My stomach rumbled, and Kingston cocked his head toward the door. I nodded, letting him lead me out of the room. We shared a secret smile as we reached the first-floor landing, and Pendragon changed from our quiet sanctuary to a madhouse. Miss Alice rushed past us, stopping briefly to pass her gaze over where we stood close together.
Her eyebrows rose as she took in my sleep shirt, but she shook her head and smiled at us before panic resurfaced. “Kingston, he?—”
Kingston had already pulled out his cell phone, glancing down at a notification he must’ve missed when we’d been in the bathroom. I searched his features, fear flooding his eyes before he brought them to mine.
I followed his gaze to the open doorway behind me, and he jerked a nod. “Quinn, go. Now.”
My heartbeat quickened, and although I didn’t want to release his hand, I heeded the command.
Right as I stepped through the doorway, a booming voice shot off like a cannon in my wake. “Where is my son?”
It was too late to shut the door, so I ducked around the corner. Plastering my back against the wall beside it, so I remained out of sight. Miss Alice squeaked, and Kingston whispered, “Go,” before soft footsteps retreated down the hallway.
A second set stomped heavily, growing closer to where we were, and my heart clenched.
He was out there alone.
“Where the hell have you been?” I realized exactly who that voice belonged to and instantly hated it. “I messaged you to meet me in the parlor five minutes ago.”
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, father.” He steadied his voice. “There was something I had to take care of first.”
“Something more important than cleaning up your fucking mess?” Drake D’Arthur snapped.
“Yes.”
The word rang out, clear and firm. And my heart gave an odd littlethumpin my chest. The beats erratic as his hidden message to his father reached me. But it faltered too quickly.
A loudslapfollowed. The crack of a palm against his cheek. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t see it. I recognized it, and I covered my mouth to avoid making a sound.
Kingston’s father, who had already dethroned Vivian asenemy number one, managed to make me hate him even more.
He spewed venom at his son. “Listen here, you ungrateful little shit. If you don’t want me to throw you out on your worthless ass, then you better remember my problemsareyour only priority. The fucking mess that girl caused, and that fool Landon by saying no?—”
“I tried to assure you he was loyal to me without your requestedtest,father. You weren’t convinced. But neither of uscould have predicted that the Maiden would be attacked right before he did it. Or that she’d go to Merle and find the by-laws.”
His father hissed, spitting with rage. “I should’ve gotten rid of her when I had the chance. Your Knight, too. ”
Outrage clawed its way past my lips, but I smothered it before I reacted and made things worse for Kingston.
“Father, you made it perfectly clear what you’d do if I was working against you. I’ve assured you I’m not. Unless you believe my goal was to select the Maiden, give her information in the by-laws, and set up her reveal of it to the others, all so I could tie myself to the Astolat family.”
His father muttered a curse. “Lucky for you, boy, I do believe you have more sense than that.”
“So, then why are you here?”
Indignation cracked like a whip, his father seething. “Excuse me?”
“Respectfully, father, Pendragon?—”
“Is your home.” His voice dripped with venom. “I’m perfectly aware. But I have a right to come here if the situation demands it. Elaine Astolat winning The Quest threatens more than your future,boy.”
“But I thought you appeased them with the betrothal.”
“Her father is lording that prize over my head, saying she’d have rights to it anyway if she ends The Quest. He’s willing to allow the games to continue to keep the other families happy, but he’s made it clear he might change his mind at any time. And he’s confirmed who Elaine’s choice will beifshe wins The Quest. She’ll choose Peter, giving his family the power I’ve withheld from them for a decade.”
A beat of silence followed, and my brow furrowed as I tried to keep up with what Kingston’s father had revealed, albeit unknowingly.
The prize none of them could tell me.
