Deviant King (Royal Elite 1)

I spend the rest of the class trying to take as many notes as possible to occupy my mind.

But one can’t erase how Aiden looms like the devil in the corner, waiting to steal my soul.

As soon as the class ends, Kim shoves her things in her bag and takes off out the door.

I’m about to follow her when my pen falls, rolling on the floor.

A tall frame bends over and picks up the pen.

I cease breathing when Aiden stands to his full height. His focus is on me as he twirls the pen between his index and middle finger.

That pen can go to hell for all I care. Call me a coward, but I can’t handle another face-off with Aiden right now.

Besides, Kim is my priority.

Without sparing Aiden a glance, I bolt out of the classroom while it’s still full of people.

New resolution: never get myself trapped alone in the same place as Aiden.

That’s my best bet to survive.

It takes me a few minutes to find Kim. She’s lurking by the corner of our next class, earbuds in, and her gaze lost somewhere out of reach.

I run to her and clutch her shoulder. “Kim! I was so worried about you. Why didn’t you call me back?”

Her face is pale as if she’s seen a ghost while she removes the earbuds. “Ellie…”

“What? What is it? Did Aiden do something?”

“Aiden?” Her brows furrow. “What does he have to do with anything?”

“Uh… Kim? You came to class with that arsehole.”

“He found me in front of the nurse’s office and told me to walk to class with him.”

My blood boils. “Did he hurt you? Force you?”

“What the hell? Why would he do that?” Kim plays with the straps of her backpack. “He asked nicely. Almost…”

“Almost what?”

Something nostalgic flashes in her eyes. “Friendly.”

“Whoa. Kim. Are you hearing yourself? Aiden isn’t friendly. He can’t be friendly.” He’s a fucking psycho!

Please don’t tell me he’s playing with Kim’s mind, too. Is this a ‘fuck you’ to me? Or am I being too dramatic?

But then again, Aiden is the type who calculates his moves before making any.

Kim scrunches her brows, lips tightening. “Why are you so tense?”

“I’m sorry,” I smooth my voice. “It’s just that I’m worried about you, okay? Aiden has never been friendly to you so why would he start now?”

“King was never mean to me either. We go way back, you know.” Her lips tremble.

Way back?

I know Kim studied at Royal Elite Junior with the rest of the horsemen, but I’ve never gotten the impression that she was friends with them before.