Chapter 19

It couldn't be real. Axel, here in this place. Alive. Not dead.

She closed her eyes. This was even more cruel than the reminder of the pain.

"Stop it. He's dead. You can't make me believe," she murmured.

"This is just priceless. She thinks you're not real." The Earl spoke, but not to her, leading her to glance again and see Axel, his body rigid, his expression taut.

Was he really here?

I'm here.

She heard his voice and yet didn't. She stared at him, and he finally showed some emotion, his lips twitching. It's really me.

And he'd come for her.

"If you're done making eyes at each other." The Earl clapped his hands, the sharp sound startling and a further reminder that the situation had changed.

Axel had come for her.

The pain had stopped. She could have wept with relief. "I thought you were dead."

"I'm not that easy to kill."