Deviant King (Royal Elite #1) by Rina Kent

“Where are you?” he asks, his voice dropping a range.

“Heading home with Kim.”

“Don’t let her stay the night. I’m coming to stake my claim after practice.”

“Didn’t you stake your claim already?” Still smiling, I walk slower than needed, kicking imaginary rocks.

“Not even close, sweetheart. I need to stake my claim some more just in case. I don’t like feeling threatened.”

“Oh, the mighty Aiden King feels threatened?”

“If you keep insisting on having the guys watch the games with us, damn straight I feel threatened.”

I chuckle and press the back of my hand against my mouth. “They’re your friends.”

“Disposable if they threaten what’s mine.” He sounds dead serious when he says it. “If one of those fuckers put their hands on you again, I’ll break it and their legs so they can kiss their last football season goodbye.”

God. He’s an anomaly.

Sometimes, I feel like Cole, Ronan and especially Xander poke his possessive side just to see him act out. They’re used to the calculative, albeit calm version of Aiden. His carefully tucked monstrous version is frightening, but they want to see it anyway.

“King!” Someone shouts in the background.

“It’s Coach.” Aiden releases a sound between a mumble and a groan.

“Don’t get killed.”

“Not when I have a claim to stake.” He chuckles. “See you later, sweetheart.”

“See you,” I say back but he’s already hung up.

I’m still smiling to myself as if I lost my mind — which wouldn’t be wrong considering that I have feelings for Aiden.

It’s screwed up and wrong, but it’s true.

I walk to the car park, trying to convince myself that I won’t cave and wait until after his practice, or even watch from the wirings like some of the fangirls.

It’s not that I’m above being a fangirl, but I need to study before I lose not only my heart, body and soul to Aiden but also my future.

“You promised, Uncle.”

My feet come to a screeching halt at Silver’s agitated voice. I hide behind the corner leading to the car park and peek my head.

Silver stands near a shiny black Mercedes with… Jonathan King?

His broad, tall frame towers over her. He’s wearing a three-piece black suit all complete with diamond studs. Silver looks pristine as usual in her pressed school uniform and designer shoes.

“Keep your voice down,” Jonathan says in a firm, authoritative tone.

“You said she’ll be gone. You said Aiden will dump that little bitch Elsa in a heartbeat. Obviously, he hasn’t. If anything, he’s doting on her more than ever.”

My nails dig into the stone as I register the load of information. Aiden told his father he’ll dump me?

“Silver, Silver. Didn’t your father teach you the tactic of luring before attacking? A prey is ought to fall harder when she trusts she’s not in danger, not the other way around. That’s what Aiden has been doing all this time. Luring the prey. Now that she trusts him, her fall will crush her apart.”

My breathing hitches and the itch starts beneath my skin. I grip the straps of my backpack and turn to leave, not wanting to hear anything else.

They’re lying.

They’re both lying.

“How can you be so sure, Uncle?” Silver asks.

I come to a halt despite myself, my fingers trembling around the strap of my backpack.

“Elsa’s parents killed his mother. The only reason Aiden has ever looked in that monster’s direction is to make her pay for her parents’ sin.”

Jonathan and Silver continue talking, but I’m not hearing a thing. My feet carry me in the opposite direction, but I’m not seeing a thing.

The colour has drained from my cheeks and my heart slams against my ribs, wanting out.

Out.

Out!

I trip and fall, but I stand back up again. Something burns in my knees but it’s nothing compared to the itching burn beneath my skin.

It’s like I’m igniting from the inside without fuel or even fire.

I trip again, but this time, a hand clutches my arm and steadies me. I push whoever grabbed me away. They’re asking something, but I can’t hear anything over the loud buzz in my ears.

My unfocused gaze stays ahead, I’m already in the school, walking God knows where.

I need to go to the pitch and ask Aiden to tell me that what I just heard is a lie.

That his father is mistaken. That my parents didn’t kill his mother.

That he didn’t approach me for revenge.

I will destroy you. He told upon our first meeting.

No. No. No...

My feet falter as I find myself at the edge of the pool. Everyone but the football and rugby teams have left for the day so it’s empty and dark except for the blue water.

What the hell am I doing here?

I turn to leave, but a strong hand pushes me. I fall, shrieking.

The sound is drowned when I’m swallowed whole into the water.

Everything turns black.



* * *



THE END

The story continues in Steel Princess. Pre-order here.

(Click here for a bonus chapter in Aiden’s POV)





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