The King’s Maiden (Camelot Court #1)

Max Dread

“ I hope you’re not locking her in there.” I glared at the so-called White Knight’s back, enjoying the way he spun around to face me—caught off guard.

He knew I’d seen him gently closing the door like a fucking simp. I didn’t hide the derision on my face as I glanced at his lingering grip on the doorknob. Landon let it go quickly and shoved both his hands in his pockets.

As if that would hide how red they were.

Everyone fawned over the King’s most loyal Knight—especially Kingston. I couldn’t go more than five seconds in a room without someone talking about him. Either for how loyal he was or to stir up the old rumors.

Coming from a family of betrayers was bound to offer anyone notoriety.

But I saw Landon for what he was—a snake in the fucking grass. I recognized that thoughtful gesture as one of many deeds of misdirection. If he played the good guy on the right, no one would pay attention to the destruction his darker side left in his wake.

I had. Not just last week, but a year ago.

Shrugging my shoulder, I couldn’t resist the urge to bait him. “Though, I guess if you do, I can come to the rescue again.”

“That won’t be necessary, Max. But thank you.” Keeping his expression neutral, he walked away from the door and passed in front of mine, that hint of darkness glinting in his golden-boy eyes. “I’ve got her very well taken care of from here. She’s so worn out from this morning, I decided to let her rest before a harder training session tonight.”

My jaw tightened so hard I thought the bone might snap. “You mean, that stunt with Brutus this morning was your doing?”

He said nothing, lifting his chin as his eyes narrowed on my reaction. The fucking prick was always watching, always assessing everything. I hated it.

The urge to smash his face rose up inside me, so I clenched my hands into fists. “Does Kingston know what kind of fucked up shit you’re doing with her?”

Again, he said nothing.

“Or maybe he’s the one putting you up to this?”

“Quinn has her safe words just like your Maiden does.”

Unsurprisingly, he responded with some bullshit when I brought his lord and master into it. Fucking lap dog. Begging for scraps at the D’Arthur table.

Just like my fucking father.

“You seem a bit preoccupied with my Maiden, Dread. Is this an issue I should bring to your father’s attention?”

I snapped my gaze to his, all but spitting on the ground as I stepped forward and got into his face. “I don’t give a shit about your Maiden, Golden Boy.”

Most people shrunk back when I stood at full height over them, but Landon didn’t budge— the impenetrable fuck. I had three inches on him in height, but his build compensated for that. Where I had mass and brute strength, Landon had quietly honed power.

I hated that about him, too.

Especially when he used it to control a girl who couldn’t stand against him. “But I do care about the code. You know, the Knights’ Code we’re supposed to live by? Pretty sure tormenting chicks for your amusement isn’t part of it.”

The corner of his mouth twitched with the hint of a smirk. “You sure that’s all it is?”

“Like I give a shit about some charity case. Especially a virgin one on top of it? That’s not exactly my type, Landon.” I leaned back against the wall by my door, where Vivian had put herself on display before taking a nap. While it wouldn’t be in the way she’d hoped, I planned to use that to my advantage. “You’re not the only one who wore out his new toy.”

Landon raised his eyebrows in a sign of agreement.

“It seems not.” He ran an assessing eye down Vivian’s form before doing the same to mine. “If you don’t mind, I have work to do before I can go back to my room and play.” He patted my shoulder, his fingers digging into the muscle at my back so the gesture would appear to anyone else as friendly. “But I don’t appreciate having another’s eyes on what belongs to me. So, see that your lack of interest stays that way.”

He released my shoulder and stepped back, while I resisted the urge to retaliate. We stared off, neither of us wanting to back down and both of us knowing we were off limits to each other physically. Until the new King reigned, our battle had to be a mental one. And the newest conquest in the war was shaping up to be my greatest chance for victory.

Using her, I could destroy them both.