Page 206 of Axel

Six months later

“So,we have to havethe talk.” Wren sets her fork down.

“Which talk?” I speak with my mouth full of red velvet cake.

We just split a piece, and who needs manners around your in-laws?

“Thetalk.” She leans back in her chair, rubbing her baby bump. “You know, what if we want to name our daughters the same thing?”

“Not happening.” Axel laughs. “My beautiful wife wants to name our kids after a fucking rainbow. ROY G BIV would be so proud.”

“That’s what I mean.” Wren’s cute face twists. She’s so worried. “I wanted to name our daughter Bluebell and?—”

“Don’t worry.” I laugh, rubbing my non-existent baby bump. I’m only ten weeks along. “If thisis a girl, we’re naming her Violet. Little Violet King. She’ll have her daddy wrapped around her rebellious finger.”

“And if it’s a boy?” Sire asks Axel.

And Axel falls quiet, drumming his dark, inked fingers over the white linen tablecloth.

In a week, he leaves for Moscow to get Lev back, and no one knows but me, The Queen, and Roman, who’s going with him.

Apart from this nightmare involving Lev and who betrayed Axel, life has been perfect.

Our Mykonos wedding was magical. Everyone was there. Even Alena, who snuck away with Loch after our service. God, I kept my fingers crossed for them.

And Jace?

Of course, I noticed how he kept mysteriously disappearing all week, and when I spied on him, I watched him leave a sex shop carrying a big white paper bag. The man was smiling all week.

When we got home, our new penthouse upstairs in The Mercier was ready for us. My god, it’s lavish. But Axel insisted on safety … and spoiling me.

We usually have lunch here with another king and queen in the Mercier’s courtyard with its bubbling pineapple fountain.

The first few months of our marriage have been like a dream. And though I’ve had two seizures since I changed my meds to get pregnant, Axel rarely leaves my side.

And yeah, we both cried when I found out I was pregnant.

“Maxim,” Sire answers Axel’s silence. “That’s what we should name the first boy in our family.”

“Yeah,” Axel answers solemnly. “Maxim.”

I know he wants to tell Sire about Lev, but he can’t.

Once Axel goes to Moscow and confronts Katya aboutLev, he’ll know who betrayed us. Axel has a way of making people talk, and he won’t come home without Lev.

“So, after Maxim, who’s having Roy?” Wren laughs, and she lightens the mood.

But when I laugh, my lunch threatens to make another appearance.

“Oh shit.” I stand. “Excuse me. I gotta hurl.”

“I’ll go with you.” Axel moves to stand too, but, “Please,” I insist. “I don’t need an audience for version two point O of my chicken salad. I’ll be right back.”

I peck his cheek, grab the key card to our penthouse, and race toward the golden elevator.

Scarlett told me morning sickness is a good sign, but I’m giving it the middle finger. A wave will hit me, then nothing will happen. It’ll go away. Then, a burp turns intoThe Exorcist,and it’s not pretty.

The elevator doorsdingopen as the wave passes. But just in case, I’ll go to our penthouse and kneel by the porcelain throne and see what happens.

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