Page 4 of To Love a Dark Lord

She cringed at the question. “He won’t be back for a long while. I’m sorry.”

Eod’s ears drooped. “Mom sad?”

She was Mom now? That was sweet. Placing the empty mug down, she climbed onto the bed next to Eod and petted him. “Mom’s just fine, especially with you here.”

“Dog protect.” Eod licked her face, before rolling onto his back for a belly rub.

There was a frantic knock on the door.

Oh, great. More nonsense.

Climbing out of bed, she answered the door.

Tim was on the other side. The rusted and unfinished guard was shifting anxiously from foot to foot.

She frowned. “What is it, Tim?”

He pointed down the hallway. Whatever the issue was, it was that way.

Motioning for him to lead the way, she followed behind him, wondering what kind of stupid nonsense she’d have to deal with now.

The great hall had her answer. Standing there, looking entirely out of place…was Lady Thorn. And she wasn’t alone—there were two other elementals with her who Gwen didn’t recognize. The woman was glancing at everything around her a little nervously.

Gwen arched an eyebrow. “Afraid the walls will attack you?”

“This place was his. There’s no way of knowing. All this metal—all this iron.” Thorn gestured aimlessly at the room. “It’s disgusting.”

Gwen shrugged. “I like it, and you don’t have to live here. I don’t see a problem. Why’re you here?” She had a suspicion, but she wanted to hear it plain.

Thorn huffed. “No offer of wine?”

Gwen stared at her flatly and didn’t answer.

“I have come to tell you I plan to take the throne of Avalon. I want you either to pledge allegiance to me or to stay out of my way. Or else.” Thorn sneered, her yellowed teeth making the expression even less welcoming.

“Mm-hm. So you’ve come to my home to threaten me, that’s nice.” Gwen rubbed a hand over her eyes. She was too tired to deal with this.

“This isn’t your home. Not this castle, not this island—you don’t belong here.” Thorn took a step toward her.

The iron guards that lined the room all shifted, placing their gauntlets on their swords.

“It seems they beg to differ. And so does the island of Avalon itself. It gave me this power. It chose me to be here.” Gwen smiled at the other woman faintly. “You came here to threaten and insult me. Tell me why I shouldn’t just kill you now? You’re surrounded.”

“It would be against the laws of hospitality. Of Avalon,” one of the other elementals said through a grunt. She couldn’t tell what kind of power Thorn’s two sidekicks had—they looked normal. Ish. Normal for Avalon, at any rate.

With a sigh, Gwen turned around to leave the room. “Fine. Go away.”

“You’re a fool not to stand down,” Thorn called after her. “Stay out of my way, girl. You don’t know what you’re up against.”

Stopping, Gwen turned back to face Thorn.

And she laughed.

That seemed to unsettle the three elementals. Whatever they’d been expecting from her—maybe for her to cower, to apologize for everything, who knew—it hadn’t been laughter. “Get out of my home. Oh! One last thing.” Putting on as pleasant a tone and smile as she was capable of, Gwen added, “Go fuck yourself.”

With that, she turned and left, heedless of Thorn calling after her to wait. No. She was going to bed. When she got to Mordred’s room, where she’d taken up residence, she collapsed onto the bed next to where Eod was already snuggled up half asleep.

Bert had told her that she needed to wait for an army. That she needed to sit here and do nothing until she had a force to back her up. But at what cost? What was she losing with every second that ticked by with Mordred imprisoned in the Crystal?

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