Page 156 of Axel

I believe Axel.

He doesn’t want Alena, and she doesn’t want him. I’m starting to feel that in this group.

How the kings love their first queens above all, but they’ll never forsake another queen.

I see it between Nash, Vale, and Jace. I see it between Nick, Zar, and Sire. I even see it between Sire, Wren, and Nash. There’s a silent regard. An unspoken respect. A duty and protection that’s understood.

I know I should be a boss-bitch and move on. That’s what I tell Axel, and I’ve moved on with everything else.

Because half of me isn’t that bullied girl anymore. I’m a strong woman. Only I can heal my pain.

I just don’t know how.

“Is it true that you spied on my initiation?” Wren plops down on the bed beside the suitcase Vale and I are packing for my next trip to Atlanta. That’s where the paparazzi stalk Beau, Blair, and Colton, and that’s where I come in to help. “Sire said Axel told him about it. How you spied on us.”

“Guilty.” I wink at her. “That was me, hiding in the boardroom closet. Sorry. I didn’t know what I was about to see. I just wanted more intel on Axel.”

“I think it’s hilarious,” Wren giggles.

“And dayum, that took lady balls.” Zar raises his glass to me. “I’m proud.”

“I would give my lady-balls to have seen Axel’s face!” Delphine laughs, too. “He was pissing. Yes?”

“Pissed.” I laugh with her. “And yes, he was so mad that he said he owned me and made me live with him.”

“Aw, lucky you,” Wren sighs. “I had to beg Sire on my knees to take me.”

“Poor man,” Zar deadpans. “Pastor Sire Rutledge, lured into sharing his bed with his hottest young parishioner. I’m sure the struggle was real.”

“It was real kinky.” Wren blows him a cute kiss before aiming her big brown eyes at me. “So, whenever you’re ready, do you know who your second king will be?”

The light catches the diamond Monroe piercing above Wren’s lip. All the queens have one, except Zar. He has a diamond barbell through his nipple. They’re gifts from The Queen, marking them as queens, and I’m next.

“I guess.” I glance nervously at Delphine. I’ve avoided this topic. “I don’t want to disrespect or?—”

“He will be honored.” Delphine toasts her wine glass toward the circle of kings seated outside. “My husband is a beast, but a very loving man. They all are, and Grant likes you. He likes how you help Nick and the shit you give Axel. He says you are Axel’s true match.”

“And you won’t be mad?” I worry. “If Grant …initiatesme?”

“I loved my initiation!” Wren blurts.

“Oh, we know, darlin’,” Zar drawls. “You cute, greedy little bitch.”

He makes Wren smile proudly because there’s no judgment in the room. Just fun. Just love.

“I will not be mad or jealous. I share Grant.” Delphine turns toward us. “I am free because for too long, I had no control, no choice. I was bought and sold, so please, not to offend, but I am not a puritanical American. I do not ownanyone, and no one owns me. I love freely, and my husband loves me, Axel loves you, and we love our bonds.Allthe kings and queens.”

“Yeah, but I worry about some of them.” Vale tucks a pair of heels into my suitcase. “The last time I saw something like this, I flushed it.”

“What?” Wren laughs.

“This shit,” Vale says. “This shit between Loch and Alena. She’s devastated. She was so in love with him. They were like the hottest romance. You should hear her stories, but nowthis shit. They were lying to her. And yeah, I love Nash. I always have. So he can handle it when I speak Cuntanese to him about it.”

Delphine scrunches her nose. “Do you mean Cantonese?”

“No, darlin’.” Zar laughs. “She means Cuntanese. It’s what a queen speaks when we’re raging and right.”

“Ah, a cunt.” Delphine nods. “Yes. I speak Cunt to Grant when I am mad.”

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