If there’s something I’m missing, I’ll share it. You can ask me anything.
He swallowed, then set his cup down. It’s going to take time to trust you, Az.
I know, I admitted.
But I’m sorry for… using that spell.
I grabbed him and pulled him to me, not caring at all that Melek and Cami were in the middle of saying something about food.
“You didn’t know,” I told Ajax out loud. “But I did know what happened to you with Constantine, and I still held you captive. Forced you to watch. What I did was worse. Much worse. So don’t apologize to me. I’m the one who owes you the apology.”
Ajax gaped at me. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I repeated.
“Okay,” he echoed.
“I’m sorry.”
“Okay,” he said again.
“I know you don’t forgive me, and you don’t trust me, but I promise never to do anything like that to you ever again. I might be tied to Typhos, but you… you are my mate. You and Cami come first.” I meant it. I might owe Typhos an eternity of gratitude and loyalty for what he’d done, but Ajax was mine now. Cami, too. I’d always put them first.
It was why I’d closed off Typhos.
He wanted my mate.
My Ajax.
And he hadn’t even told me about his offer or his plan.
It was unacceptable.
“You’re not mating him,” I said out loud, causing Ajax to frown. “We’ll devise a counter. Together.”
“It’s my choice,” Ajax argued. “And his offer?—”
“Is too good to be true,” I interjected. “We’re going to dissect every word. Develop a counter. And if you choose to mate him, then fine. But I won’t let you feel coerced into it because of a shiny deal.”
“I was there for the offer. I can help,” Melek murmured from beside us.
Releasing Ajax, I focused on Melek. “And run back to Typhos with our counter language? No.”
Melek’s eyebrows rose. “You think I would do that?”
“Yes,” I replied instantly. “He’s your priority. Your king.”
“And your mate, too,” Melek shot back, a hint of uncharacteristic annoyance in his tone. “I realize you’re upset that he propositioned Ajax without talking to you first, but you know Typhos would never hurt you, Azazel. Both Ajax and Camillia are extensions of you now, which means he would never hurt them either.”
Cami coughed.
Melek looked at her. “Oh, little angel, he wants to punish you. And yes, that’ll hurt. But he always makes it better. I promise.”
Her eyes widened at the sensual undertones of his words. “He hates me.”
Melek smiled. “He fears you and wants to tame you. Trust me, there’s a difference.”
I frowned, Melek’s commentary betraying Typhos’s true intentions. “That’s why he wants to mate Ajax—to have control over Cami.”
“Obviously,” Melek drawled, surprising me with his candor. He never showed his cards, especially when his hand involved Typhos.
I narrowed my gaze, waiting for him to say more. Because I didn’t trust a candid Melek. He loved his games. I just had to figure out which one he wanted to play now.
“It’s Ty’s way of taking charge of the situation while protecting his circle.” Melek shrugged. “It’s a rather straightforward deal, but I love a good counter. So shall we discuss options?”
“Why? So you can share our plans with him?” I tossed back, reiterating my original concern regarding Melek basically spying for Typhos.
“I have no intention of sharing anything, Azazel.” The serious quality of Melek’s tone was very unlike him. “You don’t realize the importance of what we’re creating here because you’re allowing possessive anger to cloud your vision. But Ty’s offer is good for all of us.”
“How?” Cami asked, her coffee mostly gone already. “Tell me how.”
Melek gave her his attention. “Ty’s deal unites us as a circle. It gives you freedom to reside safely in the Hell Fae Realm, grants Ajax status and power, and allows us to better protect the Hell Fae Source.”
“By allowing Typhos to control Cami through her mates,” I reiterated. “That’s what he wants.”
“No, it’s what he needs ,” Melek countered. “Trust takes time, Azazel. Especially when one possesses a history of betrayal.”
My jaw clenched. I didn’t need a lecture on Typhos’s past; I’d lived it. While I understood what was required to gain trust, I didn’t agree with Typhos’s methods. “I won’t let him use Ajax.”
“It’s not about using Ajax. It’s about protecting Ajax,” Melek replied.
“Ajax is also standing right here and more than capable of making decisions for himself,” the male in question deadpanned. “Stop talking for me, Az.”
“I’m not. I’m?—”
Ajax’s mouth silenced me, his kiss so unexpected that I froze, then immediately leaned into him only for him to pull away. “Thank you for trying to protect me. But I can handle this.”
“What do you want to do?” Cami asked, her hand going to Ajax’s shoulder.
“I don’t know yet,” he admitted. “I want to talk through all of it.” His gaze went to Melek. “But not with you.”
Melek stared at him for a beat and nodded. “All right. I have a meeting, anyway. However, if you do decide you would like my help, Cami knows how to find me.” The prince blinked out of the room before any of us could comment, leaving a single feather behind that landed on Cami’s shoulder.
She picked it up and stared at the glittery ends, then yelped when it exploded into a puff of sparkly dust. Her eyes closed, her body vibrating with fury. “If I’m a disco ball again, I will scream.”
“You’re not a disco ball,” I said, fighting a smile. “But Melek just coated you in his scent.”
Cami pinched her nose, her head falling forward as she audibly sighed. “All this possessive energy is going to kill me.”
“Good thing you’re a fae and can’t die that easily,” Ajax drawled. Then he pulled her in for a kiss, his mouth laying claim to her in a way I desired to do as well.
By the time he finished, she was panting. But I didn’t care. I kissed her, too. Branding her with my tongue. Telling her without words that she was mine.
Her eyes took on a lustful gleam when I stepped away, her expression clouded over with need. “We have to talk about Lucifer’s deal.”
“We do,” I agreed, taking the coffee cup from her trembling hands. “But we can do that after I fuck you again.”
“ We ,” Ajax corrected. “After we fuck you. Together. At the same time.”
Cami’s eyes widened. “We should probably prioritize food and conversation.”
“Why?” I asked. “We don’t need to eat, and the conversation isn’t going to change.”
“We need to plan.”
“And we will,” I promised. “After we fuck you again.”
She shook her head. “You men only think with your cocks.”
“Oh, this is about more than our cocks, little warrior,” I told her as I crowded her against Ajax. He caught her hips, his chest meeting her back, as I grabbed her throat. “This is about us getting rid of Melek’s imprint and laying our own claim.”
“You’re ours,” Ajax echoed. “And sharing is overrated.”
“Sharing is overrated,” I agreed. “Melek might have a claim on you, but it’s our cocks you’ll be feeling all day. Our cum that’ll saturate you all night. Our taste that’ll linger on your tongue and in your cunt.”
“Our marks you’ll wear on your skin,” Ajax added, his lips against her neck.
Cami gasped as he bit down and took a deep pull from her veins.
I smiled. “We’re going to possess every inch of you. And when we’re satisfied that Melek is a distant dream, we’ll talk about how to handle Typhos.”
“Your priorities are… interesting,” she breathed.
“I’ve lived a long time, Cami. But for the first time, I feel truly alive.” I stepped into her space, firmly holding her between me and Ajax. “I’m going to indulge in this sensation for a little longer. Then we’ll return to reality and figure out how to counter Typhos.”
Her lips parted like she wanted to argue, but all that escaped her was a moan as Ajax worked her with his mouth, his throat moving as he swallowed more of her blood.
“The best part of a deal is that you can refuse it. So worst case, we decline and offer him something else.” I spoke the words against her mouth. “Regardless, we’ll be ready. And most importantly, we’ll face him as a team.”
I reached around to thread my fingers through Ajax’s hair, holding him to her throat and encouraging him to take more of her blood.
“We’re a mate-circle now. Together for always. Unbreakable and powerful.” I squeezed her throat with one palm and tightened my grip on Ajax with the other hand. “And very fucking aroused. So lose the clothes and let us claim you. Again .”