Deviant King (Royal Elite 1)

He has his filthy hands on my friend’s fucking shoulders.

Not to be dramatic, but I think I’m going to throw up.

His gaze meets mine and something sparks in it. A corner of his lips lifts in a cruel, psychotic smirk.

That’s it.

I’m going to kill him.

I’m going to sacrifice my entire future to save the world from his evil.

The smirk falls as fast as it showed. Still gripping Kim by the shoulders, he flashes Mrs Stone his golden boy’s smile. “I’m sorry. Kimberly wasn’t feeling well so I had to take her to the nurse.”

Is he for real?

I’m mortified when Mrs Stone’s expression shifts from scolding to acceptance. “Are you all right, Ms Reed?”

Kim nods without saying a word.

“That was nice of you, Mr King.” Mrs Stone offers him a smile. “Both of you take a seat.”

My jaw is probably dropping to the floor. I can’t believe this.

The dark hole from earlier expands until I can hardly breathe.

He must’ve done something to Kim, and now, he’s making everyone believe he was helping her.

I search his face for any signs.

He’s smiling, mask firmly in place, appearing every bit of the golden boy everyone envies.

The girls want him. The boys want to be him.

But none of them sees that emptiness inside him.

The void.

The… nothingness.

They only know this Aiden. The one he puts on for show. The image he projects their way. They're too blinded by his fake light to see th

e shadows.

But isn’t that better? Isn’t the lie better than the truth?

After all, the truth destroys before setting anyone free.

My heart hammers with each step he takes. This time, it’s not fear for me.

It’s for what he’s done to Kim.

I knew that kicking him would come back to bite me, but I never thought it would be this fast.

Or this lethal.

I never thought he’d go after Kim.

My lips tremble as I try to meet my best friend’s gaze and make sure she’s okay. Her head is bowed. Curtains of her mint-coloured hair camouflage her expression from me and the world.