Steel Princess (Royal Elite 2)

With Aiden, I always felt the need to be myself. I loved being myself and how much Aiden liked it.

Or that’s what he made me believe. It could be a game like everything he played thus far.

“King doesn’t matter,” I say.

“Then who does?”

“No one.”

She takes my hands in hers, making me face her.

Kim opted for skinny black jeans and a white top that drops off her shoulders. Her hair falls on either side of her face, the green highlights shining under the light.

“Ellie, talk to me. What’s going on?”

“I’m changing, Kim. Just like you changed in the summer.”

“What’s your excuse?”

“My excuse?”

“I had an excuse to change. I was done being an outcast and decided to do something about it. What’s yours?”

“I was hurt.” I laugh with a bitterness that slices straight through my chest. “My heart was stomped upon, Kim. All this time, I’ve been a bloody joke. A plot. A game. I feel like if I don’t blow off steam, I’ll explode.”

Her bright green eyes soften. “Is it because of King?”

“You know, people react differently when someone breaks their heart. Some would lick their wounds and run. Others would keep their distance and hide.”

“What camp are you?”

“Neither. I choose to fight for my freedom. I owe myself that much, don’t you think?”

“You do. I understand that more than anyone.” She hugs me from the side. “But be careful. King doesn’t lose.”

“He will now.” I wrap my arm around her. “I promise.”

Because I don’t have any more chances to lose.

As agreed, Knox picks me and Kim up.

During the ride, he jokes with us about the number of times he got lost in RES in one day.

Kim, who’s not big on making conversation with strangers, engages him and laughs at his easy humour.

“So she took the wrong sign?” Kim asks him.

“Imagine this.” Knox doesn’t take his eyes off the road. “I’m lost between those towers shit and there’s no human in sight. Even the cats look at me funny as if they want to exorcise me. Then, I spot a blondie and I run up to her, but she thinks I’m asking her out. She readjusts her glasses in a smart way and tells me, I’m sorry, Mr Van Doren, but I’m married to math. Thank you for your interest, though. It made me happy even though it doesn’t show right now.”

Kim laughs from the back seat. I wince, pretending to scroll through my

phone.

The girl sounds so much like me once upon a time.

“And did you correct her?” Kim asks.

“Nah, I just followed her from afar to find my way back to civilisation.” He pauses. “Now that I think about it, that probably hurt my case, didn’t it?”