Max had sat in that room and claimed he didn’t want her to give him hisgift, but the way he looked at her now made me think whatever she’d given him had changed his mind.
Even at the party he hadn’t wanted to attend, he’d at least had the decency to look miserable about it.
Right now, he didn’t look miserable at all.
He looked like an exotic Ken doll, happily standing next to his true love, Black Widow Barbie. Especially when he leaned down and brushed his lips against her cheek.
“What the actual fuck?” My muttered curse echoed Landon’s harsh whisper beside me. “What the fuck?”
My eyes flashed his way as he stared at the pair of them before he turned to me, checking to see how I was taking it—the first appearance of the happy new couple.
I shook my head, my body vibrating with a fury I wanted to unleash immediately.
Landon tightened his grip on my arm. “I’m so sorry, Quinn.”
Biting my lip, I nodded once, fighting to keep my emotions in check. It helped that my White Knight, who still had a split lip from Max, sounded genuine in saying that. It also helped that I had two members of Camelot Court with no doubt in what they felt for me.
But it still gutted me.
I forced down the emotion lodging in my throat, said watermelon three times fast before remembering that only prevented an oncoming sneeze, and swiped hastily at my eyes.
While I struggled to lock up my emotions, Kingston cleared his throat and pulled our attention to the center of the room. “Once my father arrives, he’d like to address everyone, but until then, I’ll provide details about your final challenge.”
I forced myself to breathe and pay attention, but the screaming rang loudly in my head.
He’d had the motherfucking audacity to make it seem like my mistrust between us was ameproblem? To act like it didn’t make sense that I struggled to trust him as he kept his secrets?
Gaslighting son of a bitch.
“Welcome to the Nobility Challenge, Ladies. When training begins, you’ll be paired with each of the Knights throughout the day. Each one is responsible for teaching you a skill. You’ll need each of these skills to make it through the Final Trial—The Quest for the Holy Grail.”
Max chosethat momentto start a staring contest with the side of my face, and I glared as I kept my eyes forward, trying to tell him to fuck right off while also trying to catch Kingston’s explanation. But eventually, I met his persistent stare.
He smirked, clearly just being a dick and hoping to distract me. I scowled at him while half-listening, but noting how Kingston’s tone shifted as he finished his speech.
“Before the Final Trial, the parents will arrive. They’ve delayed Alumni Weekend to be here for the main event.”
Max flicked his gaze over my body, and I ignored the effect that had on me.
“During this challenge, you’ll have anotherBonding Day, the fourth party, and an opportunity to learn from the Knights. You’ll rotate through ten training sessions. The blocks beforeand after lunch will be combined with a second Knight and Maiden, so you can learn from each other, too.”
Vivian’s obnoxiously shrill voice pulled my focus from still glaring daggers at Max to her, right as she shifted her eyes to mine from him. “The only thing I need to learn from Quinn is where to take out the trash.”
The brute wanted to piss me off with his one-sided staring contest, and she decided to take that out on me instead of him.
After everything with him, and what she’d said on the patio about my parents, I’d had it.
I snapped. “Max’s bed is the usual place for it.”
She narrowed her eyes, flicking them quickly to Max before returning to mine.
His jaw clenched, and he bristled before opening his mouth. The thought of him defending Vivian to me in front of everyone made me see red.
“That’s probably why it was so easy to stay away from him during the Honor Challenge. A lingering odor doesn’t really do it for me.” I ran my gaze over her. “Or the concern over what I might catch from wherever he’s been.”
Knights and Ladies around us stifled their laughter, but—because one had to have a heart in order to care—Vivian only smirked. It was easier to ignore her, since with their history, everyone knew her unaffected act was clearly for show.
But I couldn’t ignore Max’s expression, taunting and cocky, morphing into a glare.
