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“Yes. And this is me, trusting you not to break her heart. Please don’t ever tell her.”
“Oh,” I pick up my fork, “I don’t need to say a word. Karma keeps no secrets. Alena will find out one day, and I’ll hand her the bullets.”
Axel smirks, stabbing his omelet. “Spoken like a queen.”
“What does that mean?”
“Our queens have a way of bonding, then bending our will until we break.”
“Um.” I chew my yummy breakfast. “Pussy has a way of doing that.”
He grins, chewing his. “Don’t forget Zar.”
“Point taken.” I aim my fork at him. “A big dick can be giantly persuasive.”
His brows lower. “You’ve seen Zar’s dick?”
“And Nick’s.” He glowers, and I chuckle. “Not biblically. Just their flaccid flap-doodles, jumping in the pool.”
Axel spews his eggs, laughing.
It’s cute, but…
“Hang on. If Zar’s been initiated, that means you made him a queen, too, and…” Oh, the erotic image in my mind. “My god,” I sigh. “It wasn’t, was it? A gay gangbang?”
“Jesus, woman,” he says flatly, “quit calling it that. It’s not about sex. It’s the vow. The bond. It’s a king and a second king protecting their queen. And?—”
“Wait.What?Asecondking?”
“Yes. Asecondking. Every queen has a king, and another man just as willing to die for you and your kids. That’s how we got out: my mother’s second king. He fell in love with her, and the tradition saved our lives. So, we do it in their honor because it works. I can’t describe it, but it’s a powerful bond. You just have to feel it.”
“Feelit? Huh.” I wonder, “So … you’re already a queen’s second king?”
Why isn’t this jealousy I feel this time?
No, it’s something more powerful and bending my reality.
Am Ireallybecoming Axel’s queen? Is this how it feels to be one? I’m more concerned about what bondsallof us together than what binds two of us?
As Axel shared, it took seven, maybe eight of them, to escape his evil father. They did it together. It takes a group to protect a kingdom. Or, in his case, to escape one.
And if you’re a true queen, you sacrifice your ego, even your jealousy, for the good of others.
You rule like a regal boss; you don’t act like a little bitch.
Yeah, that’s how this feels.
“Out of respect, we don’t discuss our queens,” he answers. “A king doesn’t boast. He’s brave and protects their privacy. He protectseveryqueen.”
But I already know Nash is Wren’s second king. I overheard that part of her initiation. Still, I have no idea who the second king is to Grant’s wife.
Or who’s Zar’s second king?
“Let me just say…” Yes, I feel like one. I want to protect the group. “If you’re Zar’s second king. If you’re bisexual, I understand. I’d never be mad or jud?—”
“I’m not—” he blurts before clenching his teeth. “I’m notdiscussingour queens.”
I nod and finish my omelet. I let the dust settle on our first round of questions before I poke again. “So, who’s being initiated next?”