Page 27 of Chained

“I-I don’t understand,” I sputtered. “What do you mean?”

“The residents of Ironhelm want to know who their queen will be, Zephy,” he murmured absently. The nickname struck a chord in my heart, and for the first time, I didn’t take defense to his flippancy. “You will need to start interacting with the media and making public appearances. Is that something you can do?”

He stared at me, and I read the imploring note in his eyes. I waited for a fight to bubble inside me, but one didn’t rise.

“I… yes. Of course,” I replied. “That’s… that’s a part of my expected duty.”

Relief flooded his face, and he smiled. “I thought you would argue with me,” he admitted. “Have you done public speeches before?”

I shook my head, a small wave of panic overcoming me. “Not really.”

“They can be nerve-wracking,” he admitted. “Especially when everyone is judging your every move.”

My brow furrowed. “You say that as if you speak from experience. I thought you knew everything about everything already.”

His smile faded and his shoulders squared. “I’m trying to help you, miss,” he said curtly. “But if you don’t think you need my assistance—”

I reached for his arm apologetically. “I do,” I told him quickly. “I’m sorry. I’m nervous, too. This is all new to me, Axel. I’ve been thrust into a new world, and it sounds like you’re warning me that the faeries of Ironhelm won’t like me.”

He looked at my hand, and I quickly dropped my fingers, my face on fire as I realized my hasty movement. Backing away, I folded my hands in front of me, avoiding his steadfast gaze, grateful for the low light around us.

“No, I said they’re judging you. But that’s something you should get used to as queen. No matter what you do, good or bad, every move will be judged. You will never be able to please everyone. In the end, you must always remember that it’s only what’s in the best interest of the kingdom that matters.”

I lowered my eyes. “What about what we want?” I mumbled, momentarily forgetting that Axel wasn’t my king, and that I wasn’t his queen.

For half a second, in the dimness, I was just a conflicted fae suffering an existential crisis.

“We?” he echoed, his voice husky and curious.

I didn’t dare look up. “Does it matter what any individual wants, or is it always for the good of Ironhelm?”

Axel exhaled deeply. “It’s better that way,” he muttered. “Others come and go. The realm is always the realm.”

My head jerked back, and I met his gaze evenly. “You don’t believe that!” I cried, shocked to hear it.

His hand reached out to brush a stray strand of dark hair away from my face, and I inhaled sharply.

“Yes,” he replied honestly. “I do believe that. The kingdom is all there is to fight for. Everything else will abandon you.”

His words broke my heart, and when he leaned in to kiss me, I almost didn’t stop him, to show him that we were worth fighting for. But before his mouth could touch mine, I gasped and pulled away, shaking my head vehemently.

“No!” I choked, extending my hands as if he were contagious. “No! I-I’m engaged to the King! Are you out of your mind?”

Axel’s mouth twisted into a frown, his blue eyes shooting heavenward as he mouthed a curse. He didn’t even appear flustered by my refusal, confusing me more.

“Axel, we can’t—you can’t—this is the last time we’re meeting like this. I—I can’t continue to see you. I won’t. I don’t care what anyone says. This is… I can’t!”

“Zephyrine—”

“No!” I interrupted, refusing to let him smooth-talk me. “I… I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel this attraction between us, too, but I will not betray the King, not now and not ever. This is my duty, my fate. I’m sorry, but I won’t see you again.”

Axel exhaled with a grunt of annoyance. “Sure you will,” he replied.

I frowned, angered by how lightly he was taking the situation, how cockily he was behaving.

“I can tell that you’re connected to the King in some fashion, but no matter how close you are, he can’t be happy you attempted to seduce his bride,” I growled, intending to scare him into agreement.

Axel laughed, shocking me further.

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