Page 34 of To Love a Dark Lord

Galahad made his way to the gates of Camelot, certain that Gwendolyn would not be long. As he arrived, however, he already had an unexpected guest. Furrowing his brow, he found himself staring at Mordred’s iron steed.

“What are you doing here?”

It snorted and stomped its hoof, as disagreeable as ever.

No matter. Shaking his head, Galahad took his post by the door. He did not have to wait long. Only a few hours at most. He watched the speck in the sky grow larger. It was smaller than a dragon, but bigger than a bird. And as the sunlight caught the red of dragon’s wings, he knew who it was. He sighed. He would keep his sword sheathed for now. Gwendolyn was a sweet young woman, and their friendship was strong. Though he knew it was about to be tested.

Gwendolyn circled the ruins, lower and lower, before she landed. It was clear she was still new to the act of flight. She staggered a bit as she touched the ground but this time did not fall.

He smiled faintly. “You are learning quickly. He would be proud to watch you fly.”

“He’d laugh his ass off at me, are you kidding?” Gwen swept her hair back from her face, clasping her wings to her shoulders and letting the leathery skin fall behind her like a cape. She was wearing what Galahad could only assume was modern clothing. It suited her well.

“Oh, he would tease. But his heart would soar beside you, to see you come into your own so well.”

“Thanks.” Gwen caught sight of Mordred’s steed, her expression twisting to one of frustration and anger. “Oh fuck you, you stupid horse! You knew where he was this entire fucking time? God, I hate you.”

Galahad chuckled at her outburst before he stepped forward, reaching out to embrace the young woman.

She took a step back.

He frowned. “Are we not friends?”

“We are—you know I love you like family, but—” She winced. “I just had a run-in with your wife.”

Galahad paused. “What?”

“She tried to kill me. Said she was after the throne, and just wanted Thorn out of the way first.” Gwen shook her head. “I—I hurt her, I’m sorry, but she’s alive. She’s just injured.”

Fear churned in his stomach. Fear and dismay. He shook his head, pacing away from Gwendolyn. “If you love me as you say, promise me these are words of truth.”

“I’m not lying to you. I give you my word—on my life. Fuck, on Eod’s life, that’s more important.” Gwen sounded exhausted. He was certain it was not simply because of her flight.

“Oddly, yes, swearing upon the dog’s life has meaning to me.” He chuckled sadly. “You would never break such a vow.” Shutting his eyes, he let the sadness wash over him. “I am sorry you came to blows. I did not know of her designs—on you or the island.”

“I believe you.” Gwen paused. “Are we going to have to fight now? I—I really don’t want to. And I think you’ll win. I don’t know if I have another explosion in me.”

He blinked. He figured she meant that literally, but he did not bother to ask. “I do not wish to fight you either, Gwendolyn. But you must understand what will come of your actions.”

“I do. I get it. Elementals will die. Mordred is…not okay. Going into that thing has changed him. I’ve been able to speak to him in my dreams and he’s…” She hesitated again. “Pissed, to put it lightly.”

Broken was more likely the word she had been searching for, he surmised. Perhaps insane. Bloodthirsty was a given. The matter was just how intractably so. “He is a brother to me. He is family. I have been at his side for over a thousand years. But I fear what he will do, should he be set free.”

“I know. I am too. But…he’s going to die in there. And soon if I don’t let him out.”

“How will you free him?” He arched an eyebrow. “Fire alone will not do it.”

She shrugged, but from her expression, there was something she was not telling him. “I’ll figure it out. Magic, or something. Right?” She wiggled her fingers in the air. “And if I can’t, well, you win.”

“This is not a victory.” He turned his gaze toward the cavernous entryway of the ruins of Camelot. The wooden doors had long since rotted away, leaving only the metal hinges behind. The beams that had once held up the roof fared little better. “None of this is a victory.”

“What would you do, in my place? Would you leave him there if you could save him?”

“I am the one who put him there.” Galahad cringed, the guilt in his heart stabbing at him. “Though, now I wonder if exile had not been the better option.”

“Probably. But the elementals would still be going nuts. Thorn would still be trying to steal the throne. Same with Zoe. I think we’d be in the same situation.” Gwen walked up beside him and hugged his arm.

“Yes, but he would be sane.” Galahad huffed a mirthless laugh. “Less insane, at any rate.”

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