Page 8 of Captivated
Keeping up the illusion of ease, I reached out toward Lance, trying to guess how close he was. Minutes away, I was sure. But he was outside the circle and this man was inside. If this was Arthur…
My blood chilled in my veins. Lance would arrive to my call, only to watch as Arthur claimed me. Or killed me.
I smiled wider, trying not to let my eyes flash with fury or determination. There was nothing in his manner or appearance that signaled he wasn’t who he said. I couldn’t quiz him about the real Gawain, since there were elements about Guinevere’s life that I didn’t know either. It wasn’t a perfect rebirth every single time. Events changed us.
His eagerness slowly dulled, and his shoulders slumped. “You don’t recognize me. Do you feel me at all? Am I so changed over the years?”
I studied his face, searching for anything I could recognize and know beyond a shadow of a doubt. He was handsome, apparently earnest and honest. Young, I thought. Aima could be difficult to age, but he felt no older than Shara’s alpha. Not even a century. Surely Arthur would feel… heavy with power and intent.
“A man can change, my queen,” he whispered. “Time has no master.”
And I knew then, without a shadow of a doubt, that he couldn’t be Gawain. There had never been any reason for Gawain to say such a thing. Renowned for his courtesy and defense of women in the early accounts, his character had only picked up inconsistencies in later legends. Gawain wouldn’t have felt the need to make any kind of excuse for himself. He hadn’t needed to change. There was nothing for which I would have needed to forgive him.
I didn’t move to defend myself, but he must have read the realization on my face. Sighing softly, he gave me a sad smile. “You always were too smart for your own good.”
“Only a man who’s intimidated by a smart woman would say such a thing.”
“Touché.” He leaned back in his chair, giving up the earnest eagerness act. Instead, he sprawled in the simple chair like it was a grand throne. He widened his knees, taking up more space, but also putting his package on display. Not that I was interested. “You can’t fault me for trying. I knew that if I came to you right away or openly that you’d doubt me. I hoped I could show you the truth before you leaped to our unpleasant past.”
Kevin looked at me, his brow furrowed with concern. The suddenly innocent sibling interview had gone off the rails, and he had no idea why or what we were dealing with. I didn’t know if I could trust him to help, though I didn’t know what a mostly-human consiliarius could do against a king of Arthur’s renown. Kevin wasn’t even a formal Isador sibling, so he wouldn’t be able to bring Lance through the circle.
I met Arthur’s gaze and said coolly, “That’s a strange way of admitting that you murdered me.”
Paling, Kevin flinched and his eyes widened. He fumbled for his phone and backed away, but I didn’t know what he could do. Even if he called 911, the police wouldn’t be able to enter. Besides, what could they do against a dragon king?
:Shara, I need help.:
Without hesitation, she pumped me with power, so much that I couldn’t help but shiver. Goddess. I didn’t envy her in the slightest. Carrying that much power was exhausting, and the cost… It took a personal toll, whether she realized it or not. Through our bond, she looked at the man sitting across from me.
:He’s already inside the circle. How do I get him out, and let Lance in at the same time?:
Her bond shimmered like a pearly sword inside me.:We fucking push him out.:
