But before I broke out of my kiss-induced daze and gave him my opening argument, Landonhopped to it, and I collapsed backward on the mattress, my mind racing with thoughts of where we’d all go from here.
Landon
Kingston was in his office before I left for my run, and I couldn’t wait any longer.
The hope on his face lanced through my chest, but I still couldn’t understand it.
I only knew I had to tell him.
Blue-gray eyes met mine, shining with relief, and my mind jolted so forcefully, I stumbled.
You—Why would you do that?
Why wouldn’t I?
A response to his question—words I hadn’t spoken, but felt sure I’d said—reverberated in my head.
Kingston’s voice silenced the echo. “Landon? Is everything alright?”
I shook my head to clear it, forcing the memories away. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
He set the pen down on the desk. The movement careful, controlled. Like how he moved when his hands shook and he wanted to hide it.
It usually happened after he spoke to his father. Worse whenever he saw him. But the looming cloud that was Drake D’Arthur hadn’t fallen over us yet.
And while he might arrive at any time to throw Kingston off, I couldn’t pinpoint what caused his reaction now.
Unless he suspected what I had to share.
“We should talk away from here.” Kingston rose from his chair, moving quickly.
“Kingston, I?—”
His eyes met mine—fierce, insistent, and sharp. But the words didn’t match. “Landon, please.”
I nodded once and followed him. Like I’d always followed him. Trusting that he’d lead me where I needed to go.
I didn’t remember why I’d let that happen for so long, but it still feltright.
When we reached the lake, he didn’t stop. He kept walking along the shoreline, past the trees, until Pendragon was out of sight. I glanced uneasily over my shoulder.
“Max is there,” he reassured me.
I frowned over the conversation I’d had with Max Dread earlier. “That’s another thing we need to talk about.” When Kingston sighed, I clarified. “He’s still hell-bent on hating me for what happened last year. He still intends to?—”
“Quinn knows who you are, Landon. I suspect she realizes as much as I do how Max’s hatred for us has been misplaced.Hewill come around.”
“I heard what you said before. I’m not the one dragging up old wounds.”
“But you still won’t let yours heal.”
I stalked past him, not wanting to get into that. What happened last year—Kingston had absolved me of blame, as if that should quiet all the guilt.
But it never quieted.
It wouldn’t abate.
“You tried your best, Landon. You did more than anyone else would have in an impossible situation.”
