Page 39 of The King's Maiden

My head shot up, jaw dropping at another complete one-eighty in his behavior. Itreallyshouldn’t have surprised me that time. But every trace of sympathy and comfort he’d offered when he burst into the room had been fully withdrawn. I couldn’t reconcile the difference.

Unless…none of his reactions earlier had been about me.

Had all of it really been about Landon and what Max thought my Knight had done?

Had he ever read a romance novel in his life? Or seen enough movies to know a guy didn’t just barge into a room saying,Touch Her and Dieunless he fucking meant it?

Apparently, the answer was a resoundingno.

He crossed his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow. “So, he locked you in a room. That’s what you’re upset about?”

“But—”

His muscles bunched beneath his forearms as he lifted his shoulders. “What happens if it gets worse than that, huh? You cry for your mommy and daddy every time?”

He scoffed again, and it struck me like a match on dry kindling.

But he wasn’t done.

“It’s day one, Quinn. Toughen up or get out.”

My hands clenched into fists, teeth gritting as I spat at him, “Fuck you, Max.”

“In your dreams, Princess.” He smirked, turning on his heel and walking to the door. “I don’t fuck crybabies. Or quitters.”

Every nerve in my body vibrated with the rage burning up inside me. His callous, painful remark about my parents had already wiped away the good I thought I’d seen in him. That final remark blazed like an inferno through a field of wildflowers, destroying everything left.

I growled low in my throat and was seconds from tearing off the bed after him. He wouldn’t shame me for having feelings. And I wasn’t a quitter.

But the presence of another voice stopped me.

“Hello, son.”

I didn’t recognize it, but I knew who it was.

Merle Dread, Max’s father, greeted his son, and I had no doubt he’d be coming for me next.

“I hear you have an intriguing development to share with me.”

I held my breath as their feet scuffled outside the door.

Then, a different one slammed inside the Round Tableau. And at that point, I should’ve expected it. Those assholes put me through paces and left when the next move didn’t involve me.

It was becoming a common theme, but somehow, I had the audacity to be surprised when—once again—I found myself alone.

Kingston

Everything had gone according to plan. She accepted the invitation. She uncovered the message written in invisible ink, and she’d shown up wearing the requested items.

I’d been right about her. That truth resonated in my bones.

She would change everything.

In eight days, the Maidens would be moved onto Camelot Court. I’d see her again for the Maiden Introduction, and I’d reveal the prize she’d won for her cleverness. She’d need it in order to get to the end.

No one had won The Quest without at least three of Merlin’s answers, and Quinn had just secured two right out of the gate.

Some of the Knights complained about the folder I’d set aside for Lancelot, calling foul play for picking a winner before the game had even started. But they hadn’t seen what I’d seen. They didn’t understand just how much one word could define a person.

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