The King’s Maiden (Camelot Court #1)

Max Dread

“ D on’t even think about it, Golden Boy.”

“Get the fuck out of my way, Dread.”

“Why bother? Why go after her when she’s already ruined?”

“You have no idea what you’re getting in the middle of right now.”

Did I know what the hell I’d just walked into?

No.

But did I fucking care?

Also, no.

An opportunity to get in Landon’s way wasn’t one I planned to miss. And if it meant putting some miles between him and that fucking girl, even better. That made four times I’d found her wrecked by his bullshit with no one doing a thing about it.

So, I’d done something about it.

Maybe it wasn’t my mess to step in, but what could I say? I’d been in the mood for a fight. Vivian had annoyed the ever-living-shit out of me all day, and I’d been trying not to lose my patience. Trying not to be an asshole.

If that fucking girl had known what Vivian was up to, she wouldn’t have said that shit to me that day in the kitchen. And I would’ve put Vivian in her place today. Quinn never would’ve learned exactly why she needed to be kept on a short leash.

But no, the bitch droned on and on about her plans to destroy The King’s Maiden. The aimless leader put a target on her back. And the White Knight sat by and did nothing—just like last year.

But somehow, Quinn thought I was the asshole.

Yeah, the asshole who just took a fist to the face for her.

Landon’s sucker punch to my jaw came right before a second jab to my gut.

It was cute, honestly—the way he wanted to go through me to get to her. Romantic as hell.

Also, foolish.

I reared back and knocked his skull with my forehead.

He stumbled backward. Eyes dazed, he lost his bearings. Shaking his head, he fought to clear it, and I waited for him to fall.

But, color me surprised, the guy stayed on his feet.

I muttered under my breath, “All this for some epic pussy.”

Said loud enough so he could hear me, of course. Mostly to get a rise out of him.

Not because I’d been fucking thinking about it.

Not because the image of her naked body had been burned into my brain.

She was still a pawn I could move across the board to check the King—one I planned to use to unravel the lovesick fool in front of me. Because in order to get the King, I had to take out his Knight first. Not that I’d have to work very hard, now.

But that was all she was.

Which was why his response inconvenienced me.

He spat blood on the ground at my feet. “She’s having a panic attack, you fucking asshole.”

“What the fuck do you mean?”

He caught me off guard. I was tempted to call bullshit and stand my ground. But then, he pegged something at me as hard as he could. Barely drawing back his arm, I couldn’t prepare for it before it hit my forehead.

I growled, staring down where it landed at my feet.

Using my distraction to his advantage, Landon barreled forward. He checked his shoulder into my stomach and knocked me clean off my feet.

I landed on my back with a grunt.

He stayed upright. Swiping what he’d thrown to the ground, he took off for the stairs.

But I’d seen it, so I let him go.

Because he had no idea what he’d just done. No fucking clue the move he’d just made or where it positioned me.

And I needed it to stay that way.

Checkmate.