Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite 3)

Aiden doesn’t do grovelling. Aiden takes without permission, leaving disaster in his wake.

I toss and turn at night thinking he might be genuine, maybe he really changed. Then I recall who he is, what he is, and quickly squash those thoughts.

People like Aiden don’t change. They’re too comfortable on their high and mighty pedestals to stoop low.

All this must be another ploy to make me trust him just so he can fuck me over again.

I’m done being that fool.

I’m done being played.

To his credit, I barely saw him with Silver in the school’s hallways. But who knows what’s going on behind closed doors.

Not that I care.

“Are you coming?”

I’m brought back to the present by Teal’s voice. She’s wearing her usual bored expression as she studies her black-polished nails.

“Yes!” Kim grabs my arm. “Let’s go.”

I can’t believe I agreed to this, but then again, Knox tricked me.

Apparently, he’s into football and was accepted into Elites. Teal and Kim wanted to see him play.

I don’t like being within two metres from the football pitch.

“I beat you in maths. You owe me, Ellie.”

And just like that, Knox had blackmailed me into watching the practice.

Teal, Kim, and I walk towards the pitch together.

“I’m telling you, our team is crazy good. You’re going to fall in love at first sight.” Kim interlaces her arm with Teal’s.

“Love is for losers,” Teal deadpans.

“You’re funny,” Kim laughs.

She thinks Teal is joking, but I doubt she is. Teal has an eccentric personality and the weirdest sense of humour. Sometimes, I don’t realise it’s a joke until she says it is.

The fact that she’s Knox’s twin is even stranger.

Kim decided Teal should belong in our circle because she’s ‘so cool’.

Kim thinks only rock stars are cool. The fact that she clicked with Teal so fast is a miracle in itself. Even Teal seems to like her. She offered her a cup of coffee the other day — and Teal doesn’t offer things.

My nerves skyrocket when we approach the wires and the players. It’s like I’m walking straight onto the battlefield.

Teal watches her surroundings and stops when a few girls start gushing and squealing — the horsemen’s fangirls. “So this is where the youth come to kill their brain cells.”

“Don’t be a mood killer.” Kim’s green eyes brighten as she gets lost in the game.

Elites are divided into two teams. Half is wearing blue jerseys and the other half neon yellow ones.

Aiden and Cole are on the blue team. Xander, Ronan, and Knox play for the yellow team.

“Go, Ronan!” Kim shouts when he takes possession of the ball and runs towards the goal.