Steel Princess: A Dark New Adult Romance (Royal Elite Book 2)

“You like literally kicked her arse!” Kim jumps up and down, punching the air. “Damn. I wish I was there to see the bitch queen having her arse kicked!”

I groan. She wouldn’t let me live it down since I told her what happened yesterday — without the sex part or the part about how sore I am this morning.

“It’s not something I’m proud of.” I hold the math book close to my chest. “I mean, I don’t want to apologise to her, but I feel like I owe her something.”

“You owe her fuck.” Kim jumps in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. “Did she apologise to you for all the bullying? Or for having her minions make your life hell? No, and hell to the no. Besides, she had it coming. Gosh. I wish I saw the look on her face when you went berserk on her.”

“Kim!”

“She’s a bitch, okay? You don’t feel sorry for bitches.”

She’s right. Silver has always made our lives hell.

But Kim has no idea what went on in my head at that moment. Hitting Silver wasn’t some vigilante shit.

I legit wanted to kill her.

The thought sends a tendril of fear down my spine.

Why the hell do I keep having these murderous thoughts? I’m not the type who’s capable of hurting a fly.

Images of injuring Aunt, scratching Aiden, and punching Silver hit my memory like razor-sharp knives.

Maybe I am capable of hurting more than a fly.

Maybe I wasn’t aware of it yet.

“Come on. Class is about to start.” Kim drags me by the arm.

I walk with her, but my mind is elsewhere.

When and where did I pick up those murderous thoughts?

I’m almost sure it comes from my childhood, but I still can’t figure out how and why.

If only I could remember.

But then again, I did everything in my might to block those memories for ten years, I can’t just remember on demand.

Kim’s hand in mine stiffens, bringing me back to the present. She stops in front of our class just as Xander goes inside laughing with a bombshell from the gymnasium team.

My brows furrow as I focus back on Kim. “Are you okay?”

She laughs, but it’s high-pitched and unreal. Kim can’t fake a laugh to save her life. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You and Xander are enemies, right?”

She crosses her chest, nodding. “Total enemies.”

I don’t think so.

She’s been stealing peeks at him with a strange gleam when she thinks no one is looking. I don’t know if she wants to punch him or kiss him or both.

“He’s a player, Kim.” And he bullied you for years.

But I can’t tell her the last part. Not when I’m all tangled up with my own bully.

“Screw him and everyone he screws.” She scrunches her nose. “I just want him out of mine and Kir’s life.”

“One year and he’ll piss off to Harvard or something, right?” I ask.

“Yeah.” A sheen of sadness covers her features before she smiles. “I’ll be free.”

I interlace my arm with hers when movement catches my attention.

Silver walks down the hall with a scarf wrapped tightly around her face and hiding her hair. I recognise her from the hint of her piercing aqua blue eyes.

Her attention is zoned in on her phone with a glittery case. There’s also her signature dainty ring with more glitter on it.

I wouldn’t have known it’s her if it weren’t for those obvious tells.

Her gaze collides with mine. Her pace slows down for a second before she lowers her head and hurries into class.

“Did you just see that?” Kim whisper-yells. “Silver Queens just lowered her head! Man, I really should’ve seen the beating that turned her into this.”

My stomach twists. The more enthusiastic Kim is, the deeper and the more nauseous I feel.

This isn’t me.

I don’t take pleasure in hurting others.

Yes, Silver can be a bitch, but she did nothing yesterday. She just stood there and I attacked her out of nowhere.

When we step into class, my gaze immediately searches Silver.

She sits at the last table and scrolls through her phone, still wearing the scarf.

Two sets of eyes aside from mine bore into her.

The first is Adam, the rugby team’s captain. His thick brows draw over troubled eyes as he glimpses back at her. His bulging arms tighten against the uniform’s jacket with tension.

It’s like he can feel her pain.

The second is Cole. He stares back at her with a harsh gaze that makes me flinch — even though it’s not directed at me.

Ronan hops on his desk like a monkey, breaking his attention.

Kim leans in like she’s about to announce a conspiracy and nods in Silver’s direction. “Who is she and what have you done to our own bitch queen?”

I nudge her away. She giggles and flops down in her seat.

Ronan leaves Cole and hops on her desk. “Kimmy! I missed you last night. It’s no fun without you.”

“Sorry. I was babysitting my little brother.”

Ronan snatches a mint-coloured strand of her hair and plays with it. “Bring him over next time.”

“Fuck no,” Xander snaps at him.

I didn’t even realise he was in hearing distance. Wasn’t he chatting with that gymnasium girl just now?

“That’s none of your business,” Kim huffs at him and faces Ronan with a smile.

He goes on an endless monologue about last night’s game.

I’m about to take a seat beside Kim when the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

A strong hand strokes my stomach and a hard chest glues to my back.

My heart flutters as his clean intoxicating scent fills my senses.

I wonder if there will ever be a day where I don’t have this baffling level of awareness of him.

“Morning, sweetheart. Did you dream of me?”

I glance back at him so I’m half facing him. I place a hand on his chest in a fruitless attempt to push him away.

Aiden doesn’t give a fuck that he’s so close to me in front of the entire class. Hell. Sometimes, I think he’s doing it on purpose.

I’m not him. I care.

What would it feel like if I were as free as he is?

Today, he’s dashing in his uniform. He even has his hair half-slicked back as if he wants to be presentable. For what, I don’t know.

Usually, Aiden would put in the effort to look presentable if he has some manipulation plot. Like the first time he barged into my house and introduced himself to Aunt and Uncle as my boyfriend.

“I told you I don’t remember my dreams.” I only remember my nightmares.

“Hmm.” He pinches my cheek. “One day you’ll dream of me as I dream of you.”

My lips part.

Damn him and these things he keeps telling me out of nowhere.

The harder I try to pull away from him, the more he lures me back in.

It’s like I don’t have a choice anymore.

Who am I kidding? I never had a choice when it comes to Aiden King.

Aiden crushes the distance between us as his lips hover an inch away from the shell of my ear. He whispers in a low seductive drawl, “You’re blushing, sweetheart.”

“No, I’m not.”

He laughs, and just like yesterday, I stare incredulously at how gorgeous he is. The low chilling range of his laughter hits my heartstrings.

It aches.

It burns.

Damn.

I’m all covered in goosebumps — and something else between my legs.

He drops his hand from my face to grip me by the waist. It’s like he can’t keep his hands off me.

I can’t stop touching you, so don’t ask me to.

His words from yesterday hit my heartstrings harder.

“What have you been dreaming about?” I ask in an attempt to dissipate the tension.

“I dreamt about…” His free hand swipes over my bottom lip. I don’t know why he does that. It’s like he’s wiping something off it. “These lips wrapped around my cock.”

My face heats as I search my surroundings with frantic eyes in case someone else has heard. “Aiden!”

“What?” He feigns innocence. “You asked what I’ve been dreaming about.”

“You didn’t have to go into details.”

“You think those were details?” His lips quirk into a smirk. “Here are the actual details: You kneeled in front of me and opened your mouth like the other night. You were looking up at me with these blue eyes and begged me to fuck your mouth. Being a gentleman, I did just that. I thrust in and out of your little mouth as you begged for more.” He lowers his head to whisper in my ear. “This time, you swallowed like a good girl.”

My thighs clench together and tingles erupt all over my skin.

God.

His dirty talk will never grow old. It’ll never stop getting to me, and making me wish the images he paints are true.

“You liked it by the way.” He pulls back with a smirk as if knowing that he got me.

I scowl. “You’re a dickhead.”

“I’ll let you give my dick head, sweetheart.” He winks.

Ugh. I can never win with him.

“Are you done making babies over there?” Ronan calls. “Because the math teacher is coming.”

I blush and push away from Aiden to sit next to Kim. Aiden strides to his seat, too, flipping Ronan off on the way.

“Yo, King. I’m hurt.” Ronan launches into his usual dramatic monologue about abandonment issues.

I’m really starting to wonder if they’re a joke or real.

While Ronan goes on and on, Aiden doesn’t even acknowledge him. He glares down his nose at Cole. Elites’ captain spares him a glance over his psychology book and smiles.

There’s been this weird tension between the two of them lately. From the outside looking in, Xander might appear like Aiden’s best friend, but since I got into their circle, it seems that Aiden is closest to Cole.

I heard that Aiden’s best assists came from Cole during their football games. They’re also silent and mysterious in their own ways.

Besides, aside from Levi, Cole is the only one I’ve witnessed Aiden play chess against.

That can only mean that Aiden recognises Cole as a worthy opponent, and Aiden doesn’t recognise a lot of people as worthy opponents.

Their friendship made sense. They’re both highly intelligent and move in unpredictable ways.

It doesn’t sit right to witness the tension between them.

“Morning,” Knox taps at my desk.

I smile up at him. “Morning.”

Mr Huntington, the math teacher, comes inside next.

I feel a glare directed at me. Aiden tilts his head to the side, his left eye twitching.

“What?” I mouth.

He focuses ahead.

“Miss Queens.”

“Yes,” Silver answers with a small voice.

It should make me feel victorious, but it doesn’t.

If anything, it brings a taste of nausea to my mouth.

“Remove the scarf, please,” Mr Huntington continues. “No extra wear is allowed in class.”

“I would rather not, Mr Huntington.”

“Remove the scarf or I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

I glance behind me at the same time as she reluctantly pulls down her scarf.

Gasps erupt in the class.

Faint bruises on the side of her mouth and cheek glare back at me. And they’re only faint because she must’ve done her best to hide them with makeup.

I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of their actual appearance.

“Are you okay, Miss Queens?” The teacher asks. “We can call the principal and —”

“I tripped and fell. I’m fine,” she says, shutting everyone out.

Kim nudges me with a huge grin. “You did that.”

I scold her with my eyes, chest squeezing.

I didn’t want to do that.

I only wanted her away from Aiden. That’s all.

And then I wanted to kill her.

Fuck me.

The teacher talks about returning our tests, pulling the class’s attention from Silver.

Adam is the only one who doesn’t glance away from her. Not even when the teacher starts handing out tests.

I reluctantly turn away, unable to look at her anymore.

It’s like she was attacked by a monster.

And I’m that monster.

On my test, I got a 97. Knox waves his test at me, he got a 98.

Shit. I lost.

I hate losing.

As soon as the class ends, he jumps in front of my desk. “You owe me.”

“She owes you fuck.” Aiden appears at my side in a beat.

I swallow at the steel look in his metal eyes.

“We had a bet.” Knox’s smile doesn’t falter. “Elsa promised to do something for me if I have a better grade and vice versa.”

“And I’m telling you she’ll do fuck for you. Now, piss off.”

“Aiden,” I hiss, standing up. “Knox is a friend, okay? Besides, a bet is a bet.”

Aiden pulls out his test and slams it on the table. He got a 100.

A fucking perfect score.

Of course.

I don’t know why it surprises me that he’s this smart at academics, too.

He’s aiming for Oxford after all.

“I had more than both of you,” Aiden deadpans. “So maybe you both owe me.”

“Sorry, mate.” Knox smiles. “You weren’t a part of the bet.”

Aiden’s left eye twitches.

Oh, shit.

Oh, fuck.

Knox needs to leave. Like right now.

“We’ll do something, okay?” I tell Knox with a dismissive tone. “Call me.”

“Sure thing, Ellie. I’ll call you later.”

Knox is the last one who leaves class. I stand in an empty classroom with a pissed off Aiden.

I’m about to say something.

The words disappear.

Aiden grabs me by the arm and slams me against the wall, placing his hand on the side of my face. “Call you? He has your fucking number?”

This side of Aiden is fearsome as shit, and I can’t help the tremors of both fear and excitement tingling down my spine.

However, I won’t let him dictate my life.

Not more than he’s already doing.

“Knox is a friend. You won’t take me away from my friends.”

“Watch me.”

“Aiden!” I clutch his biceps. “Stop it, okay? It’s just a bet.”

“And I’m telling you.” He wraps his hand around my throat, soothingly massaging my pulse point, but there’s nothing soothing about his deranged eyes. “I want the bet called off, sweetheart.”

I can give in to him.

It’s not a big deal, anyway. I’m sure Knox will understand.

But if I continue giving in to Aiden’s tyrannical ways, then there will be nothing left of me and my free will.

I refuse to be that girl.

I’m not Aiden’s toy. I’m his fucking equal.

I jut my chin out. “No.”

His left eye twitches. “No?”

“Yes, Aiden. No. You don’t get to tell me what to do and who to befriend.”

The poker face straps around his features so tight, it’s alarming.

I expect him to retaliate, but he releases my throat and steps back. “As you wish.”

And then he’s out of the door.