Landon
The next morning, I kissed the top of Quinn’s head before pulling the covers around her shoulders.
After returning with Gia, she’d declared she wouldn’t be moving back to Camelot Courtyard, and I’d stayed in the room beside her, refusing to leave her alone.
I insisted on spending the night in my room while she slept in her bed.
Today, I’d woken up to find her curled into my side.
Fear had gripped me at the sight of her, given the dreams I’d had the night before, but she slept peacefully and appeared unharmed. I’d breathed a sigh of relief, watching her sleep for a while before carrying her back to her bed.
The urge to stay with her, to fall back asleep beside her, was strong, but I returned to my room. I needed to go for my morning run today more than most days.
After I dressed, I walked across the hall to Kingston’s room.
He opened the door before I knocked. Already dressed in his three-piece blue suit, he smoothed a hand down the front of it as he looked up to find me there.
Relief rippled through his body, draining the tension in his shoulders and smoothing the lines on his forehead.
“Landon.” He breathed my name like the sight of me was a balm, soothing unseen aches, and I didn’t understand it.
“I was coming to find you. Are you about to head on your run? You’ll check the obstacles this morning?
The cameras didn’t show any tampering, but… ”
He didn’t have to say it.
“Yes, I’m heading out now. Quinn is sleeping, but I wanted to make sure you weren’t leaving before I went.”
“I’ll be here.” He nodded, eyes jumping from her door to my face. “I’ll wake her if she isn’t up soon.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I run through.”
Although I tried to reassure him, gripping his wrist with a resolute nod before I went on my way, anxiety bled through his palm into my forearm. Fear of interference with the Obstacle Course had been on both our minds.
In some ways, it’d be a relief if they tried that. Out in the open instead of hidden in the underbelly of Camelot Court like they’d done last year.
I didn’t expect we’d be so lucky.
But as I ran through the course, I checked for any signs of tampering. With twelve obstacles, there was no shortage of opportunities, but I breathed a sigh of relief as I returned to Camelot Court, having found nothing.
Quinn stepped out onto the back lawn as I jogged up.
“You started without me!” She joked to ease her nerves, evident in the way she ran her hand through her hair repeatedly and the clumsy way she bounced on her feet. It differed from her excited bouncing.
I looped my arm around her shoulder, trying to ease the trepidation over what she’d face this morning.
She could handle it.
She had everything she needed to succeed.
And as the crease between her brow vanished, the stubborn set of her jaw replaced it.
There she was.
My relentless Maiden.
When it was time for the course to begin, she patted her crossbody, a signal that she had her inhaler.
“Good girl. Now, go on, and show everyone here what I already know.” I swatted her butt and winked, delighting in the way her cheeks flushed and pupils dilated before she shook her head to clear it.
With one last smile, she nodded and turned to take her place with the other girls.
I took my place beside the first obstacle.
The Ninja Wall required a steep run up a ramp where the girls needed to make it onto the ledge at the top.
By using the rope hanging down in the center of the ramp or making it far enough on their initial sprint to grab the ledge, they’d pull themselves up and over it.
When Drake D’Arthur shot off the flare gun to begin the race, I waited for their approach.
Quinn watched a few of the other girls attempt the obstacle first. She observed Luna run, miss the ledge, and slide back down. She watched Camille run up the center, grab the rope, and hoist herself over the top.
Then, stepping back a few paces, she took her place in line.
After Morgan made it to the ledge and pulled herself up, it was her turn. Teeth gritted, eyes focused on the obstacle ahead, Quinn ran up the ramp, staying in the center near the rope, but sprinting for the ledge first.
She missed it by an inch, and as she slid down, grabbed onto the rope. Swinging wildly for a second, she got her bearings and planted her feet under her.
When Elaine ran for the ledge on her left side, Quinn nearly got distracted and let go of the rope.
But the sight of Elaine grabbing the ledge and reaching the top fueled her. She dug her feet in and pulled herself the rest of the way to the top.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
She opened the box at the top marked with her name, found her first cypher, and tucked it into her bra.
When she disappeared out of sight, I paced, splitting focus between the rest of the girls as they completed the first obstacle and watching the path where Quinn would reenter the course in my line of sight.
After all the girls made it through the obstacles, I walked down the lawn.
By the cabins closest to Pendragon, she’d complete the Log Carry and Military Crawl. But the Mud Pit, manned by Morty in place of Ben, was by the lake.
He caught sight of me down the shoreline and waved as if this were just another summer morning of normal activities. I didn’t react, still unsure what to make of him.
As the first girl approached his obstacle, I narrowed my gaze and searched for Quinn.
Until a voice came from behind me, interrupting me and sending a chill down my spine.
“Hello, son.” My father drew close, even though I didn’t turn to face him. “You’ve been avoiding me.”