Page 35 of To Charm a Dark Prince

“I—well, yes, that sounds great, I—um.” Gwen turned her attention to Maewenn even as she was climbing off the stool. “Thank you so much for all the wonderful food. I’ll take one for the walk.” She picked up one of the baked meat pies.

“Bring a second for the prince.” Maewenn waved a hand in his direction. “Rare that he remembers to eat, that one.”

“Not that you often let me forget.” Mordred pushed off from the jamb.

Gwendolyn obediently grabbed a second meat pie, and headed rapidly toward the exit where he was standing. “It was really nice to meet you, Maewenn. I’ll make sure to stop by next time I’m starving.”

“Please do! I do get so lonely down here. Only four mouths to feed. Four!”

“Five, now,” Mordred corrected the woman. He stepped back to allow Gwendolyn into the hall, resisting the temptation to place his hand on her back to guide her. The way the young woman blushed at his nearness was alluring. She was a temptation.

“Five. Hardly enough.” Maewenn sighed mournfully and went back to stirring a pot of whatever stew she was making. “You could at the very least—”

He stopped listening. Gwendolyn was already making a hasty retreat up the stairs. He followed her, also eager to escape the cook who was still talking to herself as though they were still there.

Gwen was standing atop the stairs, staring down at the two meat pies she was holding. “Do you actually want one of these?”

“No.” He smiled.

“I think if I eat any more, I’ll blow up. I mean, they’re good—they’re great, actually, just—wow.” She chuckled.

“That is how she shows affection. It has been a long time since she has had a guest to tend to.” Mordred could not help but find her smile addicting. Oh, she was adorable when she was frightened. But there was something else about her easy, friendly expression that made him wish to see it more.

Galahad was right. He was already doomed.

He hated when that bastard was right.

“So—you’re going to train me?” She seemed almost eager. “I get to learn how to control my fire?”

“Yes. But first, we must get you a more appropriate set of clothing.” He smirked. “Unless you wish to incinerate what you are wearing again. I would not mind a second show.”

Her expression of frustration mixed perfectly with the blush on her cheeks. “No, I think I’m good, sorry to disappoint.”

He huffed, purposefully laying on the drama for effect. It succeeded in making the girl chuckle, and that brought a smile to his face. Galahad’s words returned to him—that this was the most life he had shown in years. And perhaps the Knight in Gold was not wrong.

But at what cost?

He led her to a courtyard in the center of the keep—a small open-air section of packed dirt and sand. Racks of weapons and shields were arranged by the wall. And on the table, his next gift to the young fire elemental. He gestured for her to follow him. “You might find these a bit more suitable for your gifts.”

Watching her expression, he could not deny that there was some joy in him as she examined his handiwork. He had made her two metallic garments—a top and a wrap-around skirt, made from the finest and smallest chainmail that he could summon. At first glance, it looked almost like fabric.

Her eyes lit up in wonder as she ran her hand over the surface. “It’s beautiful.”

“More importantly, it is also not flammable.” He could not help but crack a half-hearted joke. He turned his back to her so she could change without his prying eyes.

“Done.”

Turning, he did his best to hide how his breath caught in his chest. Perhaps he should not have designed the top to be so very low-cut in the front. But he also could not say that he did not deeply enjoy how she looked in the chainmail clothing.

She looked as if she belonged in Avalon.

Like a true elemental.

And just like that, his mood came crashing back down to reality.A true elemental who will betray me. Who will pitch this world into bloody chaos like all the rest. It is just a matter of time.

But by the Ancients, she was beautiful, even shy as she was, blushing sheepishly staring down at her sandaled feet. Beautiful and tempting. Too tempting.

That was likely why he had foolishly agreed to train her. She could be his enemy before long. She could be standing across from him on the battlefield. So why, by any stretch of the imagination, was he standing here, readying to teach her how to control her power?

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