Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite #3) by Rina Kent

Aunt strokes my cheek and covers me to the neck. “Just so you know, I won’t be out of your hair, hon. I don’t care what your father and Uncle say.”

I nod with a smile as Uncle wraps an arm around her shoulders and leads her outside.

Agnus gives Dad an indecipherable look. It’s strange how they can communicate without words. I guess it’s possible if they’ve been best friends since they were ten.

Dad stops at the entrance. “Right. Elsa, Agnus said you have something important to tell me?”

My heart hammers in my chest as I glance between Agnus and Aiden. The latter lifts a shoulder, adjusting the blanket and appearing oblivious to the whole thing.

Agnus’ expression is completely blank.

Why the hell would he tell Dad that? Does he want me to disclose what happened in the past? Is he ready for the consequences?

I meet Dad’s eyes, and the decision is easier than I ever thought it would be.

“I do, Dad.” I smile. “I remember the past.”

Agnus doesn’t move and his expression remains the same. He really is ready, isn’t he?

“You do?” Dad’s face hardens. I don’t think he wanted me to remember.

Like Aunt, he doesn’t like me exposed to all that trauma. However, I think they understand that in order to overcome the trauma, I needed to have a recollection of it.

“I remember that night.” I nod in his right hand’s direction. “Agnus saved us all.”

“That he did.” Dad appears almost proud. “He really did.”

Agnus raises an eyebrow in my direction. Aiden simply smiles, shaking his head.

I meet Agnus’s unfeeling eyes with my own.

“We’ll talk later, princess.” Dad smiles at me then at Agnus and exits the hospital room.

Agnus nods at me. “Thank you.”

“I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for Dad.”

“My gratitude still stands. Ethan deserves a daughter like you.”

And then he’s out of the door.

“Ethan deserves a daughter like you,” I repeat with mockery. “Can you believe that shady man?”

“I can, actually.” Aiden strokes my hair back like he can’t stop touching me, a small smile lifting his lips.

“Hey, what do you keep smiling about?”

“Well, Agnus was certain you’d tell Ethan the truth because you’re righteous like your father. He was actually wrapping up things at the company. I told him you wouldn’t.”

“How could you be so sure?” Even I wasn’t until earlier.

“Because you love your father, and you’re the type who sacrifices for those they love. You know how much Ethan suffered by losing his family and that it would destroy him to lose his best friend of thirty-four years. Even though you don’t agree with what Agnus did, you understand why he did it and you know he’ll never hurt him. Deep down, you’re comfortable that there’s someone like Agnus protecting your father.”

I groan. “How the hell do you know me so well?”

“I stalk you on Instagram.” He winks.

I can’t help but chuckle. The sound soon turns into a cough.

“Hey, take it easy.” He strokes my cheek, his thumb caressing my lips. “If you give me such a fright one more time, I swear —”

Lifting my head, I close the distance between us and seal my mouth to his. I was dead for a moment, but he brought me back to life.

I can only feel alive if he’s touching me.

If he’s saying my name and calling me back to life. If he’s telling me things —

What I feel for you isn’t only love, obsession, or addiction. It’s all of those and more.

I pull back from his lips with a jolt. “Did you… Did you by any chance tell me you love me while I was feverish?”

A gleam sparks in his eyes. “Maybe.”

“Aiden! That’s not fair. You’re supposed to tell me that while I’m conscious.”

“Hmm. Like now?”

I nod frantically. “Yes, totally like now.”

“Hmm. I’m not really feeling it, but we can fix that if you bring me back to the right mood.”

“Aiden!”

“What? This is your punishment.”

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

As if possible, the spark in his eye ignites further. “What did you have in mind, sweetheart?”

“Guess you have to wait until I’m out of the hospital.”

He smirks. “Sneaky.”

“I learnt from the best.”

His lips come back to mine and I breathe him in. The hospital smell fades in comparison to his scent and his warmth.

My fingers thread in his jet black hair and I let him ravage me. I let him show me just how much I mean to him.

Aiden and I aren’t the darkness and the light. We both have tarnished minds and souls.

But we’re not soulmates.

We’re lost souls that fit in perfectly imperfect harmony.

And I’ll do everything I can to protect what we have.

“Wait,” I say against his mouth. “What were you and Agnus talking about earlier?”

“We’re planning something. It’s going to be fun.”

Aiden and Agnus are planning something.

What on earth could two psychopaths consider ‘fun’?