Cruel King (Royal Elite 0)

“She’s my stepsister but not for long, though.” Her hand returns to my trousers. “Now, where were we?”

I shove her away until she falls backwards, barely catching her balance.

“But—” she screeches.

“Go swallow someplace else."

I don’t wait for her to disappear and stride past her to the exit.

Something tells me I really fucked up this time.

23

Astrid

My demons aren’t yours to fight.

* * *

I will not cry.

I will not cry.

I take a deep breath, fighting the moisture in my eyes and the pressure building behind my nose.

I’m not that girl. I’ll never be that girl.

The crowd seems to thicken the harder I try to push myself ou

t of the maze.

So what if Dan insisted I celebrate his first win as part of the team?

So what if I didn’t want to go back home for Dad to force me into a dinner with Victoria?

Coming here was a big freaking mistake.

Or maybe it wasn’t.

Maybe I had to see Nicole between Levi’s legs to finally snap out of whatever madness that’s taken over me.

Still, my chest aches so much, it’s a struggle to breathe.

Why the hell does it hurt this much?

“Here’s my girl!” Dan enclasps me in a hug out of nowhere, reeking of alcohol. “Ro, Xan, did I introduce you to my BFF?”

“Why, hello there.” Ronan — number thirteen — grins with sparkling brown eyes. “Why have you been keeping such a good-looking lady to yourself, Danny boy?”

“Yeah, Danny. Sharing is caring,” Xander grins and it’s too sickeningly charming. He has classic pretty boy looks, blond hair, blue eyes all complete with dimples.

“I’m Ronan.” He takes my hand in his and places a kiss on the top. “Don’t believe everything you hear about me.”

“It’s usually much worse,” Xander finishes for him.”

“Now, hands-off, Astrid, you pigs.” Dan swats them away as if they’re flies. “She doesn’t like sex.”

I jab him, an involuntary blush creeping along my skin as I mutter, “Thanks for broadcasting that, bug.”