(46)

35 vouchers

“I’ve never been to a festival before,” I said as I stepped out of the car, my eyes wide as I looked around, the sound and color hitting me all at once.

The street bwas /balive, every inch of it drenched in golden light from strings ofnterns swaying overhead. Music floated, loud and upbeat, vendors calling out over one another, their stalls filled with mouth–watering food. The scent of roasted meat, fried dough, and something sweet and spicy mixed together in the air and made my stomach growl.

“Neither have I,” Axel said as he came to stand beside me, standing out as he always did, turning heads. He was dressed really casually, in a vintage button–down shirt, and of course, nk pants.

He had found online that there was a festival happening in a smaller town nearby, and decided that was how we would spend our day bsix/b.

“You look dashing, by the way,” heplimented, turning to face me with a small smile.

I blushed, looking away from him. No matter how many times heplimented me, I could never get used

to it.

I was dressed in a short, free dress that stopped just above my knee, my hair down and sandals on my feet.

Axel chuckled softly, linking our hands. “I’ll never get tired of you blushing. Let’s go see what this festival is about.”

Inside, the crowd swallowed us whole.

The crowd was so thick, a bsea /bof shifting bodies brushing past with bursts ofughter and chatter in every direction.

Games were being yed, foods were being eaten, and everywhere I turned, it was like I was being pulled in that direction.

My eyes couldn’t settle on one thing, it kept moving.

“Wow,” I breathed, my eyes moving everywhere. “It’s chaotic.”

Azel smirked, sliding his free hand into his pocket. “Chaotic is one word for it. I’d call it a circus on steroids.”

“Don’t act like you’re not impressed,” I shot at him, nudging him with my elbow. My eyes immediately moved to the next engaging thing I saw. “Look at that fire juggler! He hasn’t dropped a single one yet.”

Axel looked unimpressed. “Give him a minute.”

I rolled my eyes, dragging him to a food stall with our joined hands. “Continue to remain unimpressed, but at

least let’s cat.”

We brought some caramel nuts and roasted skewers, and that was when he finally looked impressed.

12:11 Thub, /bSep 11

“Fuck, this is good,” he groaned, shoving the skewer into his mouth.

46

b55 /bbvouchers /b

We left the food stall, weaving through the crowd when a group of boys–loud, drunk–stumbled past us.

One of them brushed against me, his hand lingering a little too long on my waist.

“Hey, watch it,” I snapped, stepping back, but he still didn’t let go of my waist.

The guy grinned, not even apologizing. “Rx, hon. Just saying hello.”

Before I could even answer, Axel’s hand wrapped around my waist, dragging me behind his back.

His voice dropped, low and dangerous. “That’s enough fun now, man. Fuck off.”

He grabbed my hand, his mood dark as he tried to walk away, people already moving and making way for him. His dark aura was out again.

“Axel, you-”

My words died in my throat when I felt a hand on my ass–a hand that was Axel’s. I turned back, my eyes wide to see that bastard standing there, his face smug.

Axel froze, his back tensed.

“What if I say I want to fuck off in your woman?” the bastard said,ughing and his friends joined them.

Axel’s hand tightened on mine before he let go, stepping toward the guy, but I grabbed his hand, shaking my head when he looked down at me with his expression dark.

“Don’t do this,” I pleaded, shaking my head. “He’s not worth it.”

We had drawn attention now, people gathering, some with their phones out to video, and some already calling the police.

Axel looked down at me, his jaw clenched, then he nodded, grabbing my hand again, and this time, his hand was hot. His body was beginning to burn.

I really didn’t know what that meant, but I know it wasn’t good.

“Go on, then!” the guy shouted, “Go hide under her skirt, under those legs of hers. Those are pretty legs though. I’ll pay anything to feel them and slide between them.”

That was thest straw for Axel. He released my hand, and this time, I couldn’t stop him.

He marched to the guy, and if that fool wasn’t so drunk, he would have shut his mouth and run. The auraing from Axel was no joke, and it screamed danger.

He stopped in front of the guy, but he didn’t m his fist into his face like I thought he would.

Instead, he just leaned in, growling into his face, “Speak about her that way and you’ll regret it.”

b12:11 /bThub, /bbSep /bb11 /b

…

b/b)

46

55 vouchers

The bastard crossed his arms, cocking his head. “Or what, pussy? You’ll fight for her honor? A man fighting for a woman? How stupid is that?”

Axel said nothing, just straightened. “You’ve been warned.”

But since that drunk bastard was really looking for trouble and wouldn’t let go till he saw it, he didn’t let Axel walk away.

He grabbed his shoulder. “Hey, pussy! I’m talking to you! Don’t fucking dare walk out on me! Do you know who I am?!”

Axel just gave me a look–a look that says he’s eventually got what he wants. He mouthed to me, “He touched me first.”

Then he turned to the guy, grabbing the hand that was still on his shoulder. He twisted it, so hard that even in this noisy ce, I heard his bone break.

The guy screamed.

AD

Comment