Page 65 of The King's Maiden

“Some things require patience, Maiden.”

Scowling, I shot him a pointed look. “Since this started, I’ve been ordered around by a broody ass, called a liar, turned away at the gate, and given nearly zero details. That’s a lot of blind faith to ask for, especially from a place that believes women need to prove themselves while the men, what? Fall victim to our womanly wiles?”

His eyebrow rose.

“Unless that’s what this challenge is about, and that’s why all of you are being so cryptic.”

He mimed zipping his lips like I had.

I groaned. “Ugh. I should’ve negotiated a higher fee for my prize.”

“Probably.”

He pointed at something in the distance behind me. I could just make out a large, sprawling estate. Hidden by another wall and tucked away behind the trees, I would’ve missed it if he hadn’t pointed it out.

“The first phase of The Quest takes place over thirty days and has two challenges. I can tell you the next one tests your honor.”

“Honor?”

“We’ll spend three weeks here…getting to know each other. The Knights use that time to decide if their Maiden has what it takes to make it through the next challenge. When we go to Pendragon Estate. There, you’ll spend six days with a different Knight.”

My eyes widened. “Wait, what? You just hand me over to someone else? For what?”

Landon’s voice tightened. “Whatever you allow.”

“What the hell does that mean?” I shot to my feet. “They can try to sleep with me and if I don’t fight them off, I lose? That’s bullshit!”

Unsurprisingly, Landon rose with me. I jolted away from him, jumping to conclusions and losing my footing in the same breath. His arm banded around my waist to keep me securely on the dock.

“No one can force you to do anything here, Quinn. They can try to seduce you, but youalwayshave your safe words. They can’t do anything that crosses a very clear line.” His gentle but firm tone calmed me down instantly, and sensing that, his hold on my body loosened. “Not unless you ask them to.”

I struggled to wrap my head around that.

On one hand, it sounded like an easy win.

My intention being to not let Landon get far with the use of my safe words, I wasn’t even remotely concerned about another random Knight.

But then, Max popped into my head.

And appropriately, dread followed.

The thought of staying strong with Landon now that I’d stupidly thawed the ice between usandallowed dirty fantasies to pop into my head was already daunting. But the idea of spending six days alone with Max made me nervous, in more ways than one based on his latest taunts.

“Which Knight gets me for the six days?”

Landon’s jaw tightened, and for a split second, I worried my thoughts were written clear as day on my face or that I’d accidentally said his name. But as quickly as that tension in him appeared, it was gone.

“We won’t find out until we get to Pendragon. First, there’s the Knights’ Quorum, where the Knights announce if their Maiden should move on, then we’ll go to Pendragon Estate for the drawing of names. But it’s random and done in front of everyone.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I appreciated that Landon explained all of this like it was a given that I’d get there. And that when I did, the chances of ending up paired with Max were low.

At least, I had good odds.

It would be up to fate to put me with him or not, and even if she was a cruel bitch who loved to stir up drama, I had the motivation to resist him.

I shook my head at the bizarre situation I’d put myself in, but it was starting to make sense, at least. “So, is that why all of the Maidens come expecting to sleep with the Knights? You guys see it as motivation for us to resist the other Knight by getting…” I chose my words carefully, aware that his arms were still wrapped around me.“Intimatewith the one that picked us?”

He released me and stepped back. “That’s the idea.”

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