Page 27 of Axel (Belles & Bratva Beasts #2)

“Yes. A second king. 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. ”

“ Feel it? 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 I really becoming Axel’s queen? Is this how it feels to be one? I’m more concerned about what bonds all of 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 protects every queen.”

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 not discussing our 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?”

Say me. Say me.

“Give it a few weeks,” he answers, “and I’ll show you.”

“Show me? But I’ve already seen what you and your brothers do, and I liked it. I’ve done stuff before, and I’m ready now. ”

He sets his fork down, staring at me.

Seconds feel like forever while a decision rips at his soul.

I can see it in Axel’s eyes. That’s the power of them. You can see straight into his soul. Facets of good and evil glimmer like ice. Like a raw force you need to live, but it can kill you, too.

“Ruby,” he finally speaks, “you liked that part of my world, the beautiful and erotic part, and I’ll share it with you. Witness a full initiation and tell me if you really want it.

“But you need to understand there are parts of my world you haven’t seen yet. The bloody parts.” He’s deadly serious. “You haven’t seen the part of me that can be a beast, a monster if I have to. I gave you trust. I told you secrets; now give me this. Give us time.”

My heart pounds. “Time for what?”

“Time for you to trust that even when I can be a terrifying man, I’ll come back to you. The beast will leave, and it will be me.” He vows, “I’m not your stepfather. I’m not always bad. I may kill others, but you don’t have to fear me. I won’t be a trigger for you. Not again.”

This is the most respect a man has ever shown me.

Most give me minutes, maybe an hour or so, before they want something from me. Usually, they want in my pants.

But not Axel.

He says he wants more, and I do, too. I’m learning to trust him more than I have any man.

“Okay,” I sigh. “And by the way; you didn’t trigger me.”

“Yes, I did.”

He does this thing with his eyes. He melts me with honesty.

And I can’t lie to him, or hurt him, so I move on. “And we have time. In two days, I’ll leave for three weeks anyway.”

“The fuck you are!” he suddenly barks.

“The fuck I won’t!” I boldly laugh, surprised. “I put in a vacation request with Helen over six months ago. Did you not see it?”

“No. A vacation for what?”

“With my sisters. Scarlett is taking us to The Mercier Hotel in Greece, then Bali, then the Seychelles and?—”

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“This is cute.” I wave my fork between us. “You, thinking I listen to you.”

“This is cute.” His finger mocks me. “You, thinking I won’t chase your ass down, and sling you over my shoulder, and bring you back home.”

“Aw, Male Jealousy.” I crinkle my nose. “Such a ridiculous breed. Completely void of logic and known for its blindness.”

“Oh, I can see ,” he seethes. “I can see your cute ass lying next to me in bed every night. You’re not leaving me. It’s not safe.”

I take a raspberry from my plate and place it on the table between us.

“This is your brain cell about to learn that my sister, Scarlett, is a titled MMA fighter, bodyguard, and the head of security for a global hotel chain. You’ll lose any fight with her.” I wink. “And me.”

I set another raspberry beside it.

“And this is your brain cell appreciating that my brother-in-law, Luca Mercier, is a billionaire Dom as possessive and protective as you are. You carry a gun. He carries a whip.” I wink again. “Maybe he can show you a few things and…”

I drop another berry on the table.

“This is Zar, a badass queen you trust, who’s coming with us. He can spy for you and report back that all I’m doing is staying drunk as Cooter Brown with my sisters.”

“You’re not supposed to drink with your condition.”

I love how he’s educated himself on my epilepsy .

“I don’t. I watch my sisters get drunk and laugh my ass off at them.”

He cocks a brow, and I’m starting to know Axel. Like really know him, too.

When he smirks like that? He’s a beast, a lion who can’t decide if he should pounce or purr at my pride.

I stand up.

“And this is me, going upstairs to pack while you seethe, slam shit, then get over it, and maybe call me a few times while I’m gone because I’ll really miss your dickhead.”

I walk around the table and give him a kiss to scramble the rest of his brain cells before rubbing my nose against the ring on his.

“And if you play nice with me, my king, your queen will always come home to you.”