Page 184 of Axel

The women close the door behind them, and Nash laughs. “You know what they’re up to, right?”

Sire reclines on his throne. “Butt plugs, I hope.”

“Listen,” I order. “I want this to be perfect for her. Ruby deserves a real initiation.”

“Do you mean...?” Jace raises an eyebrow.

“Ask,” I bark. “Ask her before you do anything. I want her ecstatic consent.”

“While you ecstatically kill us?” Loch laughs. “Not likeI’m going to touch her anyway, but I’d prefer not to bury my brothers for touching your queen.”

When Loch fell in love with Alena, we all agreed it would be different for them. One, because Loch has already fulfilled his duty. He’s Delphine’s second king. And two, because Nash won’t tolerate Loch being with any woman but Alena. Not that Loch wants to be. And three, it feels like Loch and Alena are the next generation. They’ll start a new custom.

But not us.

We crave this one.

“Yeah,” Jace agrees with Loch. “When it comes to Ruby, you’re like Nash and Nick. You won’t share.”

“And yet, we did share,” Nash reminds Jace. “And we liked it.”

What the fuck?

Did Jace, the biggest beast of all, just blush?

Nick clocks it, too. Sipping his vodka, he challenges Jace because we’re all curious. “Will you share your mystery woman one day?”

“Fuck,” Jace shakes his head, “if I ever get to claim her, I’ll give her every goddamn fantasy she wants.”

“I’m going to hold you to it,” Grant goads him, “… and her.”

Of all the brothers, they’re the closest in age, in looks. They’re like twins giving each other merciless shit … and love—most of the time.

“I won’t kill anyone,” I growl, fighting the instinct. “Only tonight and only for Ruby’s initiation. Make it mean something to her. Earn her trust. I want her to feel our bond.”

Respectfully, Nash nods. After Vale’s initiation, he gets it, and the others copy him with knowing grins.

In perfect timing, Vale swings the door open, proclaiming, “All rise for the queen!”

But the moment I see Ruby, stripped outof her elegant Chanel suit and standing before us in hot-as-fuck, lacey, lilac lingerie and nude heels, I whip my glare to my brothers. “I changed my mind.”

Sire rolls his eyes. “No, you didn’t.”

“My king.” Ruby stalks toward me, something primitive rousing my cock when she offers me the black leather handle to her gold chain leash.

I could make this about me. About my sociopathic jealousy and raging possession over her. How I want to reach for knives and salt at the thought of anyone touching Ruby.Ever.

I’m still tempted to kill everyone before me.

But, as the queens sit on their thrones, Ruby kneels before me on the velvet purple pillow I bought earlier and left for her before my throne.

Obediently, she bows her head, giving me everything.

Her body.

Her trust.

Her love.

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