Cruel King (Royal Elite #0) by Rina Kent

“That’s not true.” Nicole glares at him then at Dan as if he said the words.

“Do you want footage to prove your extracurricular activities?” Levi cocks his head to the side.

Nicole’s face twists in pure panic as her gaze bounces between Levi and Dan.

My cheeks flame with rolling anger. Levi doesn’t get to do this after he set out to ruin my life.

He looks around him as if searching for someone in specific, but he’s not. He’s just making eye contact with as many kids as possible.

Everyone —literally everyone— either flinches or cowers away whenever he meets their gazes.

“Does anyone else have another slut remark they’d like to grace us with?” he keeps his cool tone.

But I know that fake coolness.

It’s something he uses to pull everyone in just so he can destroy them afterwards.

The best wars are won through calm, not a raging storm.

Aiden, Xander, Cole, and Ronan are like his generals. They’re all glaring everyone down like they’re soldiers.

It’s scary how they can make an entire party submit to them with just a few words.

“I do.” Someone raises a beer, pushing through the crowd to make his way to Levi.

Christopher Vans.

He stands in front of me and spits on the ground. All I can smell is alcohol. Black circles surround his bloodshot eyes.

“Is this the new slut you’re banging, King? Doesn’t look all that something to me.”

Dan charges forward, but I pull him back. If anyone will put this scum down, then it’s going to be me.

“I’m no one’s slut,” I grit out.

“Didn’t hear you.” He laughs.

“Are you done?” Levi’s face remains nonchalant, but a muscle ticks in his jaw.

“What?” Christopher sways on his feet and hits him with a bottle of beer to his chest. “You’re going to call me a slut, too?”

“At least those are useful. You’re not.” Levi straightens until he’s a few inches taller than Christopher. “You’re such a fucking failure that even freshman can take your place on the team now.”

The kids gasp.

Like me, everyone knows how close Levi and Christopher have been for years.

But it must be true that they grew apart since the beginning of the year.

Christopher swings a fist at Levi, but he steps back and the drunk boy trips over his own feet and falls on his face.

Everyone laughs and some take pictures, recording the next mess.

“Does anyone else have something to say?” Levi asks loud enough for everyone to stop talking and breathing altogether.

He grabs my wrist and before I can protest, he pulls me to his side with his hand wrapped tightly around my waist. He places a long, possessive kiss on my forehead then on my cheek and on my mouth.

Murmurs break all around us, but I’m too caught in the gleam in his eyes to notice anyone else.

There’s that blackness, but there’s also a sliver of vulnerability that I never saw on him before.

With one last squeeze against my hip, he faces everyone. “Astrid is under my protection. Mess with her and you’ll have a personal problem with me. I’ll bury you so fucking deep, you’ll pray for death instead.”

They start nodding, but Levi doesn’t pay them attention.

The king has issued his decree and the subjects have no choice but to obey.

And just like that, he places a hand under my legs and carries me in his arms bridal style.

I yelp then try to struggle. “Where the hell are you taking me?”

“I’m kidnapping you, princess.”





35





Astrid





Surviving you shouldn’t be becoming all entangled in you.



* * *



What are you supposed to do when someone kidnaps you?

Kick and claw? Check.

Hit and scream? Also, check.

When I don’t stop screaming and hitting him every step on the way, Levi pushes me into the passenger seat of his car and retrieves a piece of rope from his glove box.

“What are you doing?” My frantic vision bounces between him and the rope. Why the hell does he even have rope in his car?

“Are you going to stay calm?”

“Let me go, you arsehole, let me —”

I cut off when he yanks both my arms behind my back, pressing his body flush against my front.

I seize breathing when his strong scent fills my nostrils. His hard chest flattens my breasts, making me all warm and fuzzy.

It’s only been three days since I’ve felt this warmth. Three measly days, but it’s felt like an eternity.

While I’m distracted by his sheer presence, Levi wraps the rope around my wrists, securing them behind my back. Then he hangs the seatbelt over my chest so I’m unable to move.

He steps back as if inspecting his handy work then taps my nose twice. “Be a good princess.”

“Fuck you, King.”

His eyes narrow the slightest bit, but he closes the door, hard, and I jump. I wiggle sideways, trying to free myself, but he’s already in his seat, securing the locks from his side.

The car’s engine revs to life and we’re flying in the streets.

I twist my wrists, but that only makes the ropes dig deeper in my flesh. “Kidnapping is a crime, you know.”