should let him in. Aiden barged right in and carved his comfy place in my chest.
The thought of plucking him out brings a taste of bitterness and horror.
On my way to the car park to meet Kim, my phone rings. I grin like an idiot when Aiden’s name flashes alongside that picture of our first kiss in Ronan’s house. He changed it for me, but I didn’t remove it.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in practice?” I ask.
“The keyword being ‘supposed’. Coach will kill me if he finds me talking on the phone.”
“Then go. I don’t want you killed.”
“It’s worth it if I get to hear your voice.”
I dig my teeth into my bottom lip to stop myself from grinning like an idiot.
“Where are you?” he asks, his voice dropping a range.
“Heading home with Kim.”
“Don’t let her stay the night. I’m coming to stake my claim after practice.”
“Didn’t you stake your claim already?” Still smiling, I walk slower than needed, kicking imaginary rocks.
“Not even close, sweetheart. I need to stake my claim some more just in case. I don’t like feeling threatened.”
“Oh, the mighty Aiden King feels threatened?”
“If you keep insisting on having the guys watch the games with us, damn straight I feel threatened.”
I chuckle and press the back of my hand against my mouth. “They’re your friends.”
“Disposable if they threaten what’s mine.” He sounds dead serious when he says it. “If one of those fuckers put their hands on you again, I’ll break it and their legs so they can kiss their last football season goodbye.”
God. He’s an anomaly.
Sometimes, I feel like Cole, Ronan and especially Xander poke his possessive side just to see him act out. They’re used to the calculative, albeit calm version of Aiden. His carefully tucked monstrous version is frightening, but they want to see it anyway.
“King!” Someone shouts in the background.
“It’s Coach.” Aiden releases a sound between a mumble and a groan.
“Don’t get killed.”
“Not when I have a claim to stake.” He chuckles. “See you later, sweetheart.”
“See you,” I say back but he’s already hung up.
I’m still smiling to myself as if I lost my mind — which wouldn’t be wrong considering that I have feelings for Aiden.
It’s screwed up and wrong, but it’s true.
I walk to the car park, trying to convince myself that I won’t cave and wait until after his practice, or even watch from the wirings like some of the fangirls.
It’s not that I’m above being a fangirl, but I need to study before I lose not only my heart, body and soul to Aiden but also my future.
“You promised, Uncle.”
My feet come to a screeching halt at Silver’s agitated voice. I hide behind the corner leading to the car park and peek my head.
Silver stands near a shiny black Mercedes with… Jonathan King?
His broad, tall frame towers over her. He’s wearing a three-piece black suit all complete with diamond studs. Silver looks pristine as usual in her pressed school uniform and designer shoes.
“Keep your voice down,” Jonathan says in a firm, authoritative tone.
“You said she’ll be gone. You said Aiden will dump that little bitch Elsa in a heartbeat. Obviously, he hasn’t. If anything, he’s doting on her more than ever.”
My nails dig into the stone as I register the load of information. Aiden told his father he’ll dump me?
“Silver, Silver. Didn’t your father teach you the tactic of luring before attacking? A prey is ought to fall harder when she trusts she’s not in danger, not the other way around. That’s what Aiden has been doing all this time. Luring the prey. Now that she trusts him, her fall will crush her apart.”
My breathing hitches and the itch starts beneath my skin. I grip the straps of my backpack and turn to leave, not wanting to hear anything else.
They’re lying.
They’re both lying.
“How can you be so sure, Uncle?” Silver asks.
I come to a halt despite myself, my fingers trembling around the strap of my backpack.
“Elsa’s parents killed his mother. The only reason Aiden has ever looked in that monster’s direction is to make her pay for her parents’ sin.”
Jonathan and Silver continue talking, but I’m not hearing a thing. My feet carry me in the opposite direction, but I’m not seeing a thing.
The colour has drained from my cheeks and my heart slams against my ribs, wanting out.
Out.
Out!
I trip and fall, but I stand back up again. Something burns in my knees but it’s nothing compared to the itching burn beneath my skin.
It’s like I’m igniting from the inside without fuel or even fire.
I trip again, but this time, a hand clutches my arm and steadies me. I push whoever grabbed me away. They’re asking something, but I can’t hear anything over the loud buzz in my ears.
My unfocused gaze stays ahead, I’m already in the school, walking God knows where.
I need to go to the pitch and ask Aiden to tell me that what I just heard is a lie.
That his father is mistaken. That my parents didn’t kill his mother.
That he didn’t approach me for revenge.
I will destroy you. He told upon our first meeting.
No. No. No...
My feet falter as I find myself at the edge of the pool. Everyone but the football and rugby teams have left for the day so it’s empty and dark except for the blue water.
What the hell am I doing here?
I turn to leave, but a strong hand pushes me. I fall, shrieking.
The sound is drowned when I’m swallowed whole into the water.
Everything turns black.
* * *
THE END
The story continues in Steel Princess. Pre-order here.
(Click here for a bonus chapter in Aiden’s POV)
What’s Next?
Thank you so much for reading Deviant King! If you liked it, please leave a review!
* * *
You can read Levi King and Astrid’s story in Cruel King which is included in the Noble Savages Boxset.
* * *
Next up is the continuation of Aiden and Elsa’s story in Steel Princess.
Release date: December 12th.
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Blurb
* * *
The princess isn’t supposed to dethrone the king.
* * *
Elsa
He said he’ll destroy me, and he did.
I might have lost the battle, but the war is far from over.
They say it starts with one move to dethrone the king.
No one mentioned he’ll yank me with him on the way down.
* * *
Aiden
If Steel’s little princess wants a war, then war it is.
There’s only one rule: my rules or none at all.
By all means, show me what you got, sweetheart.
* * *
Pre-order Steel Princess
Acknowledgments
Deviant King is so special to me. It was a story that haunted me night and day. The characters never left my head and continued visiting me in my dreams, demanding that I wake the hell up and write them.
Aiden and Elsa aren’t just characters for me, they spoke and still speak to me louder than any characters I wrote before. They brought out something inside me that I never experienced before. It’s a connection and a tight bond. Like you, I itch to get to know Aiden and Elsa. I daydream and dream about them. I have a full board filled with little thoughts about them.
I can’t wait to dive into them one more time. It can be suffocating. It can be haunting and dark, but it’s always thrilling and touches me deep and hard.
I hope you’re ready for the continuation of Aiden and Elsa’s journey as I am!
* * *
As usual, I want to thank Mr K for being my number one supporter and my rock.
Thank you Annabelle for being there despite the injury. Get well soon!
Nora, I wouldn’t have done this without you, honey.
My betas, Linda, Wendy, Darlene, and Christy. Thank you for all the support!
To every blogger, bookstagrammer, and reader who showed Deviant King love. Thank you a million!
Also By Rina Kent
TEAM ZERO SERIES
Lured
Crowed
Ghosted
Shadowed
Misted
Team Zero Boxset 1-3
More Team Zero Books to Follow….
THE RHODES SERIES
Remorse (FREE)
Ruin
* * *
ROYAL ELITE SERIES
Deviant King
Steel Princess
Twisted Kingdom
* * *
DARK HIGH SCHOOL BULLY ROMANCE BOXED SET
Noble Savages
About the Author
Rina Kent in an English author who's constantly parading between France and North
Africa due to her studies and her husband's demanding job.
When she's not packing suitcases or hopping from one plane to the other, she's busy whipping her characters to shape.
Since a young age, Rina has been obsessed with storytelling and flawed, edgy characters. Her heroes are often killers and anti-heroes and her books are always sprinkled with darkness, angst, violence, and lots of heat.
* * *
If you’re in the mood to stalk me:
Website
Neswsletter
BookBub
Gritty Gang Group
Goodreads
Contents
Also By Rina Kent
Author Note
Blurb
Playlist
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
What’s Next?
Acknowledgments
Also By Rina Kent
About the Author