by Kent, Rina
That thought brings a bitter, sticky taste to the back of my throat. I squeeze his hand in mine to make sure this isn’t a mind trick.
No. Dad is here.
He came back for me.
“There you are.”
My attention snaps to my right. A middle-aged man comes down the stairs with a polite smile on his face.
He’s dressed in a three-piece, striped suit, appearing fit and well-built for a man his age. His pale blue eyes resemble a snow tiger and, although he doesn’t appear old, his hair is peppered with white strands.
Wait.
There’s something familiar about him.
I take a closer look at the man and my eyes widen. “You.”
“Told you she’d recognise you.” Knox crashes into the man from behind, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, grinning with mischief. “Pay up the hundred, Agnus.”
“Do you recognise me?” The man — Agnus — asks without paying attention to Knox.
I nod slowly. “You were always at that coffee shop.”
“Bingo!” Knox smirks, extending his palm. “My one hundred. Any day now.”
“For the record, you made the bet. I never agreed.” Agnus reaches into his pocket and retrieves his wallet. Knox snatches the bills and grins while counting the money.
“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” My gaze bounces between the three of them.
“This is Agnus,” Dad says. “He’s my right-hand, adviser, and best friend. He’s been taking care of the company and the estate while I was unable to.”
“You don’t remember me, Elsa, but I was your favourite uncle when you were younger.”
“Uncle Reg was my favourite.” The words fall from my lips in a haunted whisper.
Agnus’s face turns blank. Knox tenses so visibly, he nearly rips the money with his fingers.
Dad’s expression remains unreadable. “Reginald is no more, princess.”
“He was my twin brother.” Agnus smiles with ease considering the situation. “You could never tell us apart.”
I do a double-take on Agnus’ face. He does have slightly bulging eyes, but they’re not as prominent as the ones I had in my nightmare about Uncle Reginald. Besides, Agnus is handsome in a silver fox kind of way. I don’t remember Uncle Reg ever being handsome.
“How did he die?” I ask.
“The Great Birmingham fire.” Knox shoves the money in his pocket. “Like a roasted pig.”
“Knox,” Dad scolds. “Go to your room.”
“Nah.” Knox throws his weight on the sofa, flings one of his legs over the other and wraps his hand around the sofa’s back. “Hey, T. You owe me a fifty. Elsa isn’t a bitch as you predicted she would be.”
A tiny girl saunters inside with earbuds shoved in her ears. She has such petite features, they’re adorable. Her midnight-black hair falls straight to her shoulders; her eyes are huge and black — or are they dark-brown? Her lips remind me of a rosebud, and her nose is tiny like the rest of her face.
Despite the cuteness of her overall appearance, like a Snow White of sorts, everything else screams she doesn’t like it. For one, she’s wearing dark purple lipstick and black eyeshadow that give her doe eyes a witchy appearance. She also has skull earrings.
Even her stockings have skulls on them. Other than that, she’s wearing denim shorts, a black leather jacket, and a crop top that reveals her pale belly.
I pause to read the red writing on her white top.
Sometimes the king is a woman.
Interesting. This girl must be a lot more than her appearance suggests.
Plucking out her earbuds, she stares at me intently with empty, desolate eyes. It’s like she’s thinking about ways to cut my head open and look inside.
“Elsa, this is Teal.” Dad squeezes my hand, bringing me out of the staring competition with the new girl. “Teal, Elsa.”
“The spoilt princess.” Teal plays with the earbuds. “Who doesn’t know about her?”
“Pay up, T.” Knox snaps his fingers. “You owe me.”
“Not yet. I have to make sure for myself.”
“Knox, Teal,” Dad speaks slowly but with an authoritative edge. “I expect you to get along with Elsa. Am I making myself clear?”
“We already get along.” Knox winks at me. “I even beat her in math.”
“No promises, Dad.” Teal flips her hair back and heads outside without a glance.
The first droplets of rain start beating down on the glass, but she doesn’t seem to care. Maybe she also likes the rain and its ability to cleanse.
“Give Teal some time.” Dad smiles at me. “She’s not good with changes or outsiders, but she’ll get used to it.”
“Is she also...” I trail off.
“Foster sister.” Knox snaps his fingers. “Bingo.”
“How many more do I have?”
“Just two.” It’s Agnus who speaks. “Welcome back, Elsa.”
Okay.
This home isn’t like I remember it. A lot of things have changed, including the addition of two foster siblings, an uncle I don’t remember, and the maids.
It’ll take me some time to understand the new dynamics, but being here is progress on its own.
I have returned to where it all started — and ended. This is the place that can answer all my questions and lead me onto the right path.
I take a deep breath, the scent of jasmine and spices filling my nostrils.
No matter how much has changed, this remains home.
My home.
Maybe, just maybe, this is where I’m supposed to be.
5
Aiden
“I’m here. And by the way, I don’t want to be here.”
Levi flops on a seat at the dinner table and thanks Margo for preparing his favourite steak.
She throws one last glance at us with worry etching deep between her brows. Levi, being a proclaimed gentleman, gives her a reassuring nod as if saying ‘No, we won’t eat each other for dinner.’
Margo tells us to call her if we need anything and retreats with brisk steps. The dining room’s double door closes behind her with finality.
It’s just the King men and their screwed up heads.
Good times.
I can’t remember the last time the three of us sat down for a meal. Since Levi started his relationship with Astrid and moved out, he barely shows up anymore, and when he does it’s only with her by his side.
Jonathan and I both know Astrid coaxes him to keep in touch with his family. That’s the reason my father accepted her over time despite the fact that she’s a Clifford.
Newsflash about the Cliffords; Jonathan doesn’t like them.
Her mother killed Uncle James in an accident — in which both of them died. Jonathan being Jonathan still holds a grudge against Astrid and her lord father as if they’re the ones who shoved drugs down Uncle James’ throat that night.
That’s Jonathan in a nutshell. He’s vengeful, and he’s ruthless about it.
He occupies the head of the table while Levi and I sit on each side of him. The chandelier above us casts a white light on the food as if we’re in a cooking show.
I drag the knife over my steak, but I’m neither cutting nor eating.
My thoughts keep spiralling back to how Elsa left yesterday. The numbness on her face still lurks inside me, tying a noose around my heart.
How the fuck could I let her go like that? She doesn’t even have her damn phone. Not that she would’ve answered my calls or texts.
It’s only been a day, but it feels like we’ve been apart for an eternity — and I don’t even believe in eternity and all that shit.
I sit here, wondering when exactly it was she became such an integral part of my life and the fucking air I breathe.
Was it when I claimed her as mine? When I first touched her? When I reunited with her two years ago? Or maybe it all started in the damn basement.
“You’re here today because we have an enemy.”
“You mean you have an enemy.” Levi scoffs, taking a generous bite of his beef and chewing without a care in the world.
“The King household has an enemy, you little punk.”
Levi rolls his eyes but says nothing. I’ve already briefed him about Ethan Steel’s return. Whether he likes it or not, Levi is a King and Jonathan’s precious legacy. He was already a part of the game before he was born.
Like me.
Like Elsa.
“Knowing Ethan, he’ll try to disrupt our formation before attacking.” Jonathan cuts his meat with ease like he’s not talking about attacks and wars.
“You knew Ethan. Past tense,” I say.
“Ethan doesn’t change his attack methods.” Jonathan pauses eating. “Besides, my resources tell me he was in a coma for nearly nine years. The past is all he remembers.”
“Your resources couldn’t tell you that before he made a surprise visit?” Levi mocks.
Jonathan glares at him.
“Stating facts, Uncle. He who only knows himself and not the enemy suffers a loss for every battle won, remember?” He recites the old strategies Jonathan used to shove down our throats.
Levi isn’t even trying to feign interest in the whole thing. He has already built his life as a professional football player. He has his girl and his future ahead. For him, this entire ordeal is a waste of time and he won’t stop reminding Jonathan of that fact.
“I know my enemy.” Jonathan smirks as he takes a bite of his food. “A lot more than I know myself.”
“What’s the plan?” I ask.
“Now we’re talking.” Jonathan points his fork in my direction. “First of all, you’ll stop your idiotic escapades with Steel’s daughter and commit to Silver. Her father and I are friends and go way back. I won’t have you ruin that.”
Yeah, no.
Queens and I didn’t get together because of what our fathers expect. We got together for a different reason, which will soon be eradicated.
“You go way back with Sebastian Queens, as in, you share business interests with him,” Levi speaks without lifting his head. “You know, with how he uses his minister power to let your ships go unnoticed. Oh, and you promised to fund his campaign for Prime Minister. Very friendly of you, Uncle.”
I hide a snicker.
“Am I making myself clear?” Jonathan ignores Levi, focusing on me.
I nod absentmindedly. He doesn’t need to know my move until I make it. After all, he’s not the only one who’s fond of the element of surprise.
He’s not the only one who likes to destroy.
“Perfect.” He points his fork between me and Levi. “We’re invited to a fundraiser hosted by the Rhodes family this Friday. Both of you will be attending.”
“Pass.” Levi feigns a yawn.
“Not interested,” I say at the same time.
Jonathan knows better than to drag us to his friends’ parties and fundraising bullshit. We do attend one gathering once a year, and that’s already happened.
“Listen, you two.” Jonathan slams his fork and knife on the table. “This isn’t just any fundraiser. The Rhodes are aristocrats who have recently returned to business. They’re looking for a long-term partner, and that’s going to be King Enterprises. I’ve been preparing for months for this project, and I won’t accept a loss on such a huge opportunity.”
“What do we have to do with this?” Levi asks.
“You will bring Clifford’s daughter. Those with titles like people who resemble them. If they see a member of the King family in a relationship with a lord’s daughter, they’ll soften.”
According to Jonathan, Cliffords are bad until there’s a use for them.
“And me?” I chew on the food, but I don’t taste much.
“You’re my heir. It’ll put their minds at ease to see the future of the company as diligent as his father.”
Levi rolls his eyes, and I sigh.
I’ll find an excuse to skip the whole thing. If it were under different circumstances, I would’ve put on the show of a lifetime for Jonathan’s friends and persuaded them to sign with him on the spot. If I score my father a huge deal, he’ll leave me alone afterwards.
However, I’m not in the mood to kiss Jonathan’s friends’ arses.
There’s a ton of things I need to do and they all lead back to Elsa, not my family name.
She didn’t show up for school today. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but a part of me hoped she would. A part of me thought she’d confront me and drive me crazy with her stubbornness like before.
Even Reed hasn’t heard anything from her since yesterday and was having a mini panic attack about walking in the halls alone.
If I were a better person, I would’ve offered her my company. Unfortunately for Reed, I’m not. Astor spent the entire day with her, though. Knight killed him in a thousand different ways in his mind, then nearly broke his leg in practice.
Good times.
Back to Elsa. If she isn’t talking to her best friend, how the hell am I supposed to contact her?
I tell myself that she needs time, and that after a while, she’ll be open enough to listen to me.
The problem is, I’m not a fucking patient person.
Being away from her for an entire day is messing with my senses. I’m on a fucking withdrawal and it’s irritating and pissing me off. I can only return to normal when Elsa’s beside me where she belongs.
She promised.
She fucking promised.
If she thinks I’ll let her get away she must not know me after all.
I’m happy to have her relearn me all over again.
“Ethan will make his move during this fundraiser.”
Jonathan’s words bring me back to the present.
“How can you be so sure?” I raise one eyebrow.
“He must know I’ve been after this deal for months. It’s not mere coincidence he returned when the contract is near completion. He likes disrupting his enemies’ patterns.”
“Will he rival you?” Levi asks.
“Probably. I’m still not sure about his tactics, but I’ll be there to ruin every last one of them.”
“It’s been ten years, Uncle and you both lost your wives. Isn’t it time for bygones to be bygones? You can even ride into the sunset and shit.”
Jonathan cuts him a glare so harsh, Levi shakes his head.
“Just saying. Jesus.”
“You’ll both be there.” Jonathan wipes his mouth with a napkin. “That’s final.”
If Ethan goes, then Elsa most likely will, too. Not because she likes this sort of thing, but because Ethan will seize the chance to show off his daughter and Steel Empire’s heir to the world.
She’ll be there.
I can almost smell her coconut scent all the way to Friday.
“Fine,” I tell Jonathan.
He nods with approval. “See you both on Friday.”
“Wait a minute. I didn’t agree,” Levi protests.
But Jonathan is already out of the room. He’ll probably spend the night in his office making the world a bit more horrible.
“Little fucker.” Levi throws an apple at my head.
I catch it and take a bite.
“This is about Elsa, isn’t it?” he asks.
I lift a shoulder.
Everything is about Elsa, but neither he nor Jonathan need to know that.
Showing weakness is the easiest way to be beaten at your own battle with your own soldiers.
I throw the apple back at Levi and stand up, another plan forming in my head.
He catches the fruit and crunches a bite. “You don’t deserve her.”
“Just like you don’t deserve Astrid?”
“At least I changed for her. What did you do for Elsa?”
“I found her again.”
And no one will take her away from me.
I leave the dining room and retrieve my phone. A number called me 1001 times today. It’s an exaggerati
on, but yeah, he called me non-stop. I’m surprised he didn’t raid the school.
“Elsa, is this you?” Jaxon Quinn’s concerned voice filters through the phone. “You said you’ll come back today, but you weren’t at school. Your aunt is filing a missing person report.”
So they did raid the school.
“This is Aiden King.”
“Aiden.” He sounds taken aback, but he quickly adds. “Is Elsa with you?”
“No.”
“No?” he shouts, and I have to hold the phone away from my ear to not go deaf. “Where is she? What happened to her? Why didn’t you call and inform us?” He launches on a series of clipped questions.
“Ethan Steel took her to Birmingham.”
After telling him the details about Ethan’s reappearance, I hang up with a smile on my face.
I might not be able to bring her back, but her aunt and uncle will.
6
Elsa
For the past two days, Dad has been taking me on long tours of the property.
I remember bits and pieces from the past, but they’re barely thirty per cent of my childhood. It’s like my memories have been frozen and there’s no way to ‘unfreeze’ them.
Dad has been patient, talking about how both of us used to come to the garden after he returned from work. I was home-schooled at the time and he often helped me with my homework.
The topic of my mother has been on the tip of my tongue, but I stopped myself from mentioning her. One, I didn’t have enough courage. Two, Knox always joined us on our walks, challenging me about beating him in becoming Dad’s favourite. They’re jokes on the outside, but I can feel the rivalry deep inside him. While he appears lighthearted, Knox is in fact lethal when it comes to what he wants.
Being with him is fun, though. It reminds me of the friendships I left behind.
My chest aches at the thought. It pains me how much I miss Kim and Ronan and even Xander and Cole.
I miss the easy friendship we share, the laughs, and even the secrets lurking under the surface. The horsemen might be royalty in RES, but each of them carries a mystery so tangible, it’s enticing.
As for Aiden…
Nope.
I’ve been blocking him from my mind since I arrived here. He doesn’t deserve my thoughts or my tears. Not now, not ever.