Page 106 of The Royal Throne
Axel opened the door to the royal suite. Sabine still considered these rooms Rainer’s. After returning from the army camp near the border, she had gone through them, but she hadn’t removed any of the king’s personal items yet. Eventually, she would have his brothers come in to take his things away.
Drew remained in the hallway. “I’m going to have someone walk Harta and give her a treat as her reward for saving you,” he said.
“Thank you.” Sabine closed the door then sat on the sofa. Now that Rainer was dead, she didn’t have to worry about having a guard with her for proprietary reasons.
Axel meandered over to a cabinet, pulling out a bottle and two glasses. “How are you really doing?”
Sabine didn’t know how to answer that. The past couple of weeks had been a whirlwind. So much so that she hadn’t had time to sit and think. It was all about maintaining control and making sure things moved forward. Her sole focus was on the kingdom, not on herself or her feelings.
“How are you doing?” she countered. “You lost your brother and sister. That’s a lot.” Since being back, she hadn’t had a personal conversation with either prince. At supper, most everything revolved around the kingdom’s matters. This was good that the two of them were finally getting a chance to sit and talk without anyone around to overhear them.
After pouring whisky into the glasses, he gave one to Sabine before taking the other and sitting on the sofa across from her. “I’ve been better.” He took a sip.
Sabine held the glass, twisting it in her hands. “While I didn’t love Rainer, I am sorry he’s dead.” Instead of rotting in the dungeon where he belonged. “I’m sorry for your loss.” But not sorry she’d stopped the war and managed to keep the League in place.
He lifted a single shoulder in a semi shrug. “I’ve been thinking,” he said, taking another sip. “What if we married?”
Of all the things he could have said, Sabine hadn’t expected that.
“You look shocked.” He chuckled, setting his glass on the low table and resting his elbows on his thighs. “Consider it—you need guidance. I can give you that. I know you don’t love me, but you didn’t love Rainer either. At least we’re friends.”
Twisting the cup between her hands, she tried to comprehend what Axel was offering.
“I don’t have a lover,” he continued. “I won’t take one. I would like the freedom to dally here and there, but never in front of you or the court. I would never disrespect you like Rainer did.”
Until now, she’d never considered the possibility of marrying Axel. A part of her had hoped she could still be with Evander. But she hadn’t heard from him since Rainer’s death.
“Our law dictates you marry and produce an heir,” Axel said. “You should marry someone from Lynk since you’re not from here. I make sense.”
What he said was true and it did make sense, but her heart screamed against it. After going through everything she had with Rainer, she wanted to marry someone she truly loved. It was naive, yet it was what she wanted.
“What do you think?” he asked, his voice hesitant.
“I don’t know.”
He stood and moved to sit beside her on the sofa. “Sabine, talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“There have been so many changes lately.” Focusing on her hands instead of looking into his eyes, she felt ill at ease being this close to him having never thought of Axel this way. He’d always been a friend and brother-in-law.
“What’s holding you back from agreeing to marry me?”
“I don’t love you.”
“And I don’t love you. But that doesn’t mean we’re not perfect for each other. In time, we can learn to love one another.” He eyed her. “This isn’t because of Prince Evander, is it?”
Panic crept in. “What do you mean?”
“It’s obvious you have feelings for the man, but you know you can never be with him, right? He’s from Avoni. A Lynk queen from Bakley can’t rule Lynk and marry someone from Avoni. You have to see that. You must marry someone from Lynk.”
What he said made sense.
A knock resounded on the door. “Your Majesty,” Drew called out. “The healer is here.”
“Come in.”
The healer entered, Drew right behind him.
“I’m fine,” Axel said. “You don’t need to examine me.”
