by Kent, Rina
“Show it?”
I catch a dark figure in my peripheral vision and the blood in my veins turns to ice.
Blood.
So much blood.
Steel blood runs in your veins. You will not disgrace it.
The haunting voice booms in my head like a demon’s. The tips of my fingers tingle and turn icy.
An urge to scrub them clean takes over me like a drug addict burning for a fix.
A weird sensation crawls down my spine as I feel eyes on me. Blank, lifeless eyes. They’re watching.
They’re coming to get me.
They’ll eat me.
Run, Elsa!
NOW!
“Elsa?”
My gaze snaps to Kim who’s waving a hand in front of my face.
“Huh?”
“You just zoned out.” Her brows furrow. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I force a smile. “I just need the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
I bolt out of there before she can say another word. With one of the butlers’ help, I find a restroom. The burn under my skin becomes like hellfire, about to consume me whole.
It only cools once I pour water and scrub it clean over and over again.
I watch my surroundings the entire time as if expecting someone to jump me from the walls. Or worse, the mirrors.
I stare at my spooked reflection. My pupils are round as saucers and my white-ish hair looks like a witch’s.
“It’s nothing.” I force a smile out of my trembling lips. “You’re going to be okay.”
After smoothing my expression and cleaning my hands, I step out of the bathroom.
I’m lost in my thoughts when I walk back into the lounge area where music thumps and everyone dances like they’re in a club.
I barge into a hard wall — or a person.
Ow. Strong hands clutch me before I fall back on my butt.
“Sorry,” I mumble. “I didn’t see you.”
“Obviously.” The laughter draws my attention to the tall, broad and very familiar face.
Levi King.
The previous captain of Elites and the current gem of Arsenal’s midfield.
I’m caught in a near-fangirl moment at seeing a Gunner in real life. I mean, I did go to games with Uncle Jaxon, but this is the closest I’ve gotten to a player.
“Have you seen my dickhead cousin?” Levi’s inquisitive eyes roam over my shoulder.
His cousin. Right. Aiden is one year younger than him and his cousin. Jonathan King is his guardian.
I visibly shake myself. I can’t believe I was almost too caught in the fangirl mode to forget who Levi actually is.
“Wait a second.” He studies me close — too close — that I smell his expensive aftershave.
While Aiden has the whole dark vibe to a T, Levi has pale blue eyes that flick to clear grey in the dim light. His sandy blonde hair is tousled and messed up like he couldn’t care less about combing it when he rolled out of bed.
He’s wearing Elites’ royal blue jacket over a white T-shirt and dark jeans.
“It’s you.” He grins. “Frozen.”
“Elsa is fine, thanks,” I say with sarcasm.
He laughs. “Elsa, right. I didn’t know your real name.”
Of course, he didn’t. Kings don’t know all their peasants, do they?
“What are you doing at Ronan’s party?” he asks. “Wait. Did Aiden drag you here?”
I’m honestly not surprised that he thinks that.
“He did, didn’t he?” He searches me up and down as if Aiden will materialise from underneath my skin. “And where is he now?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
“Huh. He must be playing a chess game against himself like a freak.”
“Wait. He does that?” That’s so weird. I thought I was the only one who does that.
“Stage five freak. I’m telling you.” He winks.
Well, Levi isn’t exactly like the image I painted in my head. After everything I had heard about screwing the teacher and being Elites’ captain, and the king of RES, I expected an older, more bastard version than Aiden.
Instead, he’s more… welcoming?
Would I appear like a creep if I ask for his autograph? Uncle Jaxon would be so happy.
Just when I’m contemplating the idea, the music comes to an abrupt halt. Ronan jumps to the top of a table in the middle of the lounge area where the football team surrounds him.
“Listen up, bitches.” He uses a beer bottle as a microphone. “We’re here today to celebrate our win against New Castle. One to nil. Championship, here we fucking come.”
Everyone hoots and cheers, “Go Elites!”
Even Levi smiles, shaking his head.
“It hasn’t been easy to win without our two strikers.” Ronan’s tone and expression turn to sorrowful before he grins. “But yours truly can transform into a striker any day, bitches! King and Knight, who?”
“Fuck you, Astor,” Xander mumbles from beside him and everyone else laughs.
“La ferme, Knight. Don’t kill my vibe.” Ronan goes back to grinning. “Anyway, let’s ignore Knight’s bitter arse. We have a special guest tonight. Our own Premier League star. Let’s welcome our previous captain, Levi King!”
“He had to do it,” Levi mutters under his breath. “Fucker.”
The rest of the football team cheers and hits the table like crazy.
Ronan points at Levi and shouts. “Come here, Captain!”
“Captain, captain, captain…” The rest chant, led by Ronan and Cole.
Levi grunts and starts to leave, but stops and looks down at me. “Remember what I told you about Aiden being a stage five freak?”
I nod once.
“He’s also a stage five creeper. It’s better if you stay away from him.” He winks. “For your sake, not his.”
And then he’s gone.
I stare at his back, incredulous, as the football team members clasp him in bro hugs.
What on earth does he mean by ‘for your sake, not his’?
“First of all,” Levi says in a joking tone, glaring down at Ronan. “I’m only here to get my dickhead cousin, so fuck you for the speech setup, Astor.”
“Come on, Captain.” Ronan waves him off. “Some encouraging words for the championship.”
“If you don’t get it again this year…” Levi trails off. “You’ll be punished, captain style.”
They all grunt, except for Ronan who jumps up. “Nah, you’re not our captain anymore.” He grins, clasping Cole by the shoulder. “Nash is.”
Levi raises an eyebrow. “And who do you think gave Nash that captain position.”
They all break out in a dispute, except for Cole who watches them with a smile, shaking his head.
Levi put Cole as captain? It’s weird that he didn’t pick Aiden, considering that he’s his cousin.
“Ellie!”
I rip my attention from the football team to Kim who’s grinning as she holds onto a brunette’s elbow.
“This is Astrid.” Kim beams. “Astrid Clifford, you know, the one I told you I sat with during last year’s games.”
I smile at Astrid and her glowing aura. She’s rocking simple overall shorts and fishnet stockings. It’s cute in a girly kind of way.
It’s not the first time I’ve seen her. Her rocky relationship with Levi had been the talk of RES last year. I even caught Aiden hanging out around her.
Actually, Astrid and Silver are the only two girls Aiden has associated himself with.
Not that I’ve been watching him or anything.
“Astrid, this is my best friend, Elsa.”
“Elsa.” Astrid rolls my name off her tongue with a discreet smile.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing.” She laughs, waving her hand. “I just heard so much about you and the only names I got were Frozen and Ice Princess. I’m glad to know your real name.”
I wince.
“Oh, sorry.
I didn’t mean to offend you.” She clasps my hand. “I’m really glad to finally meet Aiden’s obsession.”
“Wait. What?” My lips part open.
“He used to watch you all the time.”
She’s about to say something when her gaze strays to where Levi stands with the football team.
An electric current passes between them and I find myself caught in the way they watch each other.
It’s like they’re the only two people in the room.
The longing and the passion are so tangible, I almost taste it on my tongue. My chest squeezes for no apparent reason.
“Come here, princess,” Levi shouts.
“Yes, my queen.” Ronan yells. “Let’s have a drinking competition for old times’ sake.”
“In your fucking dreams,” Levi growls at him.
“I’m in.” Astrid laughs then looks at me and Kim. “Let’s go.”
Kim takes her hand, but I shake my head. “It’s not my scene, but thanks for offering.”
Out of the corner of my eye, Kim gives me a reprimanding look as she follows Astrid to the middle of the party. Ronan is already preparing the drinks with the help of his teammates.
Time to search for a hole where I can hide for the rest of the party — and watch Kim.
She’s on her second — or third shot. We’re definitely not driving back to her house.
A taxi it is.
My gaze gets lost in the crowd as if I’m searching for something.
Or someone.
Nope. I’m absolutely not searching for him.
I head to the reception-style table to pick something to eat.
Here’s to hoping it’s not all junk food.
I collide against a hard chest. Ow. Seriously, what’s with colliding into people today?
Only this time… it’s different.
A strong arm surrounds my waist with ease. I feel his warmth and smell his familiar, head-turning scent before seeing him. My heart does that slight jump that turns my insides upside down.
I step back, but I can’t go far since he’s gripping me tight by the waist. When I lift my head, I’m greeted by the smokiest, most turbulent eyes. Something unreadable forms a sheen in his gaze.
A week.
It’s been less than a week since I saw him, but it feels like forever.
That strong jaw, the straight nose, and the jet black hair seem like a far, distant memory.
Only… they’re not.
Aiden is dashing in the school’s uniform, but he’s irresistible in simple jeans and a black T-shirt. He carries the nonchalant vibe so well, it’s almost unfair.
My gaze locks on the cut near the corner of his mouth. I shouldn’t be feeling guilty considering that I’ve done nothing wrong, but I still do. It doesn’t delight me to see him hurt.
I’m not that person.
The chaos of the drinking competition, the music, and the chants cease to exist.
It’s only me and him now.
Me and my tormenter.
I reach up and touch the pad of my forefinger to the cut on his lip. “Does it hurt?”
He yanks my hand free and holds it prisoner in his.
“You’re getting good at lying, sweetheart.” His eyes gleam, but they’re not playful. They’re downright sinister. “You got me for a second there.”
“What?”
“You don’t have to pretend that you care about me.”
He thought I was pretending? Screw him.
And screw me for actually having that lapse of judgement.
I lift my chin. “I don’t care about you.”
“Is that so?”
“Not at all, Aiden. You’re nothing to me.”
“Nothing, huh?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
I don’t get a warning.
Aiden’s lips crash to mine in an animalistic frenzy. I don’t get to think or breathe.
All I can do is… feel.
Still holding me by the waist, his other hand grabs my nape in a possessive hold.
Aiden doesn’t kiss me, he claims me. His teeth nibble on my bottom lip before he thrusts his tongue inside my mouth.
It’s a clashing of tongues and teeth and lips.
It’s suffocating and liberating.
I can’t breathe.
But who needs breathing?
My fingers dig into the hard ridge of his chest, fisting into the T-shirt for balance.
Aiden lifts me and sits me on some surface. I wrap my legs around his waist while he continues ravaging my mouth. My head turns dizzy, hazy, and begins floating.
Aiden’s presence doesn’t only fill my air, but it conquers it.
Smashes it.
Breaks it apart.
His hand sneaks under my T-shirt at that place where my top meets my jeans. I hiss in a breath when his rough, calloused hand meets my softer skin.
Aiden pulls away, and air assaults my lungs. I’m disoriented when he smirks in a lazy, sinister way.
“Nothing, huh?” he motions behind him.
That’s when I realise we’re in public.
I just let Aiden kiss the shit out of me in front of the entire school.
My cheeks heat and I freeze as if that will make me disappear.
No chatter comes from behind us, so I’m sure everyone’s attention is on us.
Can the earth swallow me, please?
While still tangled around him, Aiden lifts me up and carries me out. I hide my head in the crook of his neck, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.
Aiden leans into my ear and whispers, “It’s time you become completely mine.”
Chapter Twenty
Aiden doesn’t stop when murmurs break whenever we walk.
He doesn’t stop when his teammates howl behind us.
His steps are confident and sure while his fingers continue drawing circles down my back.
I want to think it’s an endearing touch, but that’s not how Aiden works, is it? He doesn’t do endearing. Possessiveness suits him better.
The entire school just watched us tonguing each other and all I can think about is the meaning behind the tiny circles.
Truth is, I couldn’t care less about the audience.
All my senses are filled with Aiden. His height. His muscles that might as well be made from granite. The effortless and sure way he holds me.
His strength always had me in knots. There’s something about the way he carries me that’s all… male.
And his scent. His damn, clean, addictive scent.
With my head hidden in the crook of his neck, I can’t resist the urge to inhale him in and safeguard his scent to memory.
A door clicks then closes and Aiden stops. It’s my cue to lift my head. I release a breath when I make out a simple, non-characteristic room that must be for guests. There’s a medium-sized bed, a nightstand and a cupboard. Floral wallpaper covers the walls.
It reminds me of… home.
Not my home with Aunt and Uncle, but my actual home in Birmingham.
That’s such a disturbing thought.
I don’t remember home and I don’t want to.
My attention drifts back to Aiden who’s been watching me intently.
Since the beginning of this year, he’s been having this slight draw in his thick brows. It’s like he’s cracking a mathematical problem or a cyber code.
The brief show of humanity disappears and the poker face takes over.
It’s then I realise that I’ve been holding him like a vice.
Worse. We’re alone in a room and he’s blocking the only exit.
I attempt to scramble down his body, but his lethal hold tightens around my midsection.
“Ow. That hurts!” I push at his chest.
“Then stay still.”
“Ugh. Let me go, Aiden!”
“Why? You came here for me, didn’t you?”
The arrogance of this bastard. “You wish, arsehole.”
“Then who did
you come for, hmm?” His eyes spark, and it pisses me off.
He pisses me off.
And apparently, I’m vindictive as hell because I give him a taunting smile. “Who do you think? I came for my boyfriend Xander.”
His eyes darken, but he smiles in a chilling, horror film kind of way. “Repeat that.”
I gulp, and the sound crackles in the burning tension in the air.
“Go ahead, sweetheart. I dare you to say that again.”
I shouldn’t.
Considering the murderous energy swirling around him, I should cut my losses short and shut up.
I must be out of my mind because I say, “My boyfriend Xander. He must be looking —”
It happens so fast, I barely register it.
Aiden throws me on the bed and crawls atop of me. My breath hitches when I make out the crazed look in his eyes. It’s as if someone turned the switch on.
I turned the switch on.
I lie beneath his looming body. His shoulders strain against the cloth of his T-shirt and he’s breathing heavily as if he’s coming down from a run.
I clench my thighs together not wanting him to see the overwhelming affect he has on me.
Because at this moment when he’s all threatening and scary, I don’t see the danger.
I should see the danger.
Instead, I’m searching behind that danger, thirsting to dig my claws in him and rip open the poker face to peek behind it.
I’m almost sure I’ll find a monster, but I still want to see it anyway.
I still want to see what he’s made of. Why he’s made this way.
His hand reaches for my face. I swallow as he traces a sensual finger down my cheek. It’s meant to be soft, but all I see is the darkness lurking beneath the surface.
I crave it. I want him to unleash it.
If he’s sick and I want his sickness, what does it make me?
“Seems that night in the rain did you no good.” His voice is too calm as he pinches my cheek. “I told you, sweetheart. You’re already mine, so stop acting otherwise.”
“I’m not yours.”
“Being mine is a fact, not an option. I don’t give a fuck if you embrace it or fight it in front of me.” He nuzzles his nose over my cheek. “But I’m done giving you freedom. You don’t get to act like you don’t belong to me.”
“Or what?”
He shakes his head. “You don’t want to know that.”
“Why the hell not?”
