The King’s Maiden (Camelot Court #1)

Max Dread

Q uinn Everly.

Her name had been imprinted on my brain since the moment I read her file.

Of course, I found a way to get my hands on it.

It held the application our lawful ruler had pointedly set aside. The prize our benevolent King had claimed for himself. The winner our aimless leader had chosen before the games even began.

Kingston played favorites when rank wasn’t supposed to exist. He allowed frivolity when the Knights needed discipline. And he picked the girl he wanted to win while demanding the rest of us jump through his hoops.

Playing a game we only stood to lose.

Her picture had been removed from the folder, but at the time, I figured it didn’t matter. What she looked like hadn’t been important. Who she was hadn’t been the point.

But now?

“Where have you been?”

A voice I despised pulled me from my glaring contest with Kingston’s back. Since leaving Quinn by the door, I had been deeply engrossed in it. And I hated being interrupted, especially when I already knew what this was about.

“Vivian is looking for you.”

I swiveled my gaze to the perpetual thorn in my side, failing to keep my tone level. “I’ll see her tonight. Delayed gratification only heightens anticipation. Vivian should learn this if she wants to survive the next thirty days as my Maiden.”

Nails dug into the muscle of my neck.

I winced at the sting—the familiarity of it, the intent behind it. It didn’t hurt the way it used to, but the memory of razor-sharp claws digging into my softer flesh caused a deeper burn. It couldn’t control me physically anymore, but it kept me in line.

“I’ll find her.”

“Good boy.”

I growled as my keeper departed, striding across the room to survey the festivities. Always watching. I couldn’t take a breath without feeling eyes on my back.

As if I didn’t know the plan, or my part in it.

As if I hadn’t been waiting for the chance to fuck up Kingston D’Arthur’s day for years.

And now?

He’d given me one more reason to hate him.

Glancing around the room, I searched for my father and found him standing at Kingston’s side, where I suspected he’d be most of the night. As advisor to the King, he lived to serve Camelot Court and prioritized it over everything else. I glared at them standing there together, talking quietly and sharing secrets.

My father was no doubt preparing him for the Maiden Selection, reminding him of the names and wiping his ass since Kingston couldn’t take a shit without pulling my father in for guidance. Once he’d sufficiently coddled and held Kingston’s hand through it, he left the room.

Not even a goodnight, son or a nod in my direction on his way out.

Too busy for that.

I wondered if either of them knew how easy it had been—to get my hands on those files, to find out her name, and to lay the seeds of my plans in the ground at their feet.

Kingston rose from his throne. “Ladies, it’s time to announce this year’s Maidens.”

He held his hand out for the scroll of names, his pronouncement hushing the onlookers and drawing their attention to the front of the room. A titter of laughter came from the crowd when his loyal right-hand man just stood there.

My eyes narrowed on Landon from across the room, my gaze sharpening when I realized why.

He was staring at her, too.

Kingston cleared his throat once. Then, twice. But Landon Scott didn’t budge.

The White Knight’s brow pulled in, emotions swirling over his features as he stared at her like a parched man in a desert, seeing a mirage in the distance and wondering if it was real.

Oh, she was real alright.

Quinn Everly had pain in her eyes and steel in her spine—things no other Maiden possessed because she came from an uncharmed life. Her innocence drew the eye while her weariness tugged at the heart. But it was the curiosity…the wonder in those big brown eyes that could captivate any poor soul.

When Kingston realized Landon was lost to him, he snatched the scroll away. That shook Landon out of his trance, averting his gaze to the floor, but the error had already been made. The torn expression on his face almost made me feel bad for the guy.

Almost.

Had he realized the girl he couldn’t take his eyes off of was the Maiden he’d been asked to prepare for The Quest? Or how, for him, she was both real and a mirage? Did the White Knight know why the King had chosen her?

Whatever epiphany had frozen him in place, one thing was clear—Landon Scott knew he was fucked.

But with any luck, they both would be.

Kingston read the list of names, sparking bursts of excitement from the crowd. Happy cries of surprise went off like fireworks. Vivian created the biggest show, but I counted out the eleven dramatic displays before the time came for the finale.

“Quinn Everly.”

I loathed the sound of her name on Kingston’s lips. The way he smiled at her like they shared a private secret. And I couldn’t stomach the way she stared back. Disgust bloomed inside my gut as her full lips parted to reveal an answering smile.

Silly girl.

She had no idea what she’d signed up for by joining The Quest. No idea what was coming, or the moves being made on the board around her.

But the look on Landon’s face gave me pause…

Maybe none of us did.

One by one, a pledge came through the crowd and escorted the selected Maidens off to a private area. While the rest of the party said their goodbyes, the girls would be prepared for the next step. Only the Maidens and Knights would remain.

Tonight was our first chance to be alone, setting the tone for the first challenge and the expectations of a Maiden.

Tristan shook his head beside me. “This tradition is totally fucked.”

But would any of them care when the prizes were laid out beautifully in front of them?

Ben huffed a laugh. “The Maidens certainly will be.”

My jaw tightened.

How I’d ended up in the middle of this escaped me.

A Knight I didn’t care to know by name chimed in. “Hey, the way I see it, no one came here tonight without a choice. They applied. They signed the contract and gave consent, right?”

My eyes narrowed on a flash of dark curls leaving the room.

“The girls have protection from anything truly… untoward happening to them.” Ben smirked and nudged my shoulder. “Right?”

A growl of warning came from my throat. “Everyone except for her.”

Quinn Everly knew the rules of the game as they’d been described to everyone else so far. She didn’t know the plans the King had in store. And no one—not her, not me, and definitely not him— knew what would come from that look on Landon’s face.

Ben glanced in the direction of the door, hunting for my meaning, but I didn’t bother spelling it out. If he didn’t know about The King’s Maiden by now, he would soon enough.

The Quest had turned into a deeper, darker game the second he’d picked her from the pile. My plans had been made around that knowledge without ever laying eyes on her. Without seeing the reactions her presence in Camelot Court would cause, but all of that was about to unfold. And I couldn’t say for sure if she would be the victor or a sacrificed pawn.

But the fallout for Camelot Court would come either way.

“Looks like it’s time for the main event.” Ben nodded to the center of the room, where Kingston stood with Landon. Talking at Landon, more accurately. “Let’s get out of here before we all face backlash for the traitor’s crimes, yeah?”

While they wandered off in search of drinks, my eyes fixed on my opponent.

I had a lifetime of secrets that made me want to defy the King—years of memories that made me curse Kingston D’Arthur’s name. He’d already gotten everything, while setting himself up to take the rest.

And if I couldn’t find a way around his plans for her, I wouldn’t just hate him for it.

I’d end him.