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 thana 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.
