Black Knight (Royal Elite #4) by Rina Kent

“Kimberly?”

“No, the part you told Ronan earlier.”

“You’re mine?”

She nods several times.

I lift her chin so she’s staring at me when I say it this time, “You’re mine, Green. Now and always.”

“Always?”

“Fucking always.”

I lower my head to claim her lips when the clearing of a throat stops me.

Calvin stands at the door, helping Kirian with his backpack. As soon as the little man sees me, he abandons his father and storms towards me to hug my leg. “Xan!”

Kim blushes like a sack of tomatoes as she untangles herself from around me.

“Hey, Superman.” I give him a fist and he blows it.

“Are we going in your car? Are we?”

“Of course.” I throw him the key.

“Yes! I don’t want Kimmy’s car.”

“Hey!” she scolds. “What’s wrong with my car, Monkey?”

“It’s not cool.” He hides behind my leg and gives her a face.

“I’m going to tickle you to death. Here comes the gorilla for the monkey.”

“Nooo!”

She starts chasing him around me while he shrieks and asks me for help.

While I would’ve under different circumstances, I just can’t seem to look away from Calvin.

He’s still there, carrying Kirian’s bag and smiling with warmth at the scene in front of me.

That man is my father. My biological one, at least. Despite all my talk earlier, it’s weird to imagine anyone but Lewis as my father.

Besides, Calvin has always been Kim’s father, and the parent she needs in her life.

Despite his absentee status, he’s always looked at his children as if they’re the only ones who matter. Not like Dad, who only looked back when his family was causing some sort of problem for his career.

Calvin’s gaze meets mine, and his smile doesn’t falter or change. It’s the same warmth, the same care.

I shake my head. I must be imagining things because I didn’t get my usual dose of alcohol.

Calvin is the last thing on my mind, and while I didn’t admit it to Dad, he’s right about how fragile Kim is during this period. We should focus on her, not on any other clusterfuck.

I pick up Kirian and he squeals with delight as I place him over my shoulders.

Kim tries to jump, but she can’t reach him. “Hey! That’s cheating.”

“Team Superman!” he shouts. “Xan, wrestle Kimmy like the other time.”

“Shut up, Kir.” She blushes, voice low.

“But you said it was special wrestling.” He stares at Calvin. “What does special wrestling mean, Dad?”

“No idea, Kir.” Calvin’s smile doesn’t change, hiding his reaction perfectly.

Fuck me. This little man will be the reason for the explosion in Kim’s cheeks.

She snatches the keys from Kirian’s hands and runs to the car. “I’ll start the car up.”

She leaves me alone with Calvin. Perfect. Not awkward at all.

He passes me Kirian’s bag and I take it from him. In the last second, he keeps it between us and says in a cool tone, “Take care of them and of yourself.”

I give a sharp nod. “Yes, sir.”

His lips curve in a smile. “Calvin’s fine.”

I smile back. “Yes, Calvin.”





32





Kimberly





Healing is a slow, painful process.

For the following week, I discover how weak I actually am. Even when Dad, Elsa, and Xander say otherwise.

I’m weak, because I still hide whenever Mum is in sight. I’m weak, because I’m scared of eating, and whenever I do, I vomit it right back up.

I’m weak, because I’m starting to think I’m a burden to everyone, even when my therapist has been trying to purge those thoughts.

Then in the midst of weakness, like now, he comes in.

Xander.

My knight, even if it’s in a different way than when we were children. He used to carry me on his back, and now, he pulls me to his side as if I’ve always belonged there.

After I return to school, he’s there every step on the way. Without saying any words, he announces to RES’s student body that I’m now his and if anyone breathes in my direction, let alone says anything, they better start preparing their funerals.

He holds my hand and kisses me in the halls as if we’ve been doing it for eternity.

He whispers things into my ears, like how much he misses me, even though I’m right there.

I’ve become so used to his presence, as if we were never separated, as if we’re picking up right where we left off seven years ago. Maybe that’s why whenever he disappears, the fog begins to slowly creep in through the cracks.

Today, I met Silver in the library, and although we didn’t speak, it brought back memories of the times where I hated myself and envied her body.

Through the years, I’ve always wondered why she grew up to be so beautiful while I became a potato. And sometimes, like now, those thoughts return with a vengeance. That’s why I’m hiding in the back garden.

Elsa’s been watching me eat my food and has been following me to the bathroom to make sure I don’t stick my finger down my throat.