Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2) by Rina Kent

Not this Elsa.

She doesn’t flinch. She just remains as immovable as a statue.

A cold, frigid statue.

This isn’t my Elsa.

And if I have to break the statue to bring her out, then so be it.

She stares up at me with dim eyes. “We’re enemies, aren’t we?”

“Maybe.”

“Then we’re over,” she says with more strength than needed.

I push a stray blonde strand behind her ear, taking my time to feel the warmth of her skin against mine.

“That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart,” I murmur near her mouth, “Being enemies doesn’t change the fact that you’re fucking mine.”





5





Elsa





Kim interlaces her arm with mine as we walk through the school’s hallways.

It’s bleak today.

Dim energy comes off the old walls as if they’re filled with ghosts.

Even though none of the students throw any bullying remarks our way, it feels like those days where I had to walk through this hall as if I were walking through a war zone.

No.

This time is much worse.

It’s stupid, but I would rather take the bullying from before than walk with the dead weight perching on my chest.

Back then, none of them could barge through my icy exterior.

None of them could reach me.

In a way, I was untouchable.

Now, I’m drowning and I can’t come up for air.

“Are you sure you don’t need to rest?” Kim watches me intently as if I’m thin ice about to break. “School isn’t going anywhere.”

She, Aunt, and Uncle have been watching me a lot since I was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

Since there was no injury, I was only admitted for twenty-four hours observation.

Aunt, Uncle, and Kim never left my side. Even when I went to the bathroom, either Aunt or Kim accompanied me.

It’s normal that they’re worried.

But there’s more to it. The three of them aren’t voicing the suspicions running rampant in their heads.

Since I never go near a pool out of my own accord, they don’t buy the whole ‘I tripped and fell’.

They probably think that I… what? That I tried to kill myself? That I’m suicidal?

I release a long sigh. Seeing that I’m not even sure about what happened that day, I can’t appease their worries without appearing like the lunatic during the hospital episode.

“I’m totally cool.” I smile at Kim. “Besides, there’s no way I’m leaving you alone.”

She side-hugs me. “Do you want to hang out with me and Kir later?”

“Sure.”

It’s her way to keep me in her sights and not leave me alone with my thoughts.

She’s right.

I’m better off when I’m not stuck inside my head.

It’s becoming a dark place way too fast.

“Morning, ladies.”

Both of us come to a halt at Knox’s voice. He stands with a hand in his trouser’s pocket and an easy-going smile on his face.

“Oh, hey, Knox.”

His eyes skim over me. “Do you feel better?”

I nod. “Again, I have no words to thank you.”

“Me, too. Thanks so much.” Kim shakes his hand, her eyes shining with tears. “If something happened to her, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

“Kim…”

God. What a mess.

Aunt and Uncle must feel the same as her — if not worse — but they’ve done their best not to show it.

“I’m happy I was there.” He smiles at me again. “You owe me one.”

“Anything,” I say.

“How about taking me on a tour?” He leans in to whisper. “Not going to lie. I feel a bit lost around here.”

“I know the feeling.” I laugh, shaking my head. “How about after school? I don’t have practice today.”

Or more like, Aunt called Coach Nessrine and ordered ever so politely that I take a break.

“See you then.” He gives one more smile before he disappears around the corner.

Kim’s gaze bounces between me and where Knox disappeared to. “I can take him on the tour.”

“Why?” I nudge her with a mischievous grin. “Do you like him?”

“He’s hot and all, but not my type of hot.”

“Then why do you want to take him on the tour?”

“Uh… Ellie. It’s true that Knox saved your life and you should be thankful, but you know that King will flip if he sees you with him, right?”

“Fuck, King.”

“Wait. What?” Her eyes almost bulge out of their sockets. “I mean, WHAT?”

“He and I are over. Don’t speak his name in front of me again.”

“But… but… why?”

“Because I finally woke up and saw him for what he truly is.”

A monster.

My blood still boils from the nonchalant way he spoke at the hospital.

He didn’t apologise or try to explain.

He didn’t tell me that all I heard were lies. He didn’t even try to defend himself.

He was just his usual jerk self.

Even if he didn’t change, I did.