“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 saidinstead of thisbefore. 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 sayI’mnot the grandest one. Even if marriage to a D’Arthur heir has its benefits.”
I frowned at his implication. Thatanyprize 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 mythreefavorite 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 thesecond 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 ourbetrothalwill 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 hadreallybeen 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.
