Page 128 of The King's Maiden
Their deceit uncoiled something poisonous inside me.
I needed to get the fuck out of there. I needed to leave before I couldn’t turn back.
But I decided to make that one stop first.
Raising my fist over the heavy wooden door, I barely tapped before it swung open.
As expected, he wasn’t with the others.
His eyes widened as soon as he opened the door, burning with anger and concern as he opened his mouth to speak. But I didn’t give him the chance to do it.
I walked forward into the room, forcing him back inside.
“You said I could come to you. If he—” I drew in a shaky breath. “You were right.”
And I let the door shut behind me.
Chapter Thirty-Five
QUINN
It hadn’t taken as long as I expected. By the time I entered Landon’s room, it felt impossible that it wasn’t morning yet. That not even twenty-four hours had passed since he’d kissed me and sworn he was mine. That just over an hour had gone by since I found out that was a lie.
And now, it was done.
At least, for me.
Landon felt otherwise. As I entered the room, he paced the floor, dragging a hand through his hair while he listened to whoever was on his phone. His eyes flew to mine, fear flashing quickly before shifting to relief.
“She’s here. I have to go.” He hung up the phone and threw it on the bed, rushing over to me and taking my face in his hands. “Quinn, what?—”
When I winced, he pulled back slightly, but he didn’t let me go. His eyes roved over every inch of me, cataloging every mark and blow. Something dark and sinister flickered in his gaze when he met mine.
“Who did this?” His voice dropped low and deadly. “Who hurt you?”
I broke his stare, biting my lip and crying out as my teeth dug into where it had split.
“Quinn,tell me.”His grip tightened.
Lifting my chin, I stared him right in the eyes as I told him exactly who I blamed for this pain—the person who caused it. The only soul inside Camelot Court I had given the power to hurt me, and the only person who did.
“You.”
His brow drew in, confusion coloring his face as he shook his head. “What? Quinn, I don’t understand. What happened? What are you talking about?”
“Last night, you told me I’m yours. But that’s not actually true, is it?” I freed myself from his hold, stepping back and putting distance between us. “I was picked as your Maiden. But you had all these rules. You kept putting distance between us. Refusing to take things further. Giving me reasons that I thought meant you—” I drew in a shaky breath. “You’re my Knight, but you didn’t choose me. I mean, it’s what everyone has been telling me, too. I just didn’t understand it.”
He opened his mouth like he wanted to explain, then closed it because he couldn’t.
“I’m not yours at all, am I? I can’t be.”
His face went white.
“I’m here for the King.”
“Who—”
“Vivian. With the help of Inez and Elaine, but this?” I waved a hand over my body—my soaking wet clothes, my tender face and split lip, and my ragged breaths. “This was all Vivian.”
