Deviant King (Royal Elite #1) by Rina Kent

Strange. I always hated lying to them, but not today.

Uncle nods. “I’ll book an appointment.”

“Thanks, Uncle.”

Neither of them needs to know about my plans with Dr Khan. I’m changing tactics about the whole psychotherapy.

Uncle kisses the top of my head. “You know you can talk to us any time, pumpkin, right? You don’t have to hide anything as you did with your relationship with Aiden King.”

Just hearing his name slashes pain through my chest. Since he walked out of my house on Saturday morning, there has been no trace of him. He didn’t call or send me his usual crude texts.

I’ve seen pictures of him on Instagram after the game on Saturday night. Elites won two to nil and Xander scored both. It’s so rare for Aiden not to score at a game.

When I said what I said in the bathroom, I didn’t expect he’d just walk away.

He’s not the type to walk away.

I kept telling myself that he’ll come back to pester me as usual. He’ll barge into my life like he has every right to.

He didn’t.

And that hurt more than I care to admit.

I nod absentmindedly at Uncle who goes back to his seat and resumes drinking his coffee. I sip from my juice. It tastes bitter and I want to spit it back up.

Aunt places the container in my bag and touches her collarbone. “Don’t take this the wrong way, hon, but maybe you’re stressing because you have a boyfriend?”

Uncle stares at her from above the rim of his cup.

“What? She never stressed before. It isn’t a coincidence that she’s starting to stress now that she has a boyfriend.” She faces me, a warm glow on her face. “It’s subconscious, Elsie. Your attention span will be unknowingly divided. You can’t possibly give your studies one hundred per cent of your energy like you used to.”

“Drop it, Blair,” Uncle’s voice is low with warning.

“No, she’s right.” I set my juice on the table. “I shouldn’t let anything come before my studies.”

“Right?” Aunt smiles with a victorious gleam as if she were waiting for someone to agree with her. “He’s not good for you, anyway.”

I perk up. “What do you mean?”

She gives an awkward laugh. “His last name is King. Their world is different from ours. It’s better to end it now before you grow attached to him.”

Too late.

Uncle sighs with exasperation, pinching his nose. “She has the right to make her own decisions.”

“I just don’t want her to get hurt or to sacrifice her future over some boy drama.” Aunt shoots back.

My phone dings.

Kim: I’m here.

Thank God.

I stand up and sling my backpack over my shoulders. “Kim is here. I have to go.”

“Take care, hon.” Aunt smothers my hair back. “Teamwork.”

Uncle gives me a tight smile, apparently still angry with Aunt.

“Teamwork,” I echo back, kiss them each on the cheek and head out.

Aunt and Uncle’s voices rise as soon as I’m at the front door.

“She’s not a child, stop treating her like one,” Uncle says.

“I don’t want her making mistakes, okay?”

“Mistakes? Come the fuck on, Blair. Are we going down that road?”

“She’s my niece, okay? Mine! You wouldn’t be in her life if it weren’t for me so stop interfering, Jaxon.”

“Eighteen is right around the corner. I can’t wait to see what happens when the other shoe drops.”

My feet falter at the last sentence. What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Kim texts again. I open the door and step into the windy air. My ponytail blows in front of my face.

“Morning, Ellie.” She’s smiling wide, appearing in a good mood.

“Hey, Kim.”

Her smile drops. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine.”

“Hell to the no.” Her expression softens. “Tell me.”

Where do I even start? I was ditched after giving up my virginity? My nightmares are becoming terrifying? Aunt and Uncle are fighting because of me?

Everything is tumbling over my head, and I can’t seem to find a way out. I want to cry so hard, but that will ruin Kim’s good mood.

Due to her own family and school drama, she rarely has a good mood. I don’t want to ruin it for her.

“Menstrual cramps,” I say. “I think I’m getting my period soon.”

“Aww, that sucks!” Kim drives out of the driveway.

It isn’t completely a lie, but it isn’t menstrual cramps that hurt with every move. I’m still sore from Saturday.

I haven’t been able to move without feeling Aiden inside me.

I try to listen to Kim talking about her family dinner, but my mind keeps drifting back to how Aiden left without a word.

At first, I was ashamed to be abandoned like that.

Then, I had another feeling that’s more in tune with Aiden’s character.

He only approached me for sex after all. Now that he got what he wanted, everything was over.

Good riddance.

If I can spend the rest of senior year in peace, then I’ll consider my virginity a sacrifice.

The familiar pressure of tears builds behind my eyes.