Page 46 of The King's Maiden

I shrugged.

“No, that doesn’t make sense.” She scratched her head. “Someone else in Camelot Court? Who was that older man you mentioned? The King’s advisor.”

“That’s Max’s Dad, Merle Dread.” I shook my head. “His son was the only one he seemed to have any kind of hold over. But I didn’t even meet the guy.”

“Well, we’ll put a pin in that for now, then. Tell me more about Max.Max Dread.”She said his full name and whole body shuddered. “Even his name is hot. Like he’s going to hunt you in the shadows and fuck you ’til you scream. Ooh, or put you on your knees and make you take his cock like a good girl.”

I swallowed, wondering if that wasexactlythe kind of thing he’d do. “If not him, Landon certainly seemed like the type.”

I actually couldn’t decide if Max or Landon would be more likely to dominate me like that in the bedroom. Maybe both. And maybe I wouldn’t mind if they did—alone, or together.

My face flamed as that image sent a rush of wild heat through my body. Me, on my knees between them, taking them into my mouth as they both stared down at me. Despite the hint of submission, something about the fantasy made me feel powerful.

When I added Kingston to the mix, picturing him watching us—directing me on how and when to please them—all while he stroked his own cock, I began to sweat.

Gia caught sight of my blush before I could hide it and let out a squeal of glee. “Oh my god, you’re thinking about them both doing it, aren’t you?”

When I blushed harder, she cackled excitedly.

“No, you’re thinking about all of them! YASSS, Queen! Get your freak on!”

I threw my pillow at her, whipping the blanket off my legs and fanning myself with it. When I calmed my overheated body down, reality sunk in.

There was no way that fantasy would ever come true.

“It’s too bad Landon and Max give me whiplash,andthat Max seems to hate Kingston and Landon.”

Even with no physical proof to back it up, Max clearly didn’t get along with the other two by the way he spoke about Kingston, and by the way he’d reacted to me being therefor the King—a comment I still didn’t understand.

I had no idea what their dynamic was, or the drama it would cause for me to be with Landon when Kingston wanted me, too. If I went back to Camelot Court, I’d have to deal with that.

“Oh, and the fact that I had no intention of getting involved with a guy. Let alone getting tangled up with three!” I added for good measure. “Let’s not forget that.”

Gia scoffed, waving her hand in the air and ignoring my protest completely. “They’ll come around.”

“OrI can stay focused on why I joined The Quest in the first place.” I stared at her pointedly. “And besides, Max and Landon made it clear they have no genuine interest, so picturing them doing me together gets me nowhere. I just need to survive the next thirty days and leave with my dignity intact. That’s it.”

Gia snorted. “Whatever you say, Quinn. I mean,Your Highness.”

I laughed. “Shut the hell up, you trollop.”

Chapter Thirteen

Pledge with Trust…

Landon

Two days after the Maiden Selection, the Knights gathered in the Round Tableau room. My time avoiding Kingston and what occurred the other night had come to an end.

I needed to face him. And the task laid out before me. In four days, I’d have no other choice.

This whole tradition made my skin crawl.

The Maidens joined The Quest with one goal—secure marriage within the Camelot Society—something I didn’t need or want.

I hadn’t wanted anything to do with The Quest. Period. I even refused to join the Knights, initially.

But, again, no one shirked an order from the King.

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