Those sadistic smirks.
That dark soul.
Son of a bitch. How the hell am I supposed to survive an entire year with him in the same class?
To make matters worse, Kim is nowhere to be found. Since I don’t have a phone anymore, I called her from the landline earlier but she didn’t pick up.
I still have some time before the first class, so I head to her spot in the garden.
My pace falters near the tree where Aiden trapped me yesterday.
A strange awareness grips me by the throat. My body’s memory acts up again.
I can feel his hands all over me.
I can smell him amongst the trees.
I can see that soulless look in his eyes.
A strong wave of hate takes over me, but that’s not the only thing.
Something else, something completely immoral grips me, too.
Get out of my head, damn you!
My brows scrunch when I arrive at the cabin and find no trace of Kim.
Like me, Kim never skips. If she did, something serious must’ve happened.
That wanker Xander better not have hurt her or I’ll go all mama bear on his arse.
I turn around and my head collides against a strong chest.
“Are you here for more, sweetheart?”
Chapter Six
He needs to stop calling me sweetheart or I’ll get a voodoo doll with his face on it and stab it to death.
Better yet, I’ll cut it limb from limb.
I step back to an arm’s length. If I keep enough distance, he won’t be able to catch me.
There’s no way in hell I’ll let him trap me like he did yesterday.
This time, I’ll either scream or run.
Yup. Sounds like a plan.
I gulp, but it lodges in my throat like an external object. No pep talk or courage could erase the memories from yesterday.
No pep talk could convince the nerves tingling with suffocating fear that I’ll be fine.
My limbs are screaming at me to run.
Hide.
Never look back.
I don’t.
Running away from someone who gets off on vulnerability isn’t the smartest thing to do.
He’d chase me. Hell. I’m sure the psycho would enjoy it, too.
Who’ll come out victorious?
Yeah. Not me.
So instead of flight, I choose to fight.
I lift my chin, calling all the courage I have left.
But the moment I meet his gaze, most of that courage falters. The thing about Aiden? He’s so well-put-together.
Perfect face.
Perfect body.
Perfect style.
He doesn’t even wear the tie on most days, and it still looks like the school’s uniform was tailored for his firm, muscular body.
His entire appearance is another asset he uses to intimidate.
To charm.
To screw everyone over.
I even fell for that charm the first day I met him. From afar, he looked like a God. Up close, he’s nothing more than a monster.
Since he choked me in front of the entire school and announced he’d destroy me, I realised that his entire look is a façade.
The only thing I see is the void in his steel eyes.
The hate.
The black rage.
I don’t understand how no one else notices it. Either they’re too far gone under his spell or they simply don’t care.
That’s what it means to be king, isn’t it? He can be corrupt all he wants. Hell, he can order a war that will slaughter half the nation and starve the other half, and the ones who remain alive will still chant ‘Long live the king.’
It’s not out of love. No. It’s out of fear.
People naturally gravitate towards power and in RES, Aiden is IT.
Last year, his older cousin, Levi King, ruled and now that he graduated, RES belongs to the youngest of the two kings.
“You ran away from school yesterday,” he says matter-of-factly.
“I didn’t run away. I had a family emergency.” I would’ve patted myself if I could. That lie came out perfect.
Shoving a hand in his pocket, he studies me up and down. His gaze lingers on my left breast as if he’s trying to burn a hole through my shirt.
It takes everything in me not to cross my arms over my chest.
His attention finally slides back to my face. “I think you’re lying, Frozen. I think you were pushed to your limits so you took the easy way out.”
“Guess what, Aiden? I don’t care what you think.”
“You should. What I think will have a direct impact on your life, sweetheart.”
“Stop calling me that,” I hiss. “I’m not your sweetheart.”
“You are whatever the fuck I say you are, sweetheart.”
Is it possible to curse someone into a dark, bottomless pit of hell? I’m not above using black magic. I just need him to bloody disappear. The earth will be a tad more peaceful.
I seal my temper as I turn around to leave.
He won’t get to me. He won’t.
A strong hand clutches my arm and swings me back so hard, I land flush against his hard chest.
He grips me with brute, bruising force.
“Did I say you can go?”
I struggle against him. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m not one of your subjects, your majesty. I don’t follow your orders.”
“There’s a start to everything.”
He releases me but only so he can wrap both his arms around my waist and rests his hands at the small of my back like we’re some freaking lovers.
This close, my air fills with his scent and his body heat mingles with mine.
I’m not short, but he still has height and broadness on me. Deep down, I know that seize is just an intimidation factor.
I push at his chest, wiggling sideways and backwards, trying to unlink his hands.
He doesn’t even move to stop me. All he does is keep his steel-like hold.
“Ugh.” I pant. “Let me go.”
“Why should I, hmm?”
“Why shouldn’t you?” I counter back.
“I love it when you struggle.” His eyes gleam with that now-familiar sadism as he reaches up and pinches my cheek. “You should see the tint of red on this.”
I go limp against him. My arms fall lifeless on either side of me, and I even school my expression into a neutral one.
If he loves my struggle, then he won’t be getting it anymore.
“Are you done?”
His left eye twitches.
Obviously, the sick bastard doesn’t like not getting what he wants and I beat him at his own game.
“I’m going to give you a valuable piece of advice. You already know what I’m capable of.” His voice is calm. The dangerous type of calm. “Don’t push me.”
“You’re the one who’s pushing me!” I can’t believe this bastard. “You’re lucky I haven’t reported you for what happened yesterday.”
“Lucky?” He laughs with a humourless edge, and it’s stupid that even the lines of his face stretch in beautiful angles.
Someone pour acid on his features.
“I don’t know if you’re trying to be adorable or if you’re that naïve.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You think you can hurt me, hmm?”
He clutches my chin with his thumb and forefinger, angling my head back so he can invade my face with his intrusive gaze.