Chapter 3
Chapter Three
A fter Kingston’s retreat, I had fallen asleep to escape the helplessness weighing on my chest. I wanted everything out in the open between our band of misfits. But I kept telling myself we would overcome whatever secrets remained between us.
Over and over, I repeated it.
It wasn’t avoiding the truth because I did believe it.
My therapist, whom I’d last left on read, called that hope.
Not denial.
He might even applaud my ability to have faith in a situation like this. Hope and faith for the future…
Those were good things.
Reminding myself of that had lulled me to sleep, and when I opened my eyes, Kingston and Landon stood by the door. I searched for Max, but he’d skedaddled. Probably as soon as I’d fallen asleep.
It didn’t surprise me that he hadn’t stayed to hang out with Landon without me acting as a buffer.
Getting the two of them past their shit was going to take more than a simple kiss and make up.
Unfortunately.
Accepting the current state of things around me but hoping for the best in the end, that had to be good. The ability to let things lie for a minute, rather than fester with anxiety over something outside my control, had to be a sign of inner strength or peace.
That all sounded healthy.
I went with it as I strained to hear what Kingston whispered to Landon.
“Everyone is coming early…I have no idea why. He wouldn’t say, but it was them or him. Still, Landon?—”
“I’m not hiding this from her.”
My ears perked up at Landon’s low growl of warning.
“I gave you a few days to see what your father did, but we don’t have any new information or reason to keep this from her. I’m not doing it anymore.”
Kingston released a heavy breath. “Of course not. That’s not what I…”
Whatever I’d missed while I slept had tension emanating from them both. Lines of worry creased Kingston’s brow, and Landon shot an equally pained glance at me over his shoulder.
Realizing I’d woken up, Landon opened the door to let Kingston inside.
But, of course, my part-English gentleman caller remained on the threshold, waiting for me.
My sleepy brain fog cleared, and I nodded at him. “You can come in, Kingston.” I teased him by rolling my eyes, but I secretly liked his propriety.
He smiled at me as he entered.
Ever the elusive King, he’d been sorely missing in action since my move to Pendragon for break week, preparing for the other Knights and Ladies to arrive.
From what Landon had told me, he’d been dealing with an issue his father had brought to his attention. One they’d planned to share with me as soon as they had news to tell.
Coming over to the bed, Kingston’s shoulders lowered a bit as his body relaxed, but the worry didn’t leave his face. “I apologize for walking in earlier. I?—”
“Nope.” I reached up and covered his mouth with my hands. “Please, don’t do that.”
“But I?—”
“Heard me scream, got concerned, and rushed over to make sure I was okay? Only to find me naked and sandwiched between two of your equally naked Knights?” My face blazed with heat.
“Me, the guest in your home, who you’ve voiced interest in?
Feelings I obviously reciprocated based on our kiss the other day? ”
Kingston’s eyebrows rose to his hairline as I painted that lovely picture for him. Landon’s jumped when I mentioned the kiss Kingston and I had shared.
Had I not told him about that prior to our reconciliation the other night?
Whoops.
Landon’s dark amber eyes pinned me with a knowing look, as if he’d heard that word filter through my brain.
“You knew what you signed up for,” I snarked at him before turning back to Kingston. “We didn’t exactly have the discussion, and I’m guessing we should if what you saw was a problem for you…”
Look at that growth.
Facing potential problems head-on like an adult.
I mentally fist-bumped myself for being a grown-up and refocused. Bracing myself for the backlash in case I was about to learn that Kingston’s innuendo about us all hadn’t meant a triple decker orgasm sandwich was in my future.
But Kingston, as usual, surprised me. “It’s not a problem for me, so long as it’s your choice and what makes you happy.”
My eyes widened. “You mean…”
“I told you, Quinn. I want everyone in Camelot Court to be free to love without limits .” His eyes flicked briefly to Landon before returning to me. “Why wouldn’t that apply to you?”
“Um…historical data, societal norms, alpha male energy and dick measuring contests?” Kingston opened his mouth to speak, but I’d compiled a lengthy list. “Not to mention the fuss everyone threw about me being The King’s Maiden .”
He took my hand and squeezed it. “I’m happy if you’re happy, Quinn.”
“I’d be happier if you could join,” I muttered under my breath, not even remotely subtle or even that quiet, but when Kingston didn’t immediately jump at my offer, I put a pin in that thought. “Thank you. I…I choose not choosing. That’s what would make me happiest.”
“Then it’s decided.” Kingston smiled, brushing his thumb over the back of my hand. “No choosing for you. No pesky decision-making at all, if that’s what you want. Though, I suspect it won’t be. I’ve heard you have particularly strong feelings about breakfast foods.”
That was true.
But never having to choose what I wanted us to make for dinner or what movie we watched? A girl could get used to that lifestyle.
Me, obviously.
Since I was no longer in denial.
I pursed my lips as if I was thinking about it. “I could be agreeable to that offer under the right conditions, of course.”
He smiled, the lines of stress disappearing from his face for a split second. “Well, I did say I planned to meet your expectations, Lady Everly.”
Then he kissed my hand, and I melted into a puddle.
Smiling broadly, I didn’t break our stare until Landon came up beside Kingston. Suddenly, my field of vision filled with them, and fantasies popped into my head. As they stared at me, where I sat clutching the bedsheet to my chest, I squirmed and rubbed my thighs together.
I almost suggested a reenactment of said fantasies right then. Never hurt to ask, right?
But the seriousness in Landon’s gaze gave me pause. And I feared the worry on Kingston’s face might permanently set with how deep the lines ran.
So, I read the room and locked it up.
Kingston released a heavy breath. “There’s something I do need to share with you. Something that might change…things between us.”
“Oh.” I glanced between them. “That’s not the kind of sharing I thought this might lead to.”
Okay. I couldn’t help myself.
So, sue me.
“What is it?”
Kingston shared another worried glance with Landon, and a ball of dread sank into the pit of my stomach.
“Being a D’Arthur heir means I face certain requirements when it comes to choosing who I spend my time with.” He frowned. “And who I’ll share my life with one day.”
I deflected from the feelings that prickled in my chest. “Ah, so you have the illusion of choice, you mean?”
“Exactly.”
“Okay…so, what are the requirements? Don’t tell me this is about me being poor. Because I’ll have you know I’m coming into a small fortune very soon.”
I lifted my chin, false bravado creeping in because I knew damn well the prize for winning The Quest wouldn’t be enough if his family expected a reasonable dowry so we could date.
Or whatever.
“It’s not about the money. Primarily, at least.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
Landon stepped toward him. “Kingston…”
I sat up higher, discomfort itching under my skin. “Why do I get the impression that I’m missing something big here?”
“Because this wasn’t something I wanted to tell you.” Kingston hung his head, staring at our joined hands. “It wasn’t something I wanted you to have to factor in to your choices…”
Landon dropped his gaze to the floor.
“You’re killing me here. Please just tell me what it is.”
Blue-gray eyes met mine. “Someone wants to invoke the statute you found in the by-laws. They want to eliminate anyone who isn’t a virgin and use the antiquated, but unfortunately, honored rules of The Quest to win it.”
My eyes widened, flying between Landon and Kingston as what he said hit me. They fixed on my Knight, who didn’t appear as shocked as I was.
“You knew about this, and you didn’t tell me?”
Before Landon could speak, Kingston jumped to his defense.
“I asked him to give me a few days, promising we wouldn’t keep it from you, but just to discern what I had to share.
My father hopes to stop it...The Quest ending suddenly over this has caused an uproar amongst the Camelot Society families.
If I had the chance to deliver better news, I wanted to bring that to you instead of this.
” Kingston glanced at Landon, an apology in his eyes for both of us. “I’m sorry, I?—”
“I’m his, too, Quinn,” Landon reminded me gently, his eyes imploring me to understand. “If it had been anything more than a few days, I planned to tell you myself. Or if it had meant lying to you, but…”
“I just need a minute to think.”
They nodded and stepped back from the bed, giving me some space to process.
With a deep breath, I reviewed the facts.
They hadn’t lied. They weren’t keeping it a secret.
And, as much as I hated to admit it, I’d accepted that Landon had ties to Kingston, binding them together outside of what we shared between us.
This might not be the first or last time they’d have to do something without my knowledge beforehand, and I had to decide, right then, if I could handle that or not.
Honestly, as long as the end result was nothing like the Knights’ Quorum, I believed I could. Because there would probably be moments where Gia came before them.
They’d all have to accept that, too.
I made eye contact with both of them. “You still promise to tell me, even if sometimes you can’t tell me first?”
“Yes,” they both said immediately, stepping back toward me as if by reflex.
“Okay.” I nodded. “I can live with that.”
Their shoulders dropped with relief, and I bit my lip to keep from smiling at their identical reactions.
Sharing a look between them, they joined me on the bed. Landon cupped my cheek as Kingston took my hand.
And they seriously needed to cool it if they didn’t want me propositioning them. Again .
Forcing myself to refocus, I turned to Kingston. “You said instead of this before. I guess your father didn’t find a way out?”
He grimaced. “Well, he did, but it’s not ideal. You remember how I told you D’Arthur heirs always take the throne?”
At my nod, he released a breath.
“Well, the caveat to that is when a D’Arthur heir becomes King, the winner of The Quest has…
first dibs on an arranged marriage—a betrothal to me.
There are more I can’t share with you yet, but of the prizes for winning The Quest, let’s just say I’m not the grandest one.
Even if marriage to a D’Arthur heir has its benefits. ”
I frowned at his implication. That any prize could be worth more than a life with someone irked me. It flared a protectiveness in my chest I hadn’t experienced yet.
“I’ll decide the grandest prize for myself, thanks.”
If the Camelot Society thought something held more value than the hearts of my three favorite members, then all the families could betroth themselves to hell.
Or, whatever beautiful, rich people said to tell someone to get fucked.
Kingston understood the sentiment, and he smiled at me with his worry briefly fading. But very quickly, it returned. “The agreement was my hand, sooner than it would normally happen, in exchange for letting everyone complete The Quest.”
“But I don’t understand. No one said anything at the Maiden Appeal when I brought it up. Why didn’t this Maiden, whoever it is, do it then?”
Kingston held Landon’s gaze. “Because she had no intention of staying a virgin, if the option to ask for more seemed like it might lead to the future she wanted.”
Landon ran his hands through his hair. “No,” he growled. “No, there’s no way she?—”
“Unfortunately, yes. Elaine…”
I shook my head. “But she said she—With Peter during the first challenge, and her ex with the garter belts, she implied they were?—”
“She lied. Peter trained her without crossing that line. And I think when he wouldn’t, and she was paired with Landon for the second challenge, she convinced herself she’d been meant for a future with him, after all. But Landon…”
I met his guilt-ridden gaze. “You couldn’t do it.”
Kingston shook his head, regretfully. “So, now she’s a Lady with an axe to grind against you both.
And, when she complained to her father, he brought it to mine.
Requesting the by-laws be followed to the letter.
Perhaps she thinks our betrothal will satisfy her need to get back at you.
Or keep you apart, assuming that if you don’t end up with me, you’ll leave. ”
“Oh my god.”
I had really been wrong about her on day one.
Landon growled. “And she’s surprised I never touched her.”
“Yes, she’s not the most…” Kingston paused, searching for a way to say it politely.
But I didn’t see the point in sugarcoating it. “Stable crayon in the box? Reasonable tool in the shed? Non-hypocritical egg in the basket?”
He stifled a laugh. “Right. But a large part of this is her parents, too. They’re pressing for action to be taken.”
“Right.” I echoed and pursed my lips. “I guess I can’t expect you to talk shit about your future wife.”
Kingston balked. “That’s not what I meant at all. I can’t stand the girl. The idea of marrying her has me ready to leave this place and never look back.”
That made my insides all warm and sparkly, and I smiled, relief easing the tension in my spine.
Until Kingston sighed. “I’m trying not to be too hasty while there are still options on the table, and I do want the blame for this fairly distributed to everyone who deserves it.”
“Kingston—” Landon started at the same time I asked, “What options?”
“One way around this is if someone else claimed what she has. If you were willing to challenge her, then…”
Landon paled.
And it hit me that Kingston must not have seen my new forehead stamp, announcing I’d been Penetrated .
Landon hadn’t shared it with him after the Maiden Appeal, and his paling complexion assured me he hadn’t shared it with him since then, either. Which explained why Kingston now stared at me with a hopeful expression.
Oh, fuck.
Well, this was awkward.