Black Knight (Royal Elite 4)

Ronan slides to my other side, glaring at him. “Hey, hands off, fucker. Kimmy is my girlfriend.”

“As if you’d ever have a girlfriend.” Knox shoots back.

“I would. It’s Kimmy.”

Teal scoffs.

“Do you have a problem, ma belle?” Ronan grins at her.

She pushes them both away with surprising strength, considering her size compared to theirs. “You’re suffocating her. Leave her alone.”

“That’s right.” Elsa glares at all of them. “Leave Kim alone or I won’t sit still.”

I squeeze her hand and Aiden smiles at her, pride shining in his eyes.

Everyone goes on about what’s happened in school and how it’s been boring as hell, but no one mentions Xander or if he’s already gone.

I want to ask, but I feel like it’s taboo to even talk about him.

Did he leave without saying goodbye?

The hospital was your goodbye. What else do you need? A hug? A fucking kiss?

I close my eyes against the onslaught of emotions, trying to keep up with the semi-party everyone is throwing for me.

A part of me wants to sneak upstairs and hide underneath the covers, but that will only invite the fog and I don’t have the energy or confidence to push it off right now.

“You know what?” Elsa’s voice brings me out of my head. “I’m just going to address the elephant in the room. What are you doing here, Silver?”

I stare at the bitch queen of the school, the one who used to be my friend but now participates in my bullying.

She’s wearing one of her elegant dresses and her ‘fuck-me’ heels. Silver isn’t only beautiful, but she’s also hot, even from a girl’s point of view. She has provocative features and waist and breasts and everything. She’s basically the whole package wrapped with ‘bitch’ ribbon.

It’s crazy how someone can change from childhood. She has never been mean – secretive, yes – but not a bitch who lives to make other people’s lives hell.

She now stands an inch in front of Cole and stares back at him at Elsa’s question. He doesn’t even acknowledge her as he slowly drinks from his cup.

“True.” Ronan snaps his fingers in her direction. “We don’t need the presence of someone who bothered Kim.”

She remains silent, her face blank. But I know Silver to an extent. Her silence is hiding her flustered feelings or frustration.

“If you came here out of pity, I don’t need it,” I say aloud for everyone to hear. “You can go.”

She doesn’t move. Not even an inch. Instead, she stares at Cole again. This time, he does make eye contact, even though his bored expression doesn’t change. Silver must be able to read whatever’s in there, since she releases a deep sigh.

Her attention falls on me as she speaks low. “I’m not here because I pity you. I’m here because I know how it feels to want to end the pain. I tried it before, but it only made it worse.”

“You…did?” I ask, not believing what I’m hearing. Silver isn’t the type who talks about herself this openly. She’s too arrogant to enumerate her weaknesses in front of so many people who can use it against her.

“What I’m trying to say is, I’m sorry if I participated in that pain. It’s not you, Kim. It’s how I deal with…” she trails off and her shoulders lock like someone is throttling her from behind. Cole is still drinking with nonchalance as if she’s not speaking at all.

“Things,” she breathes out and places her untouched cup on the table. “It’s clear I’m not welcome here, so I’ll just go.”

She doesn’t spare any of us a glance as she walks out, carrying herself with her usual high and mighty posture. Cole stares after her for a second before a slight smile – or smirk – lifts his lips. It’s gone as soon as it appears, making me wonder if it happened in the first place.

“Wow, can you believe that?” Elsa leans in to ask me. “Silver apologising. I swear something is wrong in her head lately.”

“Or she’s scared,” I whisper, more to myself than aloud.