Deviant King (Royal Elite #1) by Rina Kent

Cole shakes his head and opens a book. The Anatomy of Evil.

Hmm. Who knew a football player would be interested in such books? I’m stereotyping, though.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Cole asks without paying me much attention. “You can have mine.”

“She doesn’t eat that.” Aiden’s voice sounds from behind me, and I hate the chills that shoot down my spine because of his presence.

He pushes Cole aside and sits beside me, holding out two plates. One has pasta. The tray he slides in front of me has salad and non-gluten pasta.

“Where did you get this from?” I look up at him. “The cafeteria doesn’t have this type of food.”

“They do now.”

They do now.

Just like that, he makes it happen.

I don’t want to be impressed that he brought me my first special meal at school, but I am. This is the most thoughtful thing anyone but my aunt and uncle has done for me. He remembered and he made it happen.

I peek at him from beneath my eyelashes.

Being on Aiden King’s good side is heaven. His bad side is complete hell.

It’s time to choose on which side to fall.





Chapter Twenty-Five





Aunt and Uncle barely come home for the entire week.

They usually change their clothes, fill the fridge with food, and then they’re off again.

I hate the house when neither of them is here — especially when it goes on for consecutive nights like this.

It’s frigid and… cold.

Kim spent a few nights with me — and Kir. We studied, binge-watched the last season of Lucifer, and we goofed around to Coldplay.

Although she has more electric taste in music than me, we agree on Coldplay.

For the past week, I somehow managed to convince Kim to sit with me at the football team’s table.

I was both shocked and proud of her when she sat at the same table as Xander and pretended he didn’t even exist.

“You sure you can’t stay? It’s Friday night.” I ask from the doorway as she sits on the steps to tie her shoes.

“I’d love to, but I can’t let Kir down.”

“I know.” Her dad returned from his endless diplomatic trips and her mother is finally out of the studio. They promised Kirian a family dinner a few months ago, and this is their only chance to make it happen.

“My house is usually dead so I understand what it feels like when it’s alive.” I sigh. “Have fun. Text me pictures of Kir.”

“You bet.” Her lips twists. “I hope those two will be parents for fucking once and not disappoint him.”

“Kim…”

“Doesn’t matter. Kir has me.” She throws a dismissive hand as she stands and faces me with a strange expression. “You know you can talk to me about the whole King thing, right?”

I hate how my chest flips at the mere mention of his name.

“The whole King thing?”

“You know, the part about coming all over his face? Twice?”

My cheeks heat and I wish I could hide in a hole. “Here I thought you’d forgotten about that.”

“Hell no.” She chuckles, nudging me. “I was waiting for you to fess up.”

“I’m just…” I hang my head against the wall. “I don’t know. He’s so intense and I feel like if I give in to him, I’ll never find a way out. Not to mention that he’s distracting me. Cambridge is just around the corner and there’s no way in hell I’m letting anything take it away from me, especially not some boy drama, but…”

“But?”

“But I feel a sick type of relief whenever he comes to find me, corners me, and takes away the decision. Isn’t that crazy?”

“All the best things usually are.” She grins.

I jab her shoulders playfully. “You’re not helping.”

“Ellie, you’re my best friend and I love you, but you’re too… safe.” Kim’s voice shifts to the grownup tone she uses with her little brother. “You’ve been living your life so much by the rules, it’s like you’re a thirty year-old woman wrapped in an eighteen year-old body.”

I should be offended, but I’m not.

“That’s not true,” I tell her.

“Not true?” She gives me an ‘Are you shitting me’ look. “You didn’t touch the ice cream even though your aunt isn’t here. I’m sure a bite or two won’t kill you, but you don’t even want to consider going against your aunt’s wishes.”

“Those types of food rot the body.”

“Do you hear yourself? You sound just like your aunt — and that’s not a compliment.”

“Kim!”

“I mean, look at your interests.”

“What about them?”

“You picked up yoga because of your aunt. You like football because of your uncle. Hell, you’re going to Cambridge because they’re alumni. ”

I cross my arms. “Aunt and Uncle saved me from the alternative of foster homes. They gave me a safe, healthy upbringing. If it weren’t for the heart surgery they paid for, I would’ve died. There’s nothing wrong with wanting them to be happy.”

“Sure. You’re totally right.” Kim leans against the wall. “But have you thought that maybe you’re living your aunt and uncle’s lives, not yours? Maybe that’s why you’re so inexplicably drawn to King.”