Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite 3)

I do a double-take on Agnus’ face. He does have slightly bulging eyes, but they’re not as prominent as the ones I had in my nightmare about Uncle Reginald. Besides, Agnus is handsome in a silver fox kind of way. I don’t remember Uncle Reg ever being handsome.

“How did he die?” I ask.

“The Great Birmingham fire.” Knox shoves the money in his pocket. “Like a roasted pig.”

“Knox,” Dad scolds. “Go to your room.”

“Nah.” Knox throws his weight on the sofa, flings one of his legs over the other and wraps his hand around the sofa’s back. “Hey, T. You owe me a fifty. Elsa isn’t a bitch as you predicted she would be.”

A tiny girl saunters inside with earbuds shoved in her ears. She has such petite features, they’re adorable. Her midnight-black hair falls straight to her shoulders; her eyes are huge and black — or are they dark-brown? Her lips remind me of a rosebud, and her nose is tiny like the rest of her face.

Despite the cuteness of her overall appearance, like a Snow White of sorts, everything else screams she doesn’t like it. For one, she’s wearing dark purple lipstick and black eyeshadow that give her doe eyes a witchy appearance. She also has skull earrings.

Even her stockings have skulls on them. Other than that, she’s wearing denim shorts, a black leather jacket, and a crop top that reveals her pale belly.

I pause to read the red writing on her white top.

Sometimes the king is a woman.

Interesting. This girl must be a lot more than her appearance suggests.

Plucking out her earbuds, she stares at me intently with empty, desolate eyes. It’s like she’s thinking about ways to cut my head open and look inside.

“Elsa, this is Teal.” Dad squeezes my hand, bringing me out of the staring competition with the new girl. “Teal, Elsa.”

“The spoilt princess.” Teal plays with the earbuds. “Who doesn’t know about her?”

“Pay up, T.” Knox snaps his fingers. “You owe me.”

“Not yet. I have to make sure for myself.”

“Knox, Teal,” Dad speaks slowly but with an authoritative edge. “I expect you to get along with Elsa. Am I making myself clear?”

“We already get along.” Knox winks at me. “I even beat her in math.”

“No promises, Dad.” Teal flips her hair back and heads outside without a glance.

The first droplets of rain start beating down on the glass, but she doesn’t seem to care. Maybe she also likes the rain and its ability to cleanse.

“Give Teal some time.” Dad smiles at me. “She’s not good with changes or outsiders, but she’ll get used to it.”

“Is she also...” I trail off.

“Foster sister.” Knox snaps his fingers. “Bingo.”

“How many more do I have?”

“Just two.” It’s Agnus who speaks. “Welcome back, Elsa.”

Okay.

This home isn’t like I remember it. A lot of things have changed, including the addition of two foster siblings, an uncle I don’t remember, and the maids.

It’ll take me some time to understand the new dynamics, but being here is progress on its own.

I have returned to where it all started — and ended. This is the place that can answer all my questions and lead me onto the right path.

I take a deep breath, the scent of jasmine and spices filling my nostrils.