Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite #3) by Rina Kent

He chuckles, and the sound echoes around us like a melody. I want to reach for that sound, box it somewhere, and keep it for safekeeping.

For a moment, I just sit there, trapped, mesmerised as his features ease and his shoulders relax.

Now that I think about it, Aiden often relaxed around me. Whether it’s his sexual intensity, his maddening possessiveness, or his rare smiles and laughter.

He’s at ease with me.

And if I’m honest with myself, I’m at ease with him, too.

Before I can take my fill of his laugh, we arrive at the Meet Up.

Why couldn’t the distance be farther?

Cole’s Jeep is already parked in the driveaway. I leave my backpack in the car and follow Aiden up the steps.

“Why did Cole ask to meet us here?”

“Don’t know.”

I narrow my eyes. “You mean to tell me that you came without a plan?”

“I did have a plan.” He tilts his head in my direction. “Anything that involves having you by my side is the perfect plan.”

My temperature gets ten degrees hotter, but I clear my throat. “Did you spend the morning with Cole? Is that why you didn’t come to school?”

“I had a meeting with my consultant about Oxford.”

Oh.

Right.

Aiden will go to Oxford. That piece of information has always been tucked into the back of my mind, but hearing it aloud makes it real and… final.

At the end of the year, Aiden and I will go in different directions, whether we like it or not.

The thought feels like stacking bricks at the bottom of my stomach one by each heavy one.

I’m dragging my feet by the time we’re inside the Meet Up.

“Not a word, Silver.” Cole’s steel tone cuts through the silence of the cottage. “I don’t want to hear your voice.”

“Screw you, Cole.”

Silver is here, too? How come Aiden didn’t mention that?

On the other hand, this should mean she’s not in danger from Adam.

Not that I should worry about her.

“What are you doing here, Queens?” Aiden barges inside without as much as making his presence known.

“Ask Cole,” she hisses. Which means Aiden didn’t know she’d be here.

I walk inside with careful steps. “Hey.”

“Elsa.” Cole smiles, but there’s no warmth behind it. It’s like he has to smile, but doesn’t want to. “Sit down. There’s something you need to know.”

I glance at Aiden with questions written all over my face. He lifts a shoulder and flops down beside me. His arm stretches on the back of the sofa, almost touching my skin, but not quite.

The fucking tease.

Silver sits opposite us in a chair. Her legs are tucked close together to the side. The paleness of her face has nothing to do with her skin complexions and more to do with a wild look in her gaze.

Cole stands beside her like a statue. Unmovable and cold.

If Cole is involved, this must be serious.

My limbs shake despite themselves. If Aiden still has something to do with Silver, I don’t know how I’ll react.

I’m barely holding on as it is. If Aiden breaks my trust one more time, I won’t survive. One thing’s for sure, I’ll destroy him with me. It’s only fair with how much he destroyed me.

“Tell them,” Cole orders. He flat out orders Silver as if she’s a small child.

I expect her to fight, to be her usual bitchy self, but she just remains quiet.

“If you don’t, I will,” Cole continues with frightening nonchalance. “Do you want them to hear my version?”

Silver visibly flinches as if she’s been slapped across the face.

“Get it over with, Queens.” Aiden’s impatience shows through his voice. “I don’t have all day.”

No idea if he’s oblivious to the tangible tension between the stepsiblings or he simply doesn’t care.

My bet is on the last.

When she lifts her head, her gaze instantly finds mine. “I don’t know why we keep getting involved, you and I.”

Same.

“This is my final warning,” Cole says. “Talk or I will.”

“Remember Adam?” she asks.

“Did he hurt you again?” I blurt and she winces.

“Again,” Cole speaks so low it’s terrifying. “So it’s happened before, yes?”

Aiden’s arm falls on my shoulder, gripping me tight, cutting off my concentration on Cole and Silver.

My eyes slide to his, and I swallow at the tightness of his jaw.

Oh, boy. He’s not amused. At all.

“How do you know about that, sweetheart? Hmm?”

“He was bothering her in the car park; I stopped him.”

“You stopped him,” Aiden repeats with a calm, yet terrifying edge. “How did you stop him exactly?”

“I just threatened him with calling the principal and pepper spray.”

“You don’t have pepper spray.”

“He believed I did.” I pause. “What are you so agitated about?”

“What am I so agitated about?” His voice is clipped, firm, and authoritative. “Why do you fucking think? He could’ve taken both of you to God knows where in his state. Do you have no sense of self-preservation?”

“I only did what I thought was right. Okay?”