Cruel King (Royal Elite #0) by Rina Kent

Outside, Dan’s car is parked right beside Nicole’s.

He has his forearm against the hood of her car with his entire body leaning against her window.

There’s an unusual tension in his shoulders as he talks in rapid-fire. It’s too far for me to hear what he’s saying. Nicole stares at him with wild eyes and parted lips.

She looks on the verge of… crying?

Her blurry gaze meets mine and she swivels the wheel and speeds ahead. Dan stumbles back, cursing.

For the love of Vikings. Is Nicole trying to kill someone with her car today?

I fasten my pace towards Dan. “What the hell was that all about?”

“Nicole being a bitch as usual.” He runs a frantic hand over his face. When he turns around, he appears less agitated. “How are you feeling? Better?”

I might have spent two hours on facetime with Dan last night. I had to vent about it all to my best friend.

“No.” My voice catches. “Dad isn’t speaking to me.”

“Come here.” Dan wraps me in a hug and I fight the tears as I wrap my arms around his back.

“Don’t you hate me for bailing on you and leaving with Levi?”

“Bugger, I bail on you for shags all the time. That was nothing.”

“Really?”

“Really. You’re finally not a virgin so I don’t have to shoo away all those who planned to sacrifice you for Satan.”

I laugh as I pull away. “You’re not going to judge me?”

“What’s there to judge?” Dan grins, showing his dimple. “Besides, in the best friends manual, it says in bold capital letters that best friends aren’t allowed to be judgy little bitches.”

“What manual?”

“I’m sure it exists somewhere.”

“I’m surprised you read any manual that isn’t a porn magazine.”

“I know, right? Aren’t you happy I’m your best friend?”

“I am. Life would’ve been boring without you, bug.”

“That’s the spirit.” He pauses, the smile and the dimple disappearing. “Full disclaimer, on the manual, it also says that best friends should offer reality checks about any bad shits the other friend is doing. Captain leans towards the bad.” He rolls his eyes. “But you already know that.”

“Do you think it’s weird that I keep gravitating towards Levi despite knowing what he’s capable of?”

“Nah.” He nudges my shoulder, waggling his eyebrows. “It just means that you have a wild side I wasn’t fully aware of.”

Maybe he’s right.

“Besides, it’s not like you can choose who you like. That shit is messed up.”

“Since when did you become a philosopher?” I hit his shoulder with mine. “Don’t tell me you actually like someone.”

“I like everyone who opens their legs for me. Or mouths. I’m flexible.”

“You’re such a pig.”

He chuckles. “Come on, let’s go to school.”

“Wait. Do you think Levi’s fine?”

“You don’t know?”

Something clenches in my chest. “I don’t know what?”

“The team had a party yesterday at the Meet Up.”

“They did?”

“Yeah.” Dan winces. “I went after you called it a night.”

“Was Levi there?”

“He’s the one who called it.”

“Oh.”

I was worried sick about him while he had a party.

He didn’t even bother to text or call me.

“And what did he do?” I ask.

“The usual. Party. Drink.”

“That’s… brilliant.”

“Astrid…”

“No. Dan. It’s fine.” I force a smile. “Let’s go to school.”

Hot, red fire courses through my veins as I stomp to the car and throw my weight in the passenger seat.

Levi went to a party as if nothing happened yesterday. He didn’t stop to ask how it went with Dad. He didn’t think we needed to talk or anything.

For Levi, this must be another mind game.

I’m the one who shouldn’t have focused on the arsehole in the first place.

Not when I have more important things that I should worry about.

“Actually, Dan.” I swallow. “I’m going to see a doctor.”





41





Astrid





You didn’t kill me, you destroyed me.



* * *



I come out from my session with Dr Edmonds feeling lightheaded.

Everything that I thought I figured out is smoke and mirrors now.

Mum’s accident. My accident.

Since Mum’s death, I thought that no amount of therapy would bring back my mum or make me move on. So I’ve been ghosting my shrink.

Dad forced me to see Dr Edmonds at the beginning, but when I started throwing fits and woke up screaming in the middle of the night, he left me alone.

He only made me see Dr Edmonds again after the summer accident.

“Are you all right?” Dan stands up from the seat in the waiting area. “Why did you want to see your shrink?”

“Because…” I look up at him with my heart squeezing in my chest. “I think I’ve been running away.”