Page 20 of Chained

Embarrassed but refusing to show it to Axel, I casually slid off the countertop, swallowing.

“I haven’t met her yet,” I replied, unable to think of anything else to say as he ambled closer.

“Have you made an effort to meet anyone?” he challenged.

I threw my head back defiantly. “I’ve met you, haven’t I?”

An amused smirk touched his lips, and to my surprise, he ambled toward the countertop and pulled his own grape off the stem to eat.

I frowned. “You just said—”

“I know what I said. I’m willing to accept the consequences of my actions. Are you?”

I met his steadfast gaze, heat creeping up into my cheeks as I felt like he was asking me a loaded question. He stood too close, and I couldn’t bring myself to step away, his earthy, masculine scent overtaking me like it had had before.

This was wrong.

It took every fiber of my being to turn away from him, the intoxication of him weighing down my legs as I pretended to fixate on the fruit again.

“I don’t know what you’re babbling about,” I told him sharply. “What consequences? Taking fruit that I can rightfully eat?”

He made a sound that emitted like a snicker, but I didn’t dare look at him, lest I was unable to look away. His magnetism flipped through my gut, and I hated and loved it, the conflict driving me crazy.

“Have you had time to consider what I said to you?” Axel asked as I struggled to get my mind centered.

“About what?” I asked, genuinely confused.

He grunted like I was purposely being difficult.

“About your role as queen. What else?”

I raised my head and stared at him haughtily. “I thought I was pretty clear on my stance there.”

“Remind me,” Axel pressed, and I bristled.

What was wrong with him? How does the King allow him to preen around like this?

I reasoned he got away with more because he was a male, but I still had much to learn about the ways of Ironhelm, it seemed.

“I will be the King’s partner, not his servant. He has enough of those.”

“And what makes you think that you are qualified to be his partner?” Axel scoffed.

My temper flared at his mockery, and I folded my arms over my chest. “This is a matter I would rather discuss with King Cade, not his underlings,” I retorted firmly. “I should see myself back to my suite. My maid is waiting.”

“Is she?”

I paused in mid-pivot and eyed him warily. “What does that mean?”

“It seems to me that no one is much looking for you, Zephyrine.”

My mouth fully dropped open, color draining out of my cheeks entirely as anger flooded me. “How dare you call me by my first name!” I choked furiously.

He shrugged, unfazed by my ire, and his lack of reaction only fueled more of my passion.

“You will need to learn to control that temper of yours if you hope to be a successful queen,” he informed me, infuriating me more. “The King won’t like that attitude. Trust me.”

“I will have a more respectful staff when I am queen!” I fired back. “And hopefully, the King won’t bring out this attitude in me.”

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