Rina Kent

I kicked Aiden in the balls.

I kicked Aiden fucking King in the balls.

Power isn’t about winning. It’s about never losing.

“I’ll worship each of your scars until you’re able to face them, Lenochka.”

“How did Dad fall in love with you, Mum?”

“I don’t know and I don’t think he has the answer to that either. Love can’t be forced or explained, it just happens, Glyn.”

Besides, I have a marriage certificate to prove it.”

“That doesn’t count since we’re getting a divorce.”

His permanent smirk disappears, but his expression remains light, playful even, but it doesn’t appear natural. “Until then, you’re still my wife.”

“Reluctantly.”

“Legally.”

I lift my chin. “Temporarily.”

“Currently.”

What. The. Fuck?

I’m going to kill this bastard. How dare he look at Bran—my fucking twin brother—like he’s his next bitch?

My. Fucking. Brother.

The Landon King’s identical twin.

I believe myself to be God’s gift to humans.

“Don’t call you what? Baby?”

“Nikolai!”

“To what do I owe this displeasure?”

I’m proud of how bored my voice sounds. It took a lot of practice to sound as cold and indifferent as he is.

Eli shoves himself off the door, and even though he no longer blocks my exit, his presence overwhelms my senses in a fraction of a second.

Imposing. Intimidating. Suffocating.

I can’t take my gaze off him, because I know it will take only one misstep and it’ll be game over for me.

One stupid move and I’ll strip away another chunk of my barely put-together soul.

“The real question is.” His smooth, deep voice touches my warm skin like a whip. “What have you done to owe me the displeasure, Ava?”

By the entrance, I spot a student who’s avoiding the crowd by sneaking her way along the side pathway leading to the huge double doors. I notice her because I was also contemplating the same path.

While I’d love to fit in, crowds cause that familiar itch to rise under my skin.

The loner’s skirt is bigger. She’s on the thick side and has the roundest, cutest features I’ve seen on a girl my age. With her huge rounded eyes, plump lips and braided long brown hair, she almost looks like a child.

And she’s the first presence in this school that doesn’t give me the ‘untouchable’ vibe.

I catch up to her and match her fast-walking pace. “Morning.”

Her head snaps my way, but she soon stares at her feet and tightens her grip on the strap of her messenger bag.

“I’m sorry.” I offer my most welcoming smile. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Perhaps she’s one of the new kids here, too, and feels intimidated.

“You shouldn’t be talking to me,” she whispers under her breath. Even her voice is cute.

“Why not?”

She stares at me for the first time with eyes so green, they nearly sparkle like a tropical sea. “Wow. You have beautiful eyes.”

“T-thanks.” Her lips curve into a tentative smile as if she shouldn’t be doing the smiling thing. She kicks imaginary rocks as she speaks. “You’re too pretty, you shouldn’t be talking to the school’s outcast.”

“Outcast?” I echo, incredulous. “There’s no such thing as an outcast. If I want to talk to you, I will.”

She troubles her bottom lip and I swear, I’m itching to pinch her adorable cheeks.

“Are you new here, too?” I ask, instead of acting like a creep on the first meeting.

She shakes her head. “I studied in REJ.”

“REJ?”

“Royal Elite Junior.”

“Oh.”