AXEL
“What?” I asked, my voice harsher than I meant. Simone shifted, his eyes sliding toward Aria as if weighing whether to speak or not. That made me sit straighter.
“Simone…” I called again, forceful this time. He let out a frustrated sigh, his shoulders dropping.
“Well… It’s about her,” he said finally, gesturing toward Aria.
Aria looked up from her seat, confusion shadowing her eyes. “What is the problem, Simone?”
He hesitated again before speaking. “Beta Richard is here to see you.”
At the sound of that name, I shot from my chair like fire had burned through me.
Even Larry laughed in my head, sharp and mocking. (Oh, now you care? I thought you wanted nothing to do with her. But let another man come near and suddenly you are ready to tear him apart.)
I growled under my breath,
