Ruthless Empire (Royal Elite #6) by Rina Kent

Aiden is my fiancé.

Fuck that.

If she thinks I’ll let her hang on to his arm after I claimed her, then she must not know me at all.

I only allowed the fun because I knew there would be a day where she’d be officially mine. After Mum and Sebastian’s marriage, that option is off the table, but that doesn’t mean I can’t work around it.

The first step is done, but there’s more to come.

As soon as the assistant manager calls a break to go through the formation, I stalk towards the bench Aiden is occupying, snatch a bottle of water and settle by his side.

He’s wiping his face with a towel, his gaze focused on Elsa as she runs. I see it then — pride. He’s not just infatuated with her, he’s also proud of her. Interesting.

“She’s good,” I say nonchalantly.

His attention slowly slides to me. He must’ve noticed me sitting beside him, because even though he acts like he doesn’t care, he’s also hyperaware of his surroundings. However, he didn’t realise I was observing his observation session.

“Eyes. Off,” he orders.

There. The reaction I needed. “Relax. I was only saying she’s good.”

“Don’t say she’s good, don’t even watch her being good, speak to her, or about her. Deal? Deal.”

“I would’ve probably done that if I hadn’t realised you’re a fucking liar.”

“Me? What have I lied to you about?”

“Hey, how do I remove virginal blood from my dick? Should I just wash it?” I recite his text from back then and the words that fucking broke me. “I already washed the blood off my dick. I wouldn’t have if I’d known you have a virginal blood kink.”

He raises a brow. “Are you trying to prove you have a good memory? Am I supposed to clap or some shit?”

“I’m repeating your lies, King. You really thought I wouldn’t find out?”

“It took you three years.” He grins. “Three years of thinking I was her first. Three years of dying on the inside imagining I was fucking her whenever we were alone. Three years of constant doubts. Let’s not mention how you punched me that night or your petty moves whenever you could dig me a hole. Do you know what I call that? A win.”

It takes all my self-restraint not to raise my fist and punch him again, and this time, I’d ruin those features so no one would look in his direction. I’d make him an ugly monster. However, I know that will only give him the reaction he wants, so I drink a sip of water to soothe my throat.

“The fun is over. End it,” I say with a calm I don’t feel.

That’s the thing about plotting chaos. You feel it, but you don’t show it — it’s the most lethal type to ever exist.

“Why would I?” Aiden flings the towel over his shoulder.

“Because she’s mine now.” My throat closes around the word. Mine. How long have I waited to say that out loud?

Years. Fucking years.

And now, I can’t even say it to the world — just to the bastard Aiden, but it’s a start.

“I’m surprised she stayed a virgin for you with you being a dick and all that. And you’d think being with me for three years would have upped her standards.”

“More like lowered them.”

“I don’t know what perverted game you’re playing, Nash, but does she agree?”

“That’s none of your business. Your only role is to end it.”

“No can do. You see, Queens and I are it. So what if you’re fucking her? I’m the one whose ring she’ll be wearing and who she’ll marry.” His face is blank, but it couldn’t look any more gruesome if he were smirking.

They made a deal. I can smell it in the air, even without knowing it for sure.

Silver felt threatened and, therefore, pulled on her armour, in which Aiden plays a part.

The fucker must’ve been offered something that serves him in some way.

I slam the lid of the bottle shut. “Are you sure you want to play this game with me? This time I will crush you.”

“Is that a promise?”

“This is your only warning, King. I will not play fair.”

“Are you telling me you were all this time?”

“Your choice.”

“Show me your worst, Nash.”

The break finishes and Aiden saunters back to the field.

After Levi King graduated, I became the captain. He recommended me to the coach because he thinks I’m more level-headed than his dick of a cousin. He chose right. I can pretend to care, Aiden doesn’t even try.

I follow close behind him. If it were any other person, they would’ve backed away, especially if it was someone who’d witnessed how I play unfair.

However, Aiden is made for the challenge. The harder it gets, the more insistent he becomes about finishing it with flying colours.

It’s his loathsome competitive nature that resembles Silver’s, and probably the only reason why they get along on some level.

What Aiden doesn’t realise is that I know his weakness. He didn’t have it when he took off with her and played me by sending those texts. Now, he does.

I promised him and I promised her.

It took me years, but I’ll make them both fall as far as I did.

I’ll make them feel every thread of chaos I felt while riding my bike all night under that pouring rain.