Page 9 of Kings
“I know,” Avery said, her voice strained with what sounded like genuine remorse. “I should have, and all I can say is I’m sorry. I know it’s probably not enough, but I am.”
Ella fell silent. Thinking with her head and not her heart had always been a chore, but it was easier now for some reason. She knew before, she would have accepted the apology and taken Avery back without hesitation. Axel, too, for that matter, in a universe where he actually had the humility to apologize and mean it.
Not now. Now, she just wanted to get as far from everyone as possible.
“I don’t know if it is,” she admitted. She expected Avery to turn around and brush it off, but instead, she nodded solemnly.
“I understand.”
Ella hesitated. “I’m going home for the weekend to get some space. Maybe we can talk when I get back.”
The other queen’s eyes lit up with relief. “Okay. Yeah, that would be great.” She frowned in confusion. “You mean the Hill house? Don’t you hate it there?”
“I do,” Ella said, shrugging. “But it’s the one place I’m guaranteed not to run into Axel.”
Chapter 6
Ella
As Ella stood on the doorstep, looking up at the estate that had at once been a prison and a home, she wondered if she was making a mistake. Emily’s car wasn’t in the driveway, so that was a good sign. It wasn’t uncommon for her to take long trips during the school year, and there was a good chance the house would be empty all weekend.
She could hope.
Ella walked in, hanging her coat on the hook by the door. “Beatrice?” she called, her voice echoing through the empty foyer. She wandered into the kitchen to find it just as empty, save for the half-eaten cake sitting on a platter on the counter.
She’d been too distracted to eat earlier, and she wasn’t beyond drowning her sorrows in double chocolate. She grabbed a plate and took a piece. If nothing else, the sugar would give her a much-needed energy boost, even if it was only temporary.
Ella was still contemplating what she was going to do now that Axel had unraveled the life she’d thought she was building at the Academy when she realized she wasn’t alone. She heard shuffling footsteps and looked up to find Kyrie rounding the corner. His hair was damp, his bare torso still glistening from the shower he’d just taken, and his sweatpants were slung a bit too low, revealing the cut of his hips.
Of course, Ella had to have a mouthful of cake at that exact moment. She swallowed as fast as she could without choking and covered her mouth. “Kyrie. Hi.”
“Ella,” he said, raising his eyebrows in surprise. “I didn’t know you were coming home.”
“Neither did I,” she admitted, grabbing a napkin. “Sorry, I didn’t know you’d be home.”
“Don’t apologize,” he said with a pleasant laugh, opening the refrigerator. He rummaged around until he found a pint of milk. “It’s your place, too.”
Ella wasn’t sure how to respond to the remark. He seemed to mean it, too. Then again, Kyrie was the only member of the Hill family who had never treated her like a random squatter.
“Here,” he said, sliding a glass of milk across the counter before pouring one of his own. “You look like you could use a drink.”
Ella gave an awkward laugh. “Thanks,” she said, taking a sip.
Kyrie sat on the stool across from her, and judging from the way he was studying her, he either knew what had happened in the hall or it was written all over her face.
“You okay?” he finally asked.
“Yeah,” Ella said, regretting the fact that she sounded anything but okay. “Just a long day.”
“Let me guess. My brother fucked up again?”
“Is it that obvious?” she mumbled.
“Nah, I just know him,” he answered, leaning back. “Y’know, I never understood what you saw in him.”
Ella’s face grew warm. “I didn’t realize it was that obvious.”
“It was,” he snorted, giving her a reassuring smile. “But you’re not the only one who’s been bamboozled by his asshole charms.”
