Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite #3) by Rina Kent

40





Elsa





I spend a few days at the hospital.

The sheer number of tests exhaust me and I can’t even complain.

Dad and Aunt stand next to me like grim reapers, not allowing me to say anything.

Turns out Aiden is a lot worse than them when it comes to my health.

He’s been there for every test, wheeling me from one department to the other. When I told him I could walk, he ignored me and continued his path.

At night, though, he’d sneak inside my room, spread my legs, and eat me for dinner. He said I’m too weak to be fucked, but he can still relax me with his tongue.

Relax me. As if.

I had to cover my face with the pillow so Dad and Aunt don’t hear my moans of pleasure from the other side of the room.

Aiden is a sex God. He doesn’t have to stimulate me for long and I’m soon screaming his name.

His dislocated shoulder has been healed. Since they removed the sling, he doesn’t allow anyone else to touch me. Not even the nurses.

One of them told me he has it bad, and I kind of agree.

I never thought I would like this side of Aiden, but I do. My chest flutters at witnessing his care and concern for me. It makes me feel special and loved.

This is Aiden after all. He never shows this side to anyone, not even his family.

When Levi and Astrid visited me yesterday, they kept asking me what type of voodoo spell I used.

Everyone else came by as well. Knox and Teal were waiting outside that first day I woke up and spent the night.

Today, they’re here again with the three horsemen and Kim.

Aiden lurks in the corner, cutting an apple for me, his face calm. However, the darkness beneath the surface radiates off him in waves. I can feel it without looking at him.

I know exactly why his demons are contemplating to come out and play.

Aiden is possessive — like over the top. He’s not so pleased that Ronan, Xander, and Knox are sitting on the bed, surrounding me, laughing and jesting about mundane things.

If it were up to Aiden, they’d all be thrown out — except for Kim and Teal. Actually, even the girls are debatable.

However, since he knows I’m happy about their company, he’s trying to control that side of him.

Thus far, he’s succeeding.

I act oblivious as I listen to Knox tell me about their last game and his ‘heroic’ performance.

“I’m telling you, Ellie.” Knox points at himself. “I’m Elites new ace striker.”

“Sorry, mate.” Xander grins, showcasing his charming dimples. “That position is already taken by me.”

“Screw both of you.” Ronan physically shoves them out of the way and takes my hand in his. “Do you know how worried I was, Ellie? I didn’t throw a party for an entire week.”

“Some commitment from the devil,” Teal mutters from her seat next to Cole.

They’re the only calm people in this place.

Teal’s T-shirt for the day reads, I’d agree with you, but we’d both be wrong.

Ronan doesn’t pay her attention and continues in his overly dramatic speech. “Bah alors, Ellie. You can’t get hurt when we’re going to get married.”

“Do you want to meet your maker, Astor?” Aiden’s sombre tone shoots towards us like sharp knives.

I suppress a smile with the back of my hand.

Ronan cocks his head as if deep in thoughts. “No?”

He leans over and takes both mine and Kim’s hands in his. “Seriously, though. I’ve been praying you survive and King doesn’t so we can have that threesome we agreed about.”

“I heard that,” Aiden says from above him.

“Remove your fucking hand.” Xander’s lighthearted mood vanishes as he glares at Ronan.

Kim blushes something fierce before she pulls her hand from Ronan’s.

Aiden smiles at Ronan, but there’s no humour whatsoever in it. “Isn’t that your dominant hand, Astor? It would be a shame if it somehow didn’t work tomorrow.”

Woah. Aiden can be really scary if he chooses to.

“Sick fucker,” Ronan whines, dropping my hand.

I catch Cole’s lips moving in my peripheral vision. ‘Pussy,’ he mouths at Ronan.

“Fais chier, connard.” The latter flips him the finger.

Cole just smiles. He’s like a cat toying with a mouse.

A hunter with a prey.

He sets the trap and sits back to watch his prey being caught.

I’m beginning to learn Cole only shows the tip of the iceberg to the world. There’s a whole lot of secrecy and darkness underneath the surface.

I can only imagine what it feels like to be his enemy.

Shivers.

After a while of joking and jesting — and Aiden sulking on the side — they stand to leave, promising to visit when I get discharged tomorrow.

“You don’t have to come.” Aiden shoves every one out of the door. He pauses at Xander. “You and I need to talk.”

Xander’s ocean eyes snap back to Kim who’s still standing beside me.

She pales, her hands digging into her skirt before she pulls at the sleeves of her pullover. She’s been doing that a lot since she came in.

Actually, she’s been having this wild gaze for a few days now.

Kim smiles, but she sucks at faking them. The grimace falls way too soon as she leans in to kiss me.