9. Melek
CHAPTER 9
MELEK
M y lips curled as Cami moaned, her clothes seeming to disappear in a wink.
I shouldn’t have stayed to watch, but I couldn’t quite pull myself away.
Az and Ajax were ravenous, their need to overpower my scent turning them borderline feral. Too bad for them, I was under Cami’s skin now. She was mine just as much as she was theirs.
Soon, it would be me she moaned for. Me she begged to feel inside her. Me she wanted to touch and stroke and lick.
Alas, that time was not today.
Little prince? Ty murmured into my mind. You feel… sad. The way he said it suggested it was a strange emotion to sense from me. Hearing the label on his tongue was also a bit strange, as I… I hadn’t even realized that was how I felt until he’d voiced it in my head.
I suppose I am, I admitted. Ajax and Az won’t let me help them craft a counter offer for you.
Ty remained silent for a long moment. You want to help them. Not a question, but a statement.
I want to join them, I replied. But they’re not ready to trust me yet.
And a part of me—a very small, rather unique part of me—worried that they may never be ready.
They’ve determined that I’m the enemy, Ty said, and a flicker of sadness seemed to underline those words. It was barely there, but a fleeting realization that had my king feeling a bit perplexed. Azazel…
Is currently consumed by his Phoenix’s instincts, I finished for him. He knows you’re not the enemy, my love. But he’s also not pleased with you propositioning Ajax in an attempt to control Cami.
Ty sighed, long and heavy, into my mind. Camillia De la Croix is slowly dismantling everything I’ve built.
No, my love. She’s simply challenging you in a way you’ve never experienced before. It’s both refreshing and terrifying, and you’re attempting to face her in your own way. Unfortunately, it may not work. It was probably the most straightforward response I’d ever given him, similar to the ones I’d awarded Azazel with a few moments ago as well.
Perhaps Ty wasn’t the only one feeling out of sorts over Cami. She wanted me. I could sense it every time I stared into her eyes. Yet she seemed just as determined to push me away. I typically enjoyed a good game of cat and mouse, but lately, all I’d wanted to do was beg her to let me worship her.
It was as though a part of me had become lonely without her. Which was strange, as I had Ty. I was complete.
Or I should be, anyway.
Perhaps it was initiating the bond without finalizing it.
I didn’t want to force her—I wouldn’t force her.
However, I would seduce her.
I nearly connected to her mind now to do just that, but a presence lingering nearby captured my focus. My meeting is about to start, I told Ty. Are you with Maliki?
Yes. He’s just sitting across from me and not saying a word.
I arched a brow. Most fae bowed to Ty’s every demand, his intimidating presence a force of nature they could feel lingering all over the Hell Fae Realm. He wasn’t an unkind ruler, just a powerful one. And most fae yielded to such power. Yet Maliki didn’t seem to fear Ty at all.
That’s impressive, I admitted.
It’s infuriating.
I smiled, but it didn’t quite feel as natural as it should. Sounds like you have many challenges to keep you occupied, my love. At least you’re not bored.
He snorted back at me. With you in my life, I’m never bored, little prince.
With the compliment fresh in my mind, I materialized in the Midnight Fae Palace corridor just as Zakkai rounded the corner. “So you’re a Virtuous Fae,” he said in greeting.
I could deny it.
But why bother?
“I am.” I leaned against the vine-covered wall, ignoring the hissing sounds telling me I wasn’t welcome to be there. If one of the snakelike creatures bit me, they’d be in for a bit of a shock. Literally.
Zakkai paused a foot away from me, his magic prodding mine as it always did when I visited. Only this time, he didn’t even try to hide his intrigue, instead weaving his power through mine in an attempt to learn it for himself.
“It won’t work,” I told him, my voice betraying my exhaustion. “For as powerful as you are, my essence is supremely other. Your Source came from mine. To try to understand it—to rewrite it—is impossible.”
He pulled his power back a fraction, but not completely. “You’re a threat.”
“Of course I am. But so are you.” I cocked my head. “Do you want to measure wands, Zakkai?”
“I want to protect my mates.”
“As do I.”
His jaw ticked, his silver-blue eyes tracking over me as his long white hair billowed in an invisible breeze. “Walk with me.”
“I’m not one who typically follows demands well,” I warned him. “Just ask Ty.” But I pushed away from the wall anyway and waved a hand, signaling for Zakkai to lead. “So just be aware that I’m following out of curiosity. Nothing more.”
He shrugged. “I just thought you might want to leave before your mate starts screaming the names of other men.”
With that, he turned.
She might scream their names, but it’s my essence permeating her skin when she comes, I thought, my focus shifting to the female in the room beside me. Her mind was utterly consumed by Ajax and Az as they worshipped her with their mouths, her beautiful form writhing between them like the goddess she was.
They’d decided to take turns with her pussy rather than introducing her to anal play. A shame. I suspected my angel would enjoy being filled on both sides.
Maybe Ty and I would have the opportunity to introduce her to it soon.
If she ever accepts me, a dark voice whispered. My lips curled down at the unwanted thought. It was unbidden and entirely unwelcome.
Camillia De la Croix was mine. She’d been mine from the moment I’d found her reading Vita in the library.
Your agitation is making it difficult to focus, little prince, Ty murmured into my mind. Is your meeting not going well?
I blinked, realizing Zakkai was waiting with an expectant expression at the end of the corridor. No, it’s just beginning.
Is Zakkai threatening you? Ty asked, suddenly even more alert. Shall I join you?
Zakkai is fine. I’m… My brow furrowed. Az and Ajax are playing with Cami, and I wish I could join them. But they don’t want me there. And it’s… I trailed off, irritated. It’s nothing. I’ll be fine.
My king obviously understood what I was feeling because he softly replied, They’re fools not to want you, Melek. You’ll have your revenge one day… with your ribbons.
I smiled at the notion his words provoked in my mind—an image of Cami tied up and begging me to let her come, all while I teased her like she was doing to me now. Hmm. That was a nice distraction. Go back to Maliki, I told Ty as I started after Zakkai, my mood instantly improved.
I’ve already released him, Ty informed me.
I stopped walking. That quickly?
Hades appeared.
My eyebrows rose. And?
And he’s still here.
Oh. I canted my head. That’s interesting.
Indeed.
I resumed walking. Well, let me know if he says anything intriguing.
Hmm, Ty hummed back, his way of agreeing.
Two discussions with a Mythos Fae in a decade was rare. Two discussions in a day was practically unheard of. They typically kept to themselves, choosing to reign in silence and only occasionally appear in public spaces.
And Hades was the most reclusive of them all. He usually sent his cousin Orcus out to do his bidding. Whatever he needed from Ty must go beyond Maliki.
I’d follow up on that later.
For now, I had an even more intriguing conversation to be had with the Midnight Fae Source Architect. He’d resumed walking again, not saying a word to me about my strange delay. I suspected he knew I’d been talking to Ty, or perhaps was used to those around him holding mental conversations.
When we reached the palace exit, I glanced at him but followed him down a grand set of stairs to a waiting cloud below. “I typically prefer my feathers,” I told him.
“If I had wings, I would, too,” Zakkai replied, stepping up to the mist. “After you.”
I smiled. “I would rather eat a burning thwomp branch.”
He chuckled. “I can arrange that.” But rather than insist I walk into the mystic fog, he went first.
And completely disappeared.
I waited a beat, then sighed and followed him into the unknown.
Midnight Fae portals were strange, their magic tacky and unwelcome against my skin. Fortunately, they were also short.
Three steps and I was suddenly at a closed door, the knob nowhere to be seen. “You don’t belong here,” a voice informed me.
I found the source of it hanging on a door knocker. “I’m aware, thank you. But your Source Architect asked me on a date, so here I am.”
“I wouldn’t call it a date,” Zakkai replied from the other side of the door. “More like a necessary shopping trip.”
My brow furrowed, not understanding until the gargoyle-like knocker huffed and removed the wooden panel barring my exit.
A shop appeared on the other side, just beyond a cobblestone street. Glancing left and right, I realized we’d entered a village of sorts. “Cute,” I said, liking the gothic spires and midnight skies. “Very appropriate.”
Zakkai shrugged. “Aflora likes a tavern nearby; they have spritemead and other Elemental Fae cuisine.”
“Do they have lava drinks?” I wondered aloud.
“Probably,” Zakkai replied, heading for the shop entrance. “They offer food and beverages from all the realms.” He glanced at me. “Even the inhospitable ones.”
I snorted. “We both know that’s not true; you visit Zenaida all the time.”
“Do I?” he asked, feigning innocence. “Hmm.”
I didn’t bother replying to that; the truth was already clear.
What wasn’t clear, however, was our purpose for being here.
My brow furrowed as we entered a shop filled with formal gowns. “Need an outfit for the Interrealm Fae Ball?” I asked him.
“In fact, I do,” he replied. “Aflora requires a dress. I assume Cami does, too?”
I studied his profile, noted the way he took in every corner of the store, searching for threats. But all I felt around us were some figments waiting to play. Otherwise, the shop was very empty.
“You didn’t have to take me dress shopping to garner my RSVP, Architect,” I told him. “We’ll all be at your little soirée.”
“Your king, too?”
“Of course. Typhos is in the middle of negotiating terms with the rest of our mate-circle. He’s hoping to hear their counter offer at the ball.”
Zakkai smiled. “You mean Ajax’s counter?”
“No, I mean their counter,” I murmured as I ran my fingers along a particularly beautiful dress.
Cami would look stunning in this gold sheen.
And not just because it reminded me of her ethereal magic.
“Ty might not be ready to embrace our growing circle, but it’s already done,” I added softly, somewhat enchanted by the silky fabric. “Az, Ajax, and Cami are all thoroughly mated. Anything Ty offers to Ajax is offered to all of them.”
“So you’re expecting Cami to offer herself up in Ajax’s place,” he replied bluntly.
I paused my admiration of the gold dress to look at him. “Zenaida recently asked me to indulge her in a game of chess. I believe you should join us.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“You can take it however you like,” I said, fully facing him. “Why am I here, Zakkai?”
“Multitasking,” he replied. “I really do need to pick up Aflora’s dress, and I decided you would be entertaining company for the journey.”
I huffed a laugh. “Testing out our new friendship?”
“Considering possible alliances, yes.”
“Hmm. And what is your evaluation thus far?”
“Cocky, arrogant, powerful, and playful,” he replied without hesitation. “Zephyrus is going to hate you.”
I arched a brow. “And you?”
“Will very likely favor you in every argument against Zephyrus,” he admitted, his lips twitching just slightly before he sighed in frustration. “Please stop fondling my ass and bring me Queen Aflora’s gown.”
A tinkling giggle responded to his statement. “As the king wishes.”
Zakkai rolled his eyes. “I’m not the king.”
“Four kings, one queen. Oh, but my… she is a very lucky queen indeed.” The feminine voice floated all over the room, followed by a chorus of agreement.
There were figments in the library near the Hell Fae Bride dormitories, making me quite familiar with the ghostlike creatures. They possessed penchants for trouble and flirting.
My kind of fun.
“I’d like to procure a gown, too,” I told them. “But I’ll need some jewelry and shoes to match.”
“Ohhh, the Hell Fae Prince wishes to speak to us, he does,” a figment breathed. “So handsome, he is.”
“Very handsome,” another cooed, rubbing up against me and pinching my ass.
I merely smiled. “Thank you, lovelies.” Then I provided Cami’s measurements—numbers I’d committed to memory long ago—and focused on Zakkai. “Would you mind delivering the garment to her guest suite? Or, better yet, pretending it’s a gift from the Midnight Fae Royal Family?”
“Worried she might reject it if she knows it’s from you?” he asked, sounding amused.
“I know she will,” I told him, not sharing his amusement. “Az and Ajax have rightfully claimed her. I… I have not.”
He sobered a bit, his silver-blue eyes flashing. “I may know a little about being on the outside of a mate-circle.” He glanced at the gold dress now hovering over our heads thanks to the helpful figments. “Consider the task handled.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “And consider myself available to you, should you think of anything you’d like to ask.”
If Zakkai desired an ally, I’d accept. Besides, he might be useful to me. He was a Source Architect, used to unraveling complicated strands and realigning them in ways that benefited him and his mate-circle. Perhaps he could help me untangle the snare I’d created with Cami.
I’d wanted Ajax and Az to mate her, but it seemed my plan had worked a little too well.
Because now they didn’t want to share.
Zakkai nodded, responding to my offer to answer questions. “I gathered the gist of the history lesson from Az, but I am sure there will be follow-up queries.”
“From your mates?”
“From my mates,” he echoed, confirming that he fully intended to inform them of his recent history lesson , as he’d called it.
“Anything else for now?” I asked him.
“A drink?” he offered.
I considered it and nodded. “A drink might be nice.”
“Charge our guest’s items to the royal account,” he told the figments. “I’ll be back to pick everything up.”
“Royal account, he says,” one of the voices tittered. “Jewelry, the other requests.”
“Ohhh, expensive, yes?”
“Expensive.”
“Just make sure it glitters, please,” I interjected. “My intended is quite fond of…” What was the term? Ah, yes… “ Disco balls. ”