Chapter One
O n the list of things I wanted to do on a Monday morning, returning to Camelot Court, my school’s elite fraternity of sociopaths, didn’t make the cut.
But I joined The Quest to win it.
Gia, my best friend, eyed me carefully from the driver’s seat. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
Sir Lancelot, does your Maiden have your support to continue The Quest?
Forcing the memory away, I locked down the emotion that followed it and stared up at the gate separating me and D’Arthur University’s best-kept secret. Until I applied for The Quest, I’d never even heard of Camelot Court.
Now, I wished I never had.
Because even after a weekend away, returning felt like stepping back into another world.
Or a fucking snake pit.
But Camelot Court’s annual competition came with a cash prize of twenty-five thousand dollars if I made it through the first thirty days belonging to one of the Knights.
And four times that if I made it to the end.
When I’d applied for it, I figured my last-ditch effort to solve my crippling debt problem was a long shot. But after losing my dad, it was that or sell a kidney on the black market. I picked the lesser of two evils.
Or so I’d thought.
Although the first leg of The Quest ended up being twenty-one days of sex, seduction, and secrets—the last of which really fucked me—I had my sights set on winning.
And nothing— no one —would get in the way of that.
Someone almost did.
As my Knight’s suit of armor slowly cracked, I wanted more, but he held back. Because while I’d been assigned as Landon Scott’s Maiden, it had been Kingston D’Arthur—the King of Camelot Court—who had picked me.
For what or why? I wish I fucking knew.
That kernel of truth came from Vivian Valencourt, who I’d since named enemy number one. She shared their secret while she tried to drown me in the lake.
It was a real bonding moment.
After being attacked by her and two of my other fellow Maidens, I had a moment of weakness. Hell-bent on revenge, I sought out the one person who hated my betrayers most.
It was only after knocking on Max Dread’s door that I remembered a few things.
One—I hated him.
Two—he would’ve taken me up on my offer just to hurt Landon and Kingston, which worked for my short-term plan of sticking it to the two lying bastards, but it didn’t serve me in the long run.
And three—I would’ve had to see his stupid, smug face afterward.
I deserved more than that.
I also had at least one more option before taking such a drastic measure. A different resource who told me to come to him if I needed to protect myself.
In an ideal world, I would’ve remembered that before knocking on Max Dread’s door. But I had to admit, letting the broody asshole see the damage Vivian— his assigned Maiden—had left in her wake had been deeply satisfying.
His coal-black eyes burned with rage as he surveyed her claw marks on my face, and his furious stare brought to mind a pair of eyes similar to his, although lighter in shade.
Merle Dread. Current advisor to the King of Camelot Court and Max’s father.
Horrified over what had happened on his watch, Merle quickly gave me his most heartfelt condolences and best wishes for my journey home.
Plus, the photocopies I requested.
And even though I detoured from my revenge plans the next day, believing they weren’t necessary, I got back on track.
Because while Camelot Court viewed its Maidens as nothing more than arm candy or blow-up dolls, I wasn’t from their world. And I had no intention of sitting still and looking pretty while they fucked me.
Turning back to Gia, I slung my crossbody over my head. “I have to be ready. Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it.” She winked and gave me an encouraging but clearly forced smile.
While I appreciated her putting on a brave face, she’d also put my face back together the other night. After I showed up covered in bruises, blood, and betrayal, she consoled me with a tub of ice cream and a night of drowning my sorrows.
All before I let myself get sweet-talked by the same snake who’d lied to me for three weeks.
Landon, my so-called Knight in Shining Armor, showed up at my apartment and surprised me with a heartfelt apology, open and honest communication, and a carefully planned movie date in the back of his Range Rover.
When it was done, he brought me back to Camelot Court, leaving me to go talk to Kingston. Landon’s plan—or so he told me—was to tell his best friend about his feelings for me.
Tell him what we’d done.
Tell him how he’d made his choice…
Except, ten minutes later, in front of everyone at the Knights’ Quorum, Landon stood up and didn’t give me his vote to proceed through The Quest. He claimed he didn’t think I should move on to the next round. That I didn’t have what it took to last six days with another Knight and resist temptation.
And I had no idea why.
While I handled Landon’s rejection well in the moment, I didn’t stick around after the Knights’ Quorum had ended for the care circle to share my feelings. I went back home, gorged myself on another tub of ice cream, and cried it out with Gia by my side. Again .
Then, I cleaned myself up and put my big girl panties on.
So I could return today to make them pay even more.
An obscene amount, to be exact.
One hundred thousand dollars.
The manila folder I’d been given contained everything I needed to move forward, formulate a plan to make them rue the day they picked me as a Maiden, and walk away with enough money to set me up for life.
As any true ride-or-die would, Gia offered to drive me back before I even asked her to do it.
But, of course, she still had concerns. She’d spent most of the drive over gnawing her lower lip, her leg bouncing beneath the steering wheel.
Having to leave me at the scene of the crime? Well, would she really be my best friend if she wasn’t a teensy bit worried?
“Thanks, girl.” I kissed her cheek and wrapped her in a quick hug. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I got out of the car and unzipped my leather jacket, shaking out my limbs in case I had to start climbing. Once I pressed the buzzer on the intercom, the whir of a security camera panning to me pulled my head up.
Fully expecting the guard to give me shit like the last time I showed up, I waggled my fingers and blew whoever was watching a kiss.
“Welcome back, Miss Everly.”
A beep, followed by the slow creak of wrought iron, granted me access to Camelot Court.
“Huh.” I glanced at Gia. “Well, there go my plans for a little Monday morning B and E. Guess I picked the right guy to have on my side.”
“Give ’em hell, Trollop!”
I huffed a laugh and waved her off, starting the long walk to the Round Tableau, Camelot Court’s party house, where my journey through the first part of The Quest began.
Today, I’d enter it completely changed from the girl I’d been three weeks ago. Once I secured my spot through the remainder of The Quest, I’d travel with the other eleven pairs of Knights and Maidens to Pendragon Estate, their property on the other side of the lake. For six days of temptation I had no doubt I could resist.
As I approached, everything felt different. Everything but the two silent pledges opening the doors to let me in, of course.
Bypassing the coat check, I headed straight for the main party room. A collective gasp rang out when I walked inside.
And the first person I laid eyes on?
Max-fucking-Dread.
His onyx eyes raked over me, torn between fury and…Wait. Was that a hint of pride?
“Still not a crybaby or quitter, are you, Princess?”
“Looks that way. Too bad for you I still don’t fuck assholes, Max Dread.”
He smirked, opening his mouth to retort, but I was ready for him. I leaned in close and ran my hand down the lapel of his black jacket. He gripped my hip to steady me, his raven black hair falling onto his forehead.
I made sure everyone saw it as I stared up at him and whispered, “I don’t let them fuck mine, either.”
His hand tightened on my hip reflexively.
I pulled away from him, facing the crowd before the heat in his gaze branded me the way his touch had. But it seared over the marks on my face and neck—the ones I’d put zero effort into concealing.
And his low growl assured me that my lack of effort would draw the desired response.
“They’re going to pay for that, you know?”
I spotted the guilty parties in the crowd and smiled. “Oh, I know they are.”
As I left him on the threshold where we’d first met, his eyes stayed on my back while the rest of Camelot Court stared at my cheek, my split lip, and the bruises encircling my throat.
The boatneck collar on my black dress highlighted the marks beautifully.
And the man responsible for those couldn’t take his eyes off them.
Dark amber eyes, like brown sugar and honey, coated my throat as if they might soothe the ache he’d left behind. And just three days ago, those eyes—his touch and his voice—had taken all my pain away.
Now, one look at his anguished, tortured face made me sick.
But it was Kingston who shocked me.
As he sat on his pretend throne, sharply dressed in a three-piece suit, his piercing blue-gray eyes weren’t on me or the crowd. They were on the Maiden beside him.
A Maiden whose face had become intimately acquainted with my nails the other night.
Not that it was obvious.
Beneath her mask of caked-on makeup, she hid the claw marks I’d left behind right before she dragged me through the water and forced my head under it.
I had to give her props for her contour and highlight skills. She’d concealed the damage perfectly.
But I knew the marks were there.
And when her ice-blue eyes found me smirking at her, her hand came up to her face before she could stop it.
So, she knew it, too. She couldn’t hide who she was from everyone at Camelot Court.
As she ran a hand through her jet-black hair, Kingston followed her line of sight to me. He narrowed his gaze on my cheek before he shuttered his expression and looked away. Scanning the crowd lazily, he surveyed the party without emotion.
As if that all-too-brief glimpse of my injured face had been nothing more than a passing glance.
Until Vivian said something to him and he turned back to her with a smile on his face.
I breathed in slowly through my nose, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. Letting the breath out just as slowly, I regained my composure.
That one, I hadn’t expected.
Max’s smug smirk—expected.
Landon, I’d been prepared for anything—dismissal, anger, and even the poor, tortured soul song and dance. Only because Gia put the last one in my head.
But Kingston, who’d asked me to trust him and Landon while they lied to me?
I thought there’d be at least a shred of remorse. I’d secretly hoped for an explanation that restored my trust.
There was nothing.
And I hated how that hurt.
Honestly, though, that just meant he and Vivian deserved each other, so I wished them all the best in their endeavors, with good tidings for a happy future.
And I ignored how that thought made my stomach turn.
Before I could dwell on it, Merle stepped forward. “Alright, everyone, it’s time to begin. We have one Maiden ready to make an appeal, and then we’ll grab our things and head to Pendragon for the Honor Challenge.”
I drowned out the murmurs as everyone’s eyes shifted to me, lifting my chin and waiting for my chance to speak.
“If the Maiden would like the floor to appeal, it’s now hers.”
With my head held high, I walked right up to the stage and began my appeal. I kept my eyes on the crowd.
Not Kingston.
“Well, let me start by saying, this has been an absolute pleasure. I’ve learned so much about myself, the people here, and Camelot Court. Specifically, I did a little light reading yesterday. Perusing the ol’ by-laws, if you will. I like to lose myself in a good book when real life gets me down, and boy, was I down after being attacked by Vivian, Elaine, and Inez.”
I paused for dramatic effect so the gasps could ring out around the room. But also to stare at Landon, whose head had popped up the second I mentioned the by-laws.
Time for the moment of truth.
“Fun fact: It’s actually against the rules for the Knights to sleep with their Maidens. Did you guys know that?”
A few of the pairings in the crowd shared glances.
“Yeah. Crazy, right? And all the Maidens are supposed to be virgins.” I looked straight at Vivian. “Safe to say that disqualifies you, and weirdly, I’m the one you called a whore. But no judgment here, V. That rule is antiquated and probably made pickings pretty slim, so it’s just one of those things that slowly fell by the wayside. Something that only becomes an issue if someone invokes the statute on Ultimate Female Virtue.”
Vivian glared at me from across the room.
“Oh, relax. I’m not doing that… for now. But that helpful bit of pretentiously titled information is just a piece of what I learned. I also learned a Maiden can have her Knight’s vote overruled if they figure out the true lesson in the first challenge.”
Vivian’s shrill voice snapped from the crowd. “Everyone knows it’s trust, idiot.”
I rolled my eyes as dramatically as possible. “Obviously, Vivian. Landon shoved that word down my throat more than his cock. And all while lying to me. Go figure. But why?”
“We’re supposed to earn our Knight’s trust to move forward. What the fuck is this, Kingston? Are you really going to let her stand there and threaten all of us with this?”
“Strike two, V.”
Her eyes snapped back to mine. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You’re wrong about the lesson.” I smiled sweetly. Then, because I was a petty bitch, I turned to Max. “God, is this what she was like all the time? No wonder you’re an asshole.”
Another gasp.
How. Fucking. Predictable.
Max didn’t say anything, as expected, but his lips twitched and Vivian shrieked in outrage, so that was good enough for me.
I turned to Kingston, staring him down. “I want to win The Quest more than I want anyone or anything. And I trust myself to see it through to the end. Are you really going to deny me that chance based on the word of a Knight who barely knows, let alone trusts himself?”
Kingston’s eyes flashed with something I couldn’t name before he broke my stare. He brushed a lock of his soft brown hair back into place before clasping his hands over his navy-blue suit. Turning to Merle, he waited expectantly for his advisor to rule on my fate.
Merle grimaced. “She’s right about the lesson, and if she invokes the Virtue statute, we’ll have a real mess on our hands. Not to mention a lawsuit.”
Kingston’s eyebrows rose.
“Your contract protects me from being attacked by a pack of jealous bitches. Were you aware of that?”
“Yes, I was.”
He stared right at me, and his eyes—an abyss of sparkling blue-gray—were filled with nothing but lies and secrets.
But I didn’t need to search them for the truth anymore. His answer was all I needed.
“So, I assume we’re good here and I can go pack my shit for Pendragon?”
With a final glance at Merle, who nodded his approval, Kingston turned back to me. “Yes, Maiden. You can continue The Quest.”
“Oh my god, I can’t believe it,” I deadpanned.
And without another word, I left the Round Tableau.