The Darkest Knight (Guardians of Camelot #3) - Victoria Sue Page 0,27
didn’t know how he felt about that. How was it possible to want someone so badly with what seemed like every beat of your heart, but at the same time feel relieved he wasn’t here. As if by unspoken agreement, all the knights left the kitchen, and Kay headed back up to his room, passing Ali’s door and hoping they were both going to be happy.
He let himself back into his room and took a step toward the bed—and immediately stopped when he saw Charles waiting for him.
Chapter 8
“How did you get in?”
Charles watched as anger flashed across Kay’s face. “You were all in the kitchen, so I came back up to talk to you.” And to keep away from the others.
“Do you have anything different to say?” Kay didn’t wait for an answer, just walked to the dressing room and started taking his clothes off.
So much and yet nothing at all. “I am sworn to protect you.”
Kay didn’t reply, and after a moment he came back in wearing some sleep pants and an old T-shirt proclaiming Love Always Wins. Charles felt it was deliberate. He got the message anyway.
Kay ignored him and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Charles stood. Why have I come? Father Joseph had even offered a cot in the office as the shelter was full, but he’d turned him down after he helped with some jobs and started walking. He hadn’t meant to come straight back here, yet here he was.
The bathroom door opened and Kay came out, turning the light off and walking to the bed. He calmly got in and turned away from Charles. He couldn’t have been clearer.
“I think we need to talk.”
Kay sighed and rolled over on his back. “And say what?”
“You are in danger,” Charles blurted out before he thought about it.
Kay rolled his eyes. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
“No,” Charles hurried out. “I mean fresh. There is something new, or I wouldn’t have been sent.” He took a breath. “I think it is something to do with the woman.”
Kay’s look could have turned him to stone. “If you mean Roxy, she’s Ali’s Tresor.”
“No, I meant the woman in the park.”
That seemed to get Kay’s attention. “Meaning?”
“I don’t know exactly.” Kay made a strangled noise and turned away again. Charles took a step to the bed and reached out, touching Kay’s shoulder. “Kay.”
“Get off me,” Kay ground out.
“I think something new is happening. You didn’t imagine the eyes of the Ursus in her.”
“Then we will deal with it,” Kay answered stiffly. “You know where the door is.”
“I can’t leave.” He’d tried. The magic had called at him fiercely, and he had ignored it every time. He couldn’t leave Kay. The feeling something was going to happen and he wouldn’t be here to protect Kay stopped him giving in to it.
“Then you’re going to have a long, uncomfortable night,” Kay said and closed his eyes.
Yes. Charles knew Kay’s stubbornness kept his eyes closed, but then emotional exhaustion plus him being injured took over as his breaths slowed. Charles eyed the rug adorning the wood floor. He would give anything simply to be able to crawl in alongside Kay and hold him in his arms, but that wasn’t fair. That gave Kay the impression that he wanted more. Charles was awake for a long time.
“What are you doing?”
Charles glanced over at Kay sometime later. It was light enough he could see the scowl that marred his features. Kay hadn’t woken him because Charles hadn’t really slept. He didn’t know how many years he had lived, but in his current human tally, fifty-two felt like three hundred this morning. “You are in danger.”
“Right this second?” Kay scoffed. “And there are plenty of empty rooms.”
“I wasn’t convinced you wouldn’t try to leave without me.”
Kay made a disgusted noise and rolled back over. “You couldn’t stop me if I did.”
“I would follow you.” Charles got up gladly. “I thought to go down and make coffee.”
“Good luck if Lucan or Lance catch you,” Kay pointed out with a little satisfaction.
Charles nodded almost fatalistically. “Then I may have to tempt them with pancakes.”
Kay tried to muffle his groan in the pillow he dragged over his face. Charles didn’t reply, simply left the room and walked silently downstairs, heading to the small bathroom, then the kitchen. In no time he had the coffee brewing, and he took no delight in being proved right as Mel let himself into the kitchen.