Page 42 of To Charm a Dark Prince

He chuckled, amused, and walked from the room, leading her down the hallway. “You are a strange one, firefly.”

“Says the guy with knives for hands.” She jogged to walk beside him.

There was still a darkness in his eyes, but his smile seemed legitimate if weak. “I suppose that is very fair.”

What a sad, lonely, terrifying man. Now she knew the truth of why he had imprisoned the elementals. And maybe he wasn’t so wrong in his reasoning.Maybe Merlin is wrong. Maybe Avalon is better this way.

Or maybe she was making a terrible mistake.

* * *

Mordred managed to make it into and out of the kitchen with Maewenn none the wiser. The cook meant well, but he simply did not have the energy or emotional fortitude in the moment to put up with the woman’s complaints, valid as they might be.

He had too much on his mind that day.

Namely—Gwendolyn Wright.Gwen.

As he walked with Gwendolyn through the castle, he pointed out anything he thought she might find interesting. She listened, taking in every detail. They walked out of the main building into the yard that was separated from the field beyond by a large stone rampart. He could already hear the hounds excitedly barking upon seeing him approach.

“So are your dogs, like, actual dogs? Not…metal dogs?” Her curiosity was as endearing as it was unflinching.

“I do not need to feed metal creations.”

“I’m just surprised, is all.” She shrugged, looking down at the two meat pies he had stolen from the kitchen.

“Dogs do not betray their masters.”

Her expression fell. “Oh.”

Well done, Mordred. Well done, indeed.He sighed. “Forgive me, Gwendolyn. I am not accustomed to visitors.”

“It’s fine. I honestly wouldn’t blame you, not if you’ve spent your entire time here getting betrayed by other elementals.” She frowned. “It sucks to have your trust broken.”

“You do not yet know the half of it.” He sighed. “But enough of such dour topics.” He pushed open the door to the kennel next to the stables and watched as her face lit up at the sight of the four enormous hounds jumping up and down in excitement to see him.

And her, he supposed. She was carrying meat pies, after all.

“Oh shit, they’rehuge.” She laughed as she walked in. The four dogs were kept separate from the entrance by a low gate. They had all they could need, including openings to the outside where they could enjoy what meager sunlight Avalon received. “Wolfhounds? Mastiffs?”

“They are native to Avalon. I could not say if there is a name for their breed.” He clicked his tongue at one of the dogs who was scrambling at the fence, overexcited in her need to say hello. “Easy, Luri.” He reached out and ruffled the dog’s curly fur and long ears.

“Do you always keep them outside?” Gwen was peeling off a piece of the pastry and feeding one of the dogs that was now obediently sitting, tongue hanging out of his mouth, eagerly awaiting the treat.

“No. They are often allowed in the keep. But I have long since learned that once a mutt is allowed in a bed, they will only ever abandon it when time comes for them.” He smiled, if a bit mournfully. “And my life is much longer than theirs. I fear I was uninterested in suffering that kind of loss again.”

“Losing pets can be hard.” She was feeding chunks to the second hound now. Luri had abandoned him to wait her turn for some meat. “But the love they give us in the meanwhile more than makes up for it.”

“Perhaps you are right.”

“I wouldn’t mind sharing a bed with this big doofus,” she said through a chuckle, as she petted one of the hounds. “I bet you take up the whole dang thing, don’tcha? Yeah, you do, huh doggo? Yeah, you do.”

He had to laugh at the tone of voice she took when talking to the animals. They seemed to enjoy it, however undignified it was. “You are good with them.”

“I’m holding greasy meat.” But the young woman was beaming. And it was clear the dogs instantly recognized her affection for them and sought to return it.

“Well, regardless, you are welcome to come and enjoy their company as often as you wish. You may even let them out and take them inside if the dreary chill becomes too much for you.” He wasn’t certain why he was giving her such free rein in his home.

Hope, he supposed. What a treacherous thing, that.

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