Page 4 of Kings
“What are they saying?” she asked warily.
“I mean, everyone figured you went into heat when you disappeared,” Avery answered, taking a bite of the pastry in front of her. “The theories range from Bishop to Brad Long and half the football team.”
“Brad?” Ella’s face twisted up in a grimace. “Ew.”
“Hey, not much happens here. A little mystery and speculations run wild, especially where her majesty is concerned,” she teased. Avery had made it clear she didn’t understand why Ella saw the title as a burden. “I even heard you were banging Professor Hottie.”
Ella’s blood ran cold at the other woman’s words, even though she could tell from the smirk on Avery’s face that she didn’t believe them. That didn’t mean no one did. “Where did you hear that?”
Avery shrugged. “I don’t know, around. It’s just one of about a billion theories going around.”
Ella nodded, trying not to look as unnerved as she was. The last thing she wanted was Sterling’s reputation getting dragged into all of it.
Her phone buzzed and she looked down to see Bishop’s number on the screen along with a text that simply read, “You busy?”
“I’ve gotta get going. Finish this later?”
“Sure,” Avery said with a knowing look. “Run off to be with your paramours.”
Ella rolled her eyes, but she knew the more she denied it, the more credence the rumors would gain. It was just a matter of choosing which ones she wanted to feed.
Chapter 3
Ella
As Ella waited in the garden where Bishop had asked to meet, she was starting to feel like she was a spy having to sneak around to deliver confidential information. The biggest joke was that the secret was being kept from her, too.
She knew that was probably why the guys had been so scarce, but she was still surprised Bishop had asked to meet up. Maybe he’d changed his mind.
After fifteen minutes, she was starting to think it was her turn to be stood up. She felt someone tap her shoulder as she sat on a park bench in the midst of a sea of roses and when she turned around, her throat tightened up the way it usually did when she saw him.
Bishop was standing there in his school uniform, looking dapper as ever. He smiled down at her as he swept a strand of hair behind her ear. “Hey.”
“Long time, no see,” Ella murmured.
He sighed, sinking down on the bench next to her, dropping his messenger bag. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had a meeting that ran over.”
“Let me guess. Felidae is deciding which institution to take over next?”
He gave her a look. “Renovating the foyer, actually.”
“I’m surprised you wanted to meet at all,” she admitted. “I was sure you guys had a truce.”
“We did,” he said, surprising her. “Guess I just gave in.”
Ella wasn’t sure what to make of the answer, or the admission. He slipped an arm around her shoulder and leaned in to kiss her forehead, awakening instincts she wanted to suppress, all things considered.
She hated that she still felt so safe in his arms, especially after he’d given her so much reason to feel anything but. Between the secrets she knew he was keeping from her and the ones she merely suspected, it was hard to keep track.
She glanced over and noticed he was still wearing her ring proudly on his finger. “I’m surprised you haven’t taken that off.”
“Why would I?” he challenged. “I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
“Axel certainly doesn’t feel that way.”
He sighed. “I shouldn’t be giving him any help, but I wouldn’t read too much into it. He’s got a lot going on.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, frowning.
