5:00 PM. The ski resort.

    Blossom was still pestering Axel to teach her how to ski. She''d been at it all day.

    The thing was, Axel wasn''t even dressed for skiing. No gear, no intention of hitting the slopes, and he was clearly ignoring her.

    Blossom didn''t mind. If he ignored her, she just kept at it, relentless.

    Honestly, skiing wasn''t even the reason she was here.

    Chasing after Axel had made her shamelessly persistent.

    If Axel red at her, she''d just sh him a goofy grin.

    If he rolled his eyes, she''d wink back, all flirty.

    It wasn''t until Axel''s phone started ringing that she finally paused.

    He stepped aside to take the call, and Blossom waited a few steps away, watching him like a fangirl staring at her celebrity crush, eyes shining with admiration.

    Whatever was said on the other end of the line, Axel''s face darkened, the air around him turning even colder.

    Blossom''s brows knit together, worry written all over her face.

    As soon as he hung up, she hurried over.

    "What''s wrong? Did something happen?"

    Axel didn''t even nce her way. He just strode off towards Tarquin.

    Blossom trailed after him like a puppy.

    She was bundled up in a puffy ski suit and clumsy on her skis, wobbling along like a Benny''s penguin.

    Suddenly, a group of girls swooshed her way, barely slowing as they shouted, "Move it! You''re in the way!"

    Blossom panicked, her brain short-circuiting. She tried to dodge, but nerves got the best of her. She lost her bnce and went tumbling down the slope.

    "Ahhh-!"

    Her scream echoed, but the girls justughed and skied away without a care.

    They were after Axel too, but he''d shot down

    their flirty attempts wit

    enough icy res to freeze ake. They couldn''t even get near him.

    Sure, Axel wasn''t exactly warm to Blossom either, but at least she could stick around him.

    The other girls were jealous, always trying to mess with Blossom, but with Axel nearby, they didn''t dare.

    Now, seeing Axel distracted, they''d seized their chance-deliberately bumping Blossom, hoping she''d get hurt and embarrass herself. After all, falling at a ski resort? Totally normal. No one would me them.

    Axel heard themotion and turned. Blossom was rolling down the hill, shrieking the whole way.

    His heart skipped-he started towards her, but a tall guy got there first, stopping Blossom''s fall.

    Axel couldn''t hear what the guy said, but it was obvious he was checking if Blossom was okay.

    Axel''s frown deepened as he red at the group of girls, his eyes icy cold.

    They just giggled and disappeared into the distance.

    "Blossom!" Elysia called, kicking off her skis and rushing over in snow boots.

    Tarquin joined Axel. "What happened?"

    "She fell," Axel answered tly, not bothering with details.

    Tarquin pressed, "Aren''t you going to check on her?"

    “Not my responsibility,” Axel said coolly.

    Tarquin hesitated, then said, "That guy seems really into Blossom. He''s been watching her all afternoon Looks like a college kid-pretty dsome, too."

    "Not my business," Axel snapped.

    Tarquin sighed. "Hey, chasing after someone when you''ve blown your chance?

    That''s a rough road, trust me. Been there, done that."

    Axel''s jaw tightened. "I need to get to Mariana Land."

    The subject change caught Tarquin off guard. He straightened, suddenly serious. "Why?"

    Axel''s voice was cold. "Zane''s in trouble. Some guy showed up as a reporter, asking about that hit on you."

    "We checked him out the press credentials are real, but the guy isn''t. He''s not a reporter; he''s working for Wayborn''s crew."

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!