Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite 3)

Elsa

We sit in here for what seems like days.

According to Aiden’s watch, it’s only been one day.

We’ve been here for exactly thirty-five hours and counting.

We did all. We tried the door, we screamed — or more like, I screamed. However, there was no sign anyone would come to help.

There was a reason why Ma chose this place. It’s on the far eastern side, no one wanders here, and I’m pretty sure it conceals sounds somehow.

My energy has been waning over the past hours. We have nothing aside from water from the tap.

No food. No blankets. Just like ten years ago.

It’s not cold per se, but a slight tremor has been going through my limbs since the door closed behind Agnus.

There’s a tightness in my chest, suffocating and bruising. Now that I think about it, I flew out of the house without taking my meds the moment Aiden texted me.

Please don’t act up now, heart. It’s super bad timing.

Aiden’s sitting, his back against the wall as I nestle between his long, powerful legs. My back rests against his chest and my head lies on his hard shoulder.

It’s weird how such a hard muscle can be so comforting.

“Maybe he won’t come back for us,” I whisper into the silence. “Maybe he decided it’s better if I’m out of the way?”

“He will.”

“How do you know that? What if he has an accident and dies and no one will come for us?”

“Now you’re being dramatic, sweetheart.”

“It’s a possibility.”

I lift my head and watch him closely; his neutral expression and undisturbed eyes. How can he be so calm about this? While I’ve been losing hope, shaking, and pacing, he’s been sitting here as if we’re on a picnic or something.

Granted, he’s more cool-headed than me, but this is a life or death situation. My head’s crowding with horrific images about how they’ll find our corpses months from now, decayed and stinking.

Tears fill my eyes. I don’t want to die. Not now.

Not when I’m ready to overcome my trauma. Not when I’m finally getting control over my life.

“Hey.” Aiden’s lean fingers cradle my face and stroke my trembling chin.

“I can’t stop thinking about dying.”

“Then let’s occupy that head of yours with something else.” He grins, and my aching heart flutters with sparks.

“Like what?”

“Since you’re a curious little kitten, I’ll let you ask me any question you like.”

My eyes widen. “Any question?”

He nods.

Whoa. That’s some commitment for the devil.