Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2) by Rina Kent

Eli died in a place like this.

I lost my brother to the monster of the lake.

The need to throw up assaults me.

“Alicia used to read to me here,” Aiden chews on his eggs slowly.

“She did?” I ask.

“She liked it here. It was away from people and interruptions. We spent most of our time in this place.”

“Did Jonathan join you?”

“Sometimes. He doesn’t like being cut off from his business world.”

I swallow the bite of toast and study him closely. “What else did you do with Alicia here?”

“We had picnics and mostly read.” He grins. “Then we’d go for a swim.”

The toast nearly falls from between my hands when he abandons his eggs and stands to his full height.

In a few seconds, he strips, remaining in black boxer briefs.

My eyes widen, and it’s not only because of his sculpted physique.

Tendrils of fear grip me by the gut as he takes a step back in the direction of the deck.

Even the sky darkens. Gone is the sun from this morning. Huge clouds fill the distance.

“W-what are you doing?” I gawk at him.

“Going for a swim.”

“But it’s freezing!”

He grins in that lopsided way. “Fun, huh?”

“Aiden, don’t.” My voice shakes at the end.

“Do you want to join?” He winks.

“No way in hell.”

“Come on, you know you want to.”

I shake my head violently.

“As you wish.” He lifts a shoulder and before I can say anything, he turns around and takes a dive into the lake.

The toast drops from between my trembling fingers.

My muscles lock together every time he disappears under the water. I stop breathing and only take gulps of air when he resurfaces.

“Join me!” He grins, all wet and exotic and… alive.

He’s alive right now.

But what if the monsters of the lake come after him as they went after Eli? What if —

I shut that voice. “Come out, Aiden.”

He takes one dive after the other, swimming on his side and on his back.

The more he remains in the water, the harder I tremble. Sweat covers my brows and beads on my forehead.

“Come out!” I call, the sound echoing all around us.

He’s not Eli. Not Eli.

He can’t drown when he’s such a good swimmer.

“After one more!” he calls back then takes a dive.

Ten seconds pass.

Twenty.

Thirty.

Oh. God.

He’s not resurfacing.

I jump on shaky feet, the jacket falling to the ground.

“A-Aiden?” I slowly approach the edge of the deck, my heart thundering against my ribcage.

“This isn’t funny, Aiden!”

No answer.

Oh, God. No.

Oh, please. Not Aiden, too.

Please. Please.

“Aiden!” I shriek. “Stop playing around!”

He’s not coming out. He’s drowning. Like Eli.

Just like Eli.

No.

I kick off my shoes. My movements are frantic at best, but I don’t stop.

I won’t let him die.

Not Aiden, too.

I don’t care if I die in my quest to find him. Lake water and my phobias be damned.

A hand grips my ankle.

I shriek.

Aiden’s wet face resurfaces as he uses the deck to jump beside me.

I watch him closely, my eyes filling with tears. “Y-You’re here.”

He comes closer, his chest glistening with water and his hair sticks to the side of his face. “What’s wrong —”

I wrap my arms around his waist and hide my face in his chest. “I lost my brother that way! Eli drowned that way!”

“I didn’t know that. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

A sob tears from my throat. “Don’t ever do that again! I thought you were dying. What am I supposed to do if you die?”

His wet fingers stroke my hair and he tugs me closer to him. “That means you’ll be free of me and I don’t like that idea, sweetheart.”

I snort in his chest, breathing him in. “You’re incurable.”

“For you?” He kisses the top of my head. “Always, sweetheart.”

I pull back to look at him.

He’s watching me with a strange gleam. It’s like affection mixed with obsession.

I knew Aiden has been obsessed with me for a while, but now I realise just how much I’m obsessed with him, too.

There’s no way in hell I’ll let him be free of me. Since the moment I saw him in the basement, I always had this feeling that he’s mine.

Only mine.

I reach a hand to stroke his hair back. “Are you going to hurt me, Aiden?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?” I choke.

Aiden takes my palm in his and flattens it against his heart. “I already made my choice, Elsa. I chose you. Now, it’s your turn.” He lifts my hand to his face and kisses my knuckles. “Be with me, not against me. Choose me.”

Oh, shit.

I think I’m going to faint.

“You chose me?”

He nods once.

“I meant it last night.” I take a deep breath, the words burning in my throat. “I love you.”

He places a finger in front of my mouth. “Don’t.”