I felt my skin scorching as my lungs burned like hell. I didn't know how I poured the oil on the fuming fire, but the next thing I knew, my legs detached from the ground, and I was hoisted on Axel's shoulder.
"Let me go!"
It was apparent why he didn't respond to my question. He indeed was involved in my mother's capture by that creature.
Axel said nothing as he walked out of the hall without any ceremony. I disappeared through the heavy doors as Axel's brethren passed me sorrowful looks.
I thrashed in Axel's grip on my waist as every step he took with his taut body, his muscled shoulder roughly collided with my guts. I groaned but continued shouting some profanities at Axel. He didn't even flash me one glimpse.
As Axel entered his room, he shut the door with his leg and lowered on his knee. He then gently placed me like a doll.
I slapped him. And he took it.
"Manhandling me in the situation when you don't want to answer me is a drag!" I shouted in his face as he raised to his feet without objection.
"Sorry, Rebel. I'll do anything to deserve your forgiveness."
Suddenly, the arrogant king disappeared, and the rebuked child appeared before me. Axel offered me azure sapphires, and everything around me froze as my heartbeat skipped. The earnestness in them could bewitch anyone. But not me. Not right now.
"Axel, answer my every question."
He sighed but nodded.
"Sit," Axel motioned at the bed, and I did him one last favor before his turn came.
I tried my hardest to keep my anger at bay because lashing out at him would do any good, even though he deserved it.
I flopped on his bed as he neared me but stopped as I shot him a quick glare. Axel breathed out and seconds later squatted before me. I would protest this closeness to him since apparently, he didn't need to haze me. His presence was enough to throw me into a daze.
"Ahem."
Axel smiled at my attempt to come out as a severe deal. "I'm solely listening to you, sweetheart."
Damn you! His wicked ways to soften my heart was enough to take all bite from me.
"Am I your mate's reincarnation?"
"Yes."
I shut my eyes, although I didn't want to divulge my inner state by these kinds of gestures.
"Don't worry," I snapped my eyes open as the warm hands covered my quivering ones. Sincere blue eyes were captivating my emerald orbs drenched in an unsettledness. "I fully acknowledge that you are a wholly different person. And I will prohibit myself from any form of twisted affection towards you when it should have been towards Snow."
Snow. That was his mate's name. Axel's words struck my emotions, and discernible jealousy took over my being.
I chuckled at my misery. Shock and concern were palpable on Axel's face as he scrutinized my eyes for answers he wouldn't get.
I was hopeless from the beginning. My destiny was set before I was born. I had to be the secondary character in this whole story. When I found out that my fiance, the dragon king himself, turned out to be my mate, I should have been the happiest female walking but one tricky thing intertwined with that news. Axel wasn't my mate. He was the mate of Snow, whose reincarnation was I.
"Rebel, don't ever compare yourself to Snow."
A calloused hand caressed my cheek. Was I crying and laughing simultaneously? What a drag!
"You don't have to. You are perfect." Axel's eyes were searching for my own, and when he didn't gain what he yearned for, he pulled me in a warm embrace.
"What do you mean? You barely know me."
"Um… I do."
"How?"
"I listen to your thoughts every night."
I gasped as the urge to escape his grip overwhelmed me. I started wriggling, but his arms only sucked me in tighter.
"Don't panic, please, sweetheart."
"Okay, I get it. Let me go."
Axel freed me with a low chuckle. Huh, how was this situation funny? Like I didn't give out a peal of laughter a few minutes ago.
I bent my knees and sat on my heels as Axel's previous action pulled me down from the bed. He settled in a lotus pose and beamed at me like a teenage boy. What a cutie! Wait, what? Rebel, get yourself together!
"Where is Eres?" The words slipped past my quivering lips before I could suspend myself.
Axel's eyebrows knotted together, "What do you mean? She is dead."
"I-I meant, what did you do to her?"
Axel's almond eyes narrowed at me. Lying to the king of the dragons was a dreadful mistake.
"Nothing. Your father, king Judas, promised me Alice's hand."
"And why did you take the offer. Wasn't vengeance the bigger delight than my sister?"
Axel inhaled as his eyes stayed glued to mine as if deciphering my intentions.
"My aim is clear, Axel. No tangled roads. It's like the question suggests."
"I needed the River kingdom princess."
"Hm?" I hummed as my intrigue piqued. It looked like some knots were about to come loose.
Axel's eyes were suffocating me as his gaze penetrated through me.
"Why did you need me, Axel?"
Axel leaned in, taking me by surprise as I flopped on my backside.
"The world's future depends on-"
My legs were sprawled out as Axel kneeled between them and made me lean on the bed. I was caged between his strong arms and had nowhere to run while his breath brushed my lips.
"On what?" I dared to inquire.
"On whether or not I-" Axel leaned even further before the tip of his nose glided mine. My eyes kept racing between his ones and his wicked mouth, "fuck you." He stated, and before I could pry further, Axel smashed his lips into mine.