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“Is this amusing to you?” I demanded, aghast by his actions.
I backed away, but he made no move to come closer.
“A little,” he replied. “You’re correct—Iamconnected to the King. I am closer to him than anyone else in the kingdom.”
I shook as I read the threat in his words. Swallowing, I tried to find words, to backpedal and tell him that my attraction had been based on loneliness, not reality, but his next statement poured ice water into my veins.
“I am so connected to King Cade because we are one and the same,” Axel continued.
I stared at him blankly, wondering if perhaps he was insane. It would not be the first time a mad relative had latched onto a ruler.
Oh, what had I done?
“What are you saying, Axel?” I whispered, my eyes darting all over hoping a servant might amble by, but of course, they were all at the meeting that night.
I was truly on my own.
Axel laughed again and stepped toward me. “There is no Axel, Zephyrine. I’m your betrothed, Cade, the future Alpha King of Ironhelm. There never was an Axel. It was just a ruse to see who you truly were.”
Chapter8
Zephy
Icontinued to stare at him, unmoving, unflinching, as his words sunk into my psyche. He waited for me to react, but I wasn’t certain how to respond.
“W-what?” I finally sputtered.
Was that the truth, or was he truly crazy? Or was this a test?
Axel shrugged. “It’s true,” he insisted. “I didn’t want you to put on a show for me, so I came to you as a servant.”
I suddenly found it very difficult to breathe, my hand reaching out toward the table to steady myself.
“It was the only way for me to be sure I was seeing the real you,” he said unapologetically.
And what about me?!I wanted to yell at him.When did I get to see the real you?!
I said none of the things I was thinking, the reality of it all bearing down on me like a lead weight. “You could have given me a warning, a hint…” I choked, my mind racing back to the bluntness of my words from the start, humiliation dizzying me until I couldn’t stand.
“That would have defeated the whole purpose, Zephy,” he sighed. “It’s better this way. Now I know who you really are.”
I struggled to breathe, unable to look at him as I buried my face in my hands. “The entire household knew!”
“They were following my orders,” Cade agreed. “You can’t fault them for that.”
“No, I’m sure they enjoyed the laugh at my expense,” I mumbled, swallowing thickly.
I managed to rise to my feet and stand before my fiancé. I curtseyed shakily, and he groaned.
“Don’t…”
“Forgive me,Alpha,” I begged, the world swirling around me. “I never would have spoken so openly or rudely if I’d known. Clearly.”
“Again, that was kind of the point, Zephyrine,” he replied sarcastically, and I cringed, peeking at him under my eyelids. “You started with all these silly formalities.”
I was discombobulated and mortified. I couldn’t think in the wake of this new revelation. I wanted to flee and hide in one of the many unexplored rooms on the third floor, hiding myself away until no one bothered to look anymore.
“May I be excused, Alpha?” I whispered, willing myself not to break down. I was sure if he didn’t let me go, my legs would give way right in front of him.
