Page 135 of The King's Maiden

Or been taken down by choice.

I liked that.

Flipping the sun shield down, I wiped the makeup under my eyes. Gia had cleaned up most of the mess, putting ointment on my cuts and forcing me to ice my cheeks. But the stray smudges I’d suspected would be there, I removed them before tackling the nest that was my hair.

I probably should’ve insisted on cleaning up, but before I could get out and follow after him into the house, Landon appeared at the doors. With a fluffy, rolled up bag under one arm and a smaller leather tote in his other hand, he gave me a sly smile before stowing the items in the trunk of the car. Once he climbed into the driver’s seat and took my hand, my concern over the way I looked faded away completely.

He kissed the back of my knuckles and put the car in drive. “Ready, beautiful?”

“Yes.” I smiled as his thumb drew soft circles on my skin. “I’m ready.”

Before we drove off, Landon’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He checked the screen and silenced the call, smiling at me without a hint of hesitation in his eyes. “I’ll talk to him later. Right now, it’s just you and me.”

My heart soared, watching him choose me for real. I returned his smile and nodded, buckling my seatbelt so we could leave. As we pulled out of the gate, I watched as Camelot Court disappeared in the rearview mirror. I caught a glimpse of the building that held the Round Tableau, as it faded away in the distance.

Later that evening, our twenty-one days as Maidens would start and end in the same place. Everything, including me, felt completely different from the way it had the first night. And in that moment, with or without my hand entwined with Landon’s, I did feel ready for whatever came next.

No matter what the universe threw at me, I believed I could get through it. I could win The Quest. I could survive on my own.

Though, I was glad I didn’t have to do it by myself, too.

Maybe I would’ve felt differently, if I had known exactly what lay ahead.

Maybe I would’ve made different choices, if I’d seen it coming.

But I didn’t.

Kingston

The first leg of The Quest had finally reached the end. Knights and Maidens gathered inside the Round Tableau, milling about in the center of the room. Soon, the Knights’ Quorum would be called to order, and they’d take their places in front of their assigned rooms.

I scanned the coat of arms hanging on each door, if only to keep from searching for Landon and Quinn for the hundredth time.

Anxiety wasn’t a feeling I typically experienced.

But my body itched as though I might crawl out of my skin.

I rubbed at my chest, wincing at the sharp sting and pulling my hand away. Tugging my shirt off from where it clung to me, the flow of air down my shirt brought relief. It also created a different kind of ache.

She might not forgive this.

My chance to win her heart slipped through my fingers like sand on the island where I found myself lost. Alone. In the end, I would always be alone.

And we had gotten so close to the finish.

So close to the point where I could show her the truth.

Instead, I needed to direct him in the dark. And pray he’d make the choice I needed him to make. One I wasn’t even sure I could make myself, if it were me in his position.

If I’d had the chance to experience what it felt like…

Laughter rang out beyond the doors. Footsteps raced on the stone floor. And the two of them whirled around the corner in the hallway, smiling wide and staring at each other with stars in their eyes.

I rubbed at my chest again, and this time, I didn’t pull my hand away when the charred flesh burned white hot. As if the poker still seared into my flesh.

“Landon.”

His eyes found mine as soon as I called his name. The familiar shade of amber shining brighter than I’d seen in a long time. He flicked his gaze from my face down to my hand, eyes widening at the spot where my hand tried to soothe an ache that wouldn’t leave.

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