Cruel King (Royal Elite #0) by Rina Kent

He clutches my arm, helping me to sit at the bench as the assistant calls in another patient.

“Did the doctor say that?”

“No. He told me that I quit visiting him for a reason and I also returned for a reason.” I grip his arm tighter. “He’s right, Dan. I had a flashback.”

His brows furrow. “A flashback?”

“From my accident with Mum. Dad said someone else died that day and I think … I think he or she asked me for help.” My eyes fill with tears. “What if… what if… they died because I couldn’t help them?”

“No. No. Look at me, Astrid.” He clutches my shoulder. “You had a concussion and couldn’t even save yourself, let alone someone else. Okay?”

I nod, slowly, more to myself than anything else. “That’s not the problem, Dan. The problem is that I wanted to remember for the wrong reasons. I want to recall what happened on my hit-and-run accident because I’m so mad at Levi right now. It’s so messed up, isn’t?”

“It’s human.” He grins. “Let’s egg his car and slash his tires. That Jaguar pisses me off.”

I snicker. Only Dan would turn an intense situation into a joke.

“So did the doctor say you can remember?” he asks.

“Yeah, but the whole thing is entirely up to me. Apparently, I’ve been blocking memories.”

“Are you scared?”

“No… maybe. I don’t know.”

“I’m here. You’ve got this, you little bugger.”

“God. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if I didn’t have you, bug.”

“Probably lots of shit.” He twists his mouth. “Buy me lunch?”

“Cheeseburgers,” Both of us say at the same time.

“How about we skip?” He waggles his eyebrows.

“I know what you’re doing, Dan, and no, I’m not running away from school anymore.”

I’m done bowing. It’s time I stand tall.





In school, no one looks in my direction and when they do, everyone bows their heads.

Everyone except for Nicole and her wingman, Chloe. They glare at me, but they keep their vapid mouths shut.

Dan walks by my side, throwing winks at his harem of girls.

Me?

I’m counting my steps so I don’t trip and fall.

Good or bad, I hate being put under the spotlight.

The only thing I want is to disappear into my art studio and never come out until it’s time to go home.

Dan has a meeting before practice with their coach.

As soon as he disappears down the hall, I quicken my pace to the art studio.

Someone cuts in front of me and I come to a screeching halt.

Aiden.

He’s wearing his football blazer and the uniform’s trousers. For a star player, he’s in no rush to meet their coach.

“What do you want?” I ask as coolly as I can manage.

I hate how much I want to search around him for the other King or how much I want to see his cousin in him.

He leans against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. “Something changed.”

“And I’m supposed to know about it?”

He remains as blank as a board. “Have you heard what my father and Lev talked about yesterday?”

I shake my head. “Dad and I left first.”

Aiden continues looking me up and down as if he’s searching for something. Then, he pushes off the wall, about to leave.

“Wait. Do you know why your father and mine have an animosity?”

He appears lost in thoughts for a second. “Hmm. It might have to do with that.”

“With what?”

“Lev is acting strange.”

“Is that why Levi threw a party out of nowhere yesterday?”

“Perhaps.” He pauses. “He ignored you, didn’t he?”

I thin my lips in a line, refusing to admit how much that hurts.

Aiden’s gaze gets lost in the opposite direction. It’s the first time I see his gunmetal eyes project anything but the deadly indifference.

As if a demon possessed him, his eyes darken until they become frighteningly black.

I glance behind me to see who’s the victim of the young King’s wrath.

My lips part when I make out Kimberly. The same chubby girl who educated me on football during the other game. We came to sit together in most home games.

She glances at me and smiles tentatively, waving. I wave back. Kimberly interlinks her arm in a taller blonde’s.

Aiden is glaring at the blonde girl, and she’s glaring right back without blinking.

Being tiny, the first thing I notice about her is the long legs that go for miles — okay, that was a bit overdramatic. But they’re so toned like she’s an athlete.

Kimberly’s friend has light skin and electric blue eyes that shine with malice the more she throws daggers in Aiden’s direction.

She has some balls to glare at Aiden this openly. He’s a scary little shit that always gives me serial killers vibe.

“Do you want to try something?” he asks without breaking eye contact from the blonde.

“Try what?” I ask, confused.

“About Lev.”

“What is it?”

He flings an arm around my shoulder and pulls me to his side. “You’ll find out.”