Ajax merely smiled. “You would like to know, wouldn't you?”
“Yes, I would,” Zakkai admitted. “Particularly as it’s my ability that has morphed your power.”
That had been his part of the deal with Lucifer—the Hell Fae King had asked him to rewrite Ajax’s magic and align him to the Hell Fae Source.
Zakkai had refused at first.
However, then he’d realized Ajax wasn’t just a willing subject, but an eager one as well, and he’d complied, after penning a whole bunch of loopholes into the agreement with Lucifer, of course.
It’d been a fascinating debate to observe between Zakkai and Lucifer, both of them evenly matched in power, and neither afraid of the other.
Zakkai had essentially made it so Lucifer could never ask Aflora for a single favor, or demand anything from her or her mates.
In exchange, he’d help him as required with Ajax’s development only.
And anything with my grandmother was up for negotiation, meaning Zakkai would step in to help her if he wanted to. Which I knew he would under the right circumstances.
“It’s the grand opening of the bride trials.” The deep tone belonged to a dark presence lurking in the shadows of the room.
Zakkai didn’t react, clearly having sensed Lucifer’s arrival before me. “That sounds vile,” Zakkai murmured. “Tell me more.”
Lucifer chuckled as he stepped into the room through some sort of invisible door. My grandmother didn’t react, just set a cup of coffee at the head of the table and took a seat beside me.
The Hell Fae King took the chair like one would a throne. The white streaks in his black hair glimmered beneath the low lighting, his piercing blue eyes flashing with amusement as he nudged the mug aside. “Nice try,” he told my grandmother.
She shrugged.
And Zakkai snorted. See?
So maybe she did attempt to bespell drinks or whatever.
She wasn’t a typical Fortune Fae Omega by any stretch of the imagination, her magic having been altered by Grandfather Kodiak a thousand years ago.
“I’m organizing a bride trial to satisfy the Hell Fae males of my world,” Lucifer said conversationally. “As you know, the source rarely accepts females. Which means I’m governing a bunch of blood thirsty men. The best way to tame them is to mate them. So. Bride trials.” He spread his hands like that explained everything.
“And where are you acquiring these females?” Zakkai asked, his tone just as casual and calm.
Lucifer’s lips twisted into a feral grin. “From other fae realms, of course.”
“Through deals.” Zakkai didn’t voice it as a question, but a statement.
Lucifer merely waved his hand again, as though to say, obviously.
Zakkai studied him for a long moment before focusing on my grandmother. “And you knew this was going to happen. That’s been your agreement all along, hasn’t it? That you could protect the Quandary Bloods in this paradigm and build a magical school to train them. All the while preparing for the inevitability of Lucifer turning this into a training camp for potential Hell Fae brides.”
My blood ran cold at his suggestion.
But the look in my grandmother’s eyes told me he was right.
“There’s always a price for leadership, Zakkai. I did the best I could with what I had on offer. And now I’m fulfilling my part of the obligation.”
“By acting as Headmaster to these brides,” he completed for her.
“Not entirely accurate.” She looked at Ajax. “He’s the chosen Warden. I’m merely here to keep the paradigm safe and alive while Lucifer organizers his trial.”
Zakkai whistled. “That’s one hell of a price.” Then he looked at Lucifer. “Aflora has no part in this.”
“We’ve already negotiated our deal, Source Architect. I’m merely here for amusement purposes today.” He smiled and cocked his head. “But how is your beautiful mate? Pregnant yet?”