Kingmaker (Ace of Queens #5)

Pt.19 Bird in a cage

Chapter 19

Maksim ran after Ella until he caught up with her on the first floor of the school building. The kids in the hall all stared in shock as he called to her to stop but she ran in any direction she could think of.

"Ella!" Maksim grabbed her arm and turned her to face him just as she pushed out the back doors and into the picnic area under the shaded threes.

"Stop!" Ella yelled as he tried to pull her to his chest. "Why would you do that?"

"I..." Maksim was baffled by her reaction. He knew she wouldn't be too thrilled to have all that attention on her but he had not expected this.

"You were upset," he explained. "I thought this might cheer you up."

"God, Maksim!" Ella tugged at her hair. "Do you ever think about anyone else but yourself?"

"What?" Maksim shook his head. "I did this for you."

"No," Ella stopped to look at him. "You did this for you. You wanted to show everyone you were the prince and you can do whatever you want."

"That's not true," Maksim narrowed his eyes.

"Why would you do that?" Ella wanted to scream. "You know this will get out and you know how my family is. Why Maksim?"

"You're my mate. I want to show you off to the world. I want to hold your hand in public and kiss you."

"But you know we can't!"

"I'm tired of hiding, Ella!" Maksim's anger flared. "I'm tired of this back and forth shit. When does it end? When do you tell your parents?"

"I don't know!" Ella yelled back. "You don't get it! You never did! Life isn't so simple."

"What am I supposed to do, Ella?" Maksim demanded. "Just wait around my whole life for you?"

"No one is telling you or asking you to wait," Ella laughed. "You're the one who is hellbent on proving a point."

"Proving a point?" Maksim. "What the fuck? We're mates. I'm fighting for us out here and you think I'm trying to prove a point."

"What do you want me to do? You keep saying we're mates, we're mates. What do you want me to do about it?"

"I want you to fight for us too!" Maksim knew he shouldn't be shouting at her. But in that moment all the frustration and anger he had been pushing to the back of his mind poured out. "I'm tired of being the only one fighting. I need to know you care too. I need to know this means something to you too."

Ella shook her head as tears came down her eyes, "Go away, Maksim. I don't need this right now."

Maksim gave a harsh laugh. He looked to the left and shook his head, "Of course you don't need me right now. I guess I'll just wait around for the next time the Dunbars need saving."

Ella's blood chilled as her ears began to ring, "What?"

"You heard me," Maksim said as he looked at her. "The only time I mean anything to you is when you need me to do something for you. You keep throwing it in my face that my family throws their weight around but that's not a problem when it comes to saving your ass, is it?"

"That's not true," Ella said through her teeth.

"Isn't it?" Maksim narrowed his eyes at her. "You sister can't stand me yet she used the entire legal team at the palace for her custody battle. You parents hate our guts but they made us hunt Lily down when the local police refused to believe their claims of kidnapping. Heck! I even went out of my way to buy that stupid diner. All that to make you happy. But you? You can't even stand up to your stuck up family for me!"