Page 172 of Sire

My heart clenches. “But Axel. I need to talk to him.Today.”

“They’re with Ruby’s sisters for Christmas,” she reminds me. “I’ll call her and set up lunch tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

My mind lags, processing everything. It’s a symptom from the sepsis but it’s getting better. Much better. Or maybe I’m just overwhelmed. There’s a lot about to happen.

Wren fills the silence. “What did Jace say when he saw you last night? No one but your mom knew you were coming home. You’re lucky he didn’t shoot you.”

I let my fingers twirl through her soft curls. “He drew agun, then saw it was me and gave me a back-slapping hug before shoving me into the chapel to be with you.”

“No one knows.” Her topaz eyes widen. “I swear, I told Nadine thatyouhad to be the one to tell Axel how Ruslan bribed you and no one?—”

“You told The Queen what to do?” Impressed, I grin. “And you’re still alive?”

Her smug look melts my heart. “I told mymomwhat to do, and she said she was proud of me.”

I brush my fingers over her cheek, relishing her velvety skin. “For such a cute former foster kid, you sure got this family drama thing on lock.”

“Speaking of… He has lots to tell you.”

“Let me guess: Loch knows about Axel and Alena.”

She perks up. “You knew?”

“Yeah, Axel told me earlier this year. He wanted to tell Ruby but didn’t want to betray Alena’s secret.”

Her brows bend, worried about her second king. “Does Nash know?”

Add it to the million things I love about her, because I worry, too. “If Axel’s still breathing, then no, Nash doesn’t know. But first, I need to talk to Axel and pray he doesn’t kill me first.”

“He won’t kill you.” She kisses my chest. “I won’t let him.”

“I sure hope so.” My heart starts racing at the wheels I’ve put into motion. “Not with what I have coming.”

Our lunchwith Axel and Ruby at The Mercier Hotel is like the slice of three-layered red velvet cake Wren and Ruby split.

The top layer is all sweet.

I’m so goddamn relieved to see my little brother again. Ruby’s pregnant, so he’s happy, too.

Our wives banter about what to name our daughters or sons. It’s a sugary subject, hiding another layer to this conversation.

Axel has no idea where I really was, why I was there, the death I escaped, or why I need him to forgive me.

I sense the bottom is that he’s hiding something from me, too.

You can’t be brothers who shared a bed because you were scared you wouldn’t awake the next day and not sense when the other’s heart is breaking over someone.

Is it Alena?

No. Axel’s madly in love with Ruby, and the truth is, it was never love between him and Alena.

Is it Nash?

Maybe. It’s a matter of time before that ticking bomb explodes. But I’ll be there, defending my brothers and family. Always.

“Oh, shit.” Ruby jumps up after a belly laugh with Wren. “Excuse me. I gotta hurl.”