Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite 3)

“Tell them,” Cole orders. He flat out orders Silver as if she’s a small child.

I expect her to fight, to be her usual bitchy self, but she just remains quiet.

“If you don’t, I will,” Cole continues with frightening nonchalance. “Do you want them to hear my version?”

Silver visibly flinches as if she’s been slapped across the face.

“Get it over with, Queens.” Aiden’s impatience shows through his voice. “I don’t have all day.”

No idea if he’s oblivious to the tangible tension between the stepsiblings or he simply doesn’t care.

My bet is on the last.

When she lifts her head, her gaze instantly finds mine. “I don’t know why we keep getting involved, you and I.”

Same.

“This is my final warning,” Cole says. “Talk or I will.”

“Remember Adam?” she asks.

“Did he hurt you again?” I blurt and she winces.

“Again,” Cole speaks so low it’s terrifying. “So it’s happened before, yes?”

Aiden’s arm falls on my shoulder, gripping me tight, cutting off my concentration on Cole and Silver.

My eyes slide to his, and I swallow at the tightness of his jaw.

Oh, boy. He’s not amused. At all.

“How do you know about that, sweetheart? Hmm?”

“He was bothering her in the car park; I stopped him.”

“You stopped him,” Aiden repeats with a calm, yet terrifying edge. “How did you stop him exactly?”

“I just threatened him with calling the principal and pepper spray.”

“You don’t have pepper spray.”

“He believed I did.” I pause. “What are you so agitated about?”

“What am I so agitated about?” His voice is clipped, firm, and authoritative. “Why do you fucking think? He could’ve taken both of you to God knows where in his state. Do you have no sense of self-preservation?”

“I only did what I thought was right. Okay?”

“Not okay. It’s not fucking okay to throw yourself in danger like that.”

I meet his glare with mine. Okay, fine, maybe standing up to a buff bloke like Adam wasn’t the smartest thing to do. But how can he expect me to just stand there while he clearly meant Silver harm?

A shudder goes through me at the thought of what he could’ve done to her.

Silver and I may not get along, but I don’t wish ill will upon my worst enemy.

I know trauma. I lived trauma. It invades your personal space, claws at your walls, climbs them, destroys them, and then dances on the remains.

That shit fucks you up for life.