I stood there flabbergasted as I couldn't stare at Axel's father due to Axel's towering height getting in my view.
"Really?" I tugged at Axel's shirt.
He just nodded and squeezed my hand.
"Why are you here?" He growled at the stranger as his eyes left mine.
I was anticipating a twinge caused by Axel's talons, but I was disappointed when his grasp just warmed my hand. I gazed down and gasped as the blood dripped from his clutch. Axel was digging his palm to avoid harming mine.
"Axel!" I mumbled, my puffs of breath uneven.
I didn't earn his attention as his eyes warned the blue-haired man claiming he was Axel's father.
"To congratulate you."
"And?" Ash interjected with a rasp dancing across his voice.
"And fill you in about that-"
"Sit," Axel ordered him with a rumble.
"Monster." The man finished his sentence as he took place across Axel's seat.
That should have been the queen's place. Axel tugged on my hand gently as I faced him. He was smiling at me as if an intruder hadn't strolled in the main hall minutes ago. I followed Axel's lead as the dragon gestured me for the seat beside him. I supposed he was assuring my safety by chaining me to his side.
We sat as Axel nodded at his men and dismissed them while signaling some of them to the table full of platters of different luxury meals. The scrape of chairs being pulled out and pushed in echoed in the hall.
I felt utterly awkward as the previous dialogue of Axel and Ash played in my mind while being stunned at the youth of the king's father simultaneously. How was that possible?
Ash took place in front of me while Fuliko struggled to get on the black carved chair beside me. I pulled it out for him as he backed away and blinked at me. Fuliko beamed at me as he climbed on the cushion seat and then bowed at me.
"Fuliko," I whispered, my body tilted to the foxs' side.
"They will hear us. They are dragons." He shifted in his place and offered me a suggestive smile.
I examined people around me: Ash was straightened like a mountain, his gaze hard. Axel had the same posture. Only he wasn't tense but confident as he eyed his father. I hadn't noticed as Danu and Harley entered the hall and neared the table with the king's permission.
"Abigor," Danu addressed the wicked man with a sinister aura around him. Harley sat across Danu and eyed him with a questioning look.
"Danu. I see your division has greeted my men." I couldn't believe cruelty could be so magnificent.
"There was no need of mobilizing so many soldiers at the entrance, Abigor."
I glanced at Axel as his gaze was unflattering and his body unbreakable. His blue orbs were studying Abigor as the icy rage lingered in the air around him. I felt chilly and couldn't avert my gaze from the masterpiece beside me.
"Hm?" Axel hummed as he faced me, and my eyes widened. Damn it! I was ogling the king and didn't expect to be confronted for that? Ugh, what was wrong with me?
Axel's lips curved in a heartfelt smile, and I gulped at his sudden affectionate attitude towards me. Did he um… mistake me for someone?
Danu and Abigor maintained the conversation, which entered my mind as if I was at the bottom of the ocean.
"Shield your thoughts as I taught you." A husky voice slipped in my head, and I fidgeted in my seat.
"Okay," I replied to Axel inwardly and prayed he would hear it because the odd link we shared would allow me to discuss urgent matters with him without being noticed.
I felt like my shoulders relaxed, and my mind went dizzy. Suddenly all my troubles disappeared, and the only one I could think of was Axel. He was hazing me. But why? To avoid unwanted inquiry?
I glared at him. A wicked smirk graced Axel's splendid face as he just tilted his head on his fist. His elbow rested on the table as he relished my speechless state.
"Son," the man yanked Axel's attention from me as he straightened. But the cloudy state he left me in never faded. Unlike me, Axel could wield multiple powers at once. That required a tremendous amount of self-control and stamina. "I have missed you."
"Fuck off."
Wow. What a warm meeting!
The man just grinned, which sent shivers up and down my spine. Perilous energy was leaking from Abigor. Everything seemed wrong with him: His age, predatory and vicious look, scarred hands, careless expressions.
"Rebel, is it?" He turned to me as he rested his face on his fist as his son did seconds ago.
"Ye-"
"Look at her again, and I'm gonna gouge your eyes out of your skull." Axel's voice sent chills as he didn't even move in his place. Only his golden eyes gave away his simmering hostility.
"Oh," Abigor chuckled lowly. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't witnessed it myself. She really is Snow's reincarnation, isn't sh-"
I inhaled sharply at these words as their meaning refused to enter my head. What was going on? My mind was blacking out, if not for Axel's haze comforting me. Snow? Reincarnation? The exact terms were exchanged between Axel, Ash, and Fuliko before.
"Shut up!" Axel shouted, and everyone forgot how to exhale. His fury was frightening not because I doubted his care towards me, but he looked so frantic with fuming nostrils and glinting eyes that not him but his ire would obliterate everyone in this palace.
"Axel?" My voice cracked as I couldn't recognize it. Why did mystery follow me everywhere? Why was everyone making a fool out of me when I wasn't? When did I become a victim?
Axel snapped his head to me as his stern gaze softened, "I will explain it in our room."
"Our room?"
Harley sighed as Danu glared at Abigor.
Axel's eyes never leaving mine as I was on the verge of crushing this table.
"Because of the mating bond ceremony, you have to sleep together," Ash explained with a gentle voice. Warmth and understanding were leaking from his eyes. I felt like he was soothing a child about to cry.
Yep, I really wasn't informed about anything, even on the matters that included me.
Abigor's words shadowed everything, though. Every breath I took hurt my lungs.
"But what reincarnation did he mention? I need answers now!" I bounced my gaze from Axel to Ash. My eyes were shifting from demanding to pleading.
The dragons cast displeased and exasperated looks at each other. Only Axel's eyes stayed glued to mine.
"Axel," I repeated and prayed I wouldn't come out as weak and helpless. In this situation, I felt my strength crumbling.
"I had a mate fifty years ago."
Everyone went silent except for my immediate thoughts. I started shivering without realizing it.
"She died." Axel's beautiful blue orbs were ladened with unspeakable weight and sorrow. "As our mating bond ceremony is approaching, I feel her strong presence. It's you, Rebel."
Was I breathing? Why was I staring at Axel from above?
My legs were acting on their own. I had stood up and inched away from Axel unintentionally. Was he hazing me again? Or was this mist around me my imagination because I was going nuts?
"Guess what, Rebel?" My eyes darted to grinning Abigor as I felt a lump in my throat. "Your mother, queen Eres killed her."
Suddenly the man had shoved away from the chair and smashed to the wall behind him. Axel.
The cracks appeared on the wall and slithered to the ceiling, like in my head. Did my mother murder Axel's mate?
"How do I know he's telling the truth?" I faced Axel with a desperate hope that it was a lie. He had stood up as well with an emotionless face.
"He is, Rebel."
Guilt.
"But how am I your mate's reincarnation?" My own voice shook me as I was screaming at this point.
"Her scent, her… I feel it, Rebel. You can't deny the bond. I know you felt it, too." He neared me with cautious steps as his sapphires appeared sincere and trusting.
I did.
"Stop Hazing me!" I raised my hands at him as he stopped his advances. Hurt crossed his eyes.
"I'm not hazing you, little one." Axel's voice was drenched with cordiality. He continued approaching me.
I had no courage to gaze at others and meet their pitiful eyes.
"How did you forgive me?"
I felt guilty. Losing mate… It was the cruelest punishment one could receive.
"You did nothing wrong, Rebel. That thought never crossed my mind."
I did not. But my mother did. Wait, what did Axel do to her? He would never let this crime slip away.
I glanced at him with teary eyes as I was ready to tear him apart, depending on his answer.
"What did you do to Eres?"
Instantly, Axel wrapped arms around me and engulfed me in his strong embrace as he shushed me while I writhed in his grip.