Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite, #3)

by Rina Kent

Since we were children and even now, Aiden’s features only light up when I’m around. You’re the only thing who breaks the endless vicious cycle. He told me that once, but I was at a point where I doubted everything about him. Did I ever believe a word he said? How did that make him feel?

True, he doesn’t act like a trustworthy person, and he pisses me off with his manipulations, but it’s also true that he never looks at anyone else the way he looks at me.

I was always trapped in my head and never thought of the situation from his perspective. Even when I did, I used it to outsmart ...

The way I react to him has to do with his person as much as his touch.

He doesn’t even acknowledge him, his entire attention settles firmly on my face. “Come with me.”

Shaking my head, I ask, “Come with you?” “You’ll understand on the way.”

“Move that pretty arse, sweetheart.” I grab my bag and stand up.

Aiden remains motionless for a beat. He probably didn’t expect me to agree this willingly. I surprised myself, too, but I can’t fight it anymore. At least not now.

Aiden’s pause lasts for a mere second before he wraps his hand around mine and leads me out of the cafeteria.

I stare at Aiden’s hand surrounding mine. It brings back memories of the time when we were children. Back then, I was always the one who held his hand and clung to him. I also shamelessly snuggled to his side and laid my head on his shoulder. Who knew there would be a day when our roles would be reversed?

“Why did you come with me willingly?” he asks out of the blue. “I… don’t know.” And I really don’t. I wasn’t in the right state of mind. Maybe it’s because I was worried about him and was remembering the past. Or maybe it’s because I miss him.

“Do you remember the time we spent together ten years ago?” I ask before I can stop myself. He nods, eyes darkening. “And you don’t.” My heart skips a beat. He hates it. Oh, my God. He hates that I don’t remember him from back then.

“You spent the entire night with me.” He smiles a little. “You wouldn’t leave even when I told you to.” “I did not!” My cheeks flame with embarrassment. “I’m the one with the memories, remember?” His lips tilt with a smirk.

“You wiped my face with a wet cloth then covered me with a blanket just so you could slip underneath it with me. Oh, you also held my hand and kissed my cheek. Child Elsa was a stage five clinger.”

He takes my hand and lifts it to his face. He flattens my palm over his mouth and kisses it so tenderly, a shock ripples through my entire body.

Oh, God. I can handle the intense, dirty side of Aiden — sometimes — but I’m completely helpless in front of his soft side.

“You look fucking adorable when you’re shy.” He lowers my hand and keeps it on his thigh, tucked in his like it’s his most prized possession. Our fingers interlace. My smaller hand in his bigger one. My feminine fingers against his long, masculine ones.

“Can’t you stop?” I whisper. “Not when it comes to you.” “Yeah. Blame it on me.” “I blame it on Child Elsa. She made me think of things I never thought about before.” “Like what?” “Like adult stuff. Told you, she was hardcore.” “You’re putting words in my mouth just because I don’t remember.” “Oh, you will remember. I can’t wait to see your expression when you do.” “Dream on, dickhead.”

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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

“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.

“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?”

“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?” “Not okay. It’s not fucking okay to throw yourself in danger like that.”

“Adam said that…” She licks her dry lips. “He was the one who pushed Elsa in the pool.” My eyes widen.

“He did, huh?” Aiden’s eyes almost turn black. Not sure if he’s surprised or merely calculating.

“He said he did it to get in my good graces, okay?” She meets my gaze. “I swear I had nothing to do with it. I only just found out myself. If I knew, I would’ve told you.” I don’t know why, but I believe her.

She flips him off and storms towards the entrance then stops, meets my gaze and whispers, “I’m sorry.”

Cole fixates Aiden. “Let’s meet later.” “I’ll get in touch.” Cole nods once.

Uh oh, adam wont like whatever they plan

“She only learned this information yesterday. Don’t beat her up again.” I wince at the reminder. “Says the guy who watched while she was beaten to a pulp,” Aiden scoffs. “She brought it on herself that time.” He smiles at me and strides out of the Meet Up.

I peek at him through my eyelashes. I expect him to be deep in thought, and he is, it’s just that his entire attention is zeroed in on me.

“Stay,” he murmurs, eyes closing. “Just for a moment.” Protests are about to spill free from my mouth, but I say nothing. My ear lands against his calming heartbeat and I do as he asks. I stay.

I’m sprawled all over Aiden’s chest. The softness of my breasts mould with his muscles, all taut and hard. Even my legs are intertwined with his like it’s the most natural thing to do. Like this is where I always belonged, and it’s blasphemy to go anywhere else. I stir, but I don’t change position. It feels too good to move. His warm skin against mine, the flutter of his breath at the top of my scalp. The cocoon of his strong arms.

His fingers tangle into my hair, massaging my scalp, and awakening tingles at the bottom of my stomach. The touch is so gentle, I’m tempted to close my eyes and go back to sleep. My self-preservation is the only thing that stops me. Being close to Aiden is never that simple.

Aiden’s fingers pause on my scalp as if he can feel my next move before I make it.

The urge to throw myself into his arms overwhelms me. It’s like an animal clawing and screeching to be set free. It takes every ounce of willpower to keep my distance.

“Don’t.” The harshness in his voice startles me from my thoughts.

“Don’t what?” I’m genuinely confused. “Don’t pull away from me.” “I’m not pulling away.” “I call bullshit. You’re going Frozen on me again.”

“Don’t you think you deserve it?” I glare at him. “The only thing I deserve is you.” “Newsflash, Aiden. You barely gave me a reason to be all warm and cosy with you. Now that my head is in the game, it’s hard to see you in a positive light.” “Is that so?” No. It’s a lie.

I know deep down, in the dark corners of my soul, being with Aiden is the only thing that make...

“You said you’ll take me home later.” I smother my skirt. “It’s later now.” “Fuck that.” He grabs my hands in his. A jolt of electricity shoots down my spine.

Before I can pull my hand away, he places my palm on his chest. My eyes widen at his wild heartbeat. I always forget how erratic Aiden’s heartbeat can go. Like thunderstorms. Deadly, but also alive. So, so alive.

“The scar on my ankle is because she had me cuffed with metal to heavy chains. The scars on my back are because she hit me with a horsewhip over and over again until I passed out. I don’t think she stopped even when I lay lifeless on the floor.”

“She gave me nothing to eat and barely anything to drink. I had to piss and shit where I slept. She treated me worse than a dog, and the funny part was, she never really saw me. She saw someone else when she looked at me. When I finally came back home, the only person who could’ve made it better was also gone.”

Aiden speaks so nonchalantly, it’s more terrifying than if he spoke with emotions. Now, I see why he doesn’t hold feelings in high regard. They were purged out of him a long time ago. They were whipped, starved, and burned into the fire.

The word stop lingers on my tongue, but I swallow it. Aiden lived those horrors, the least I could do is listen.