“Excuse me?” Her eyes narrowed, but it didn’t deter the fire in his eyes. He held her face in one hand, fingers gripping at her cheeks, keeping her in his sights. “Who do you think-”
“Who do I think I am?” His chest heaved, like he fought with himself as he stood there. His eyes searched her face, scanning for something she couldn’t place. “I think I’m the only person in this godforsaken palace that has looked at you like more than a pawn in the last day,highness.” His voice was acrid, brow furrowed as he looked at her.
“Remove your hand from me at once.” She demanded, though the attempted strength in her voice left something to be desired. “I am the queen.”
“I bow to no queen, Guinevere. I do not hail from Camelot.” He was close now, she could feel his rapid breathing across her face.
She was so lost. Her king’s trust in her had evaporated because of a poor choice — perhaps it was never there to begin with. Her sister-in-law had her sights set on her destruction. And now this man, the childhood friend of people that were desperate to keep her quartered, gripped her tight, both physically in this moment, and by the heart.
His name escaped from her mouth unbidden, as quiet as the breeze around them. Tears burned at her eyes, and she could feel herself trembling beneath his harsh stare. “Stop.” A quiet plea, not in fear — but resignation.
“You heard Morgana this morning.” The queen flinched at the callback, at the way her knight seemed to seethe in front of her just now. “Protective to a fault.That’s what she said, correct?” His eyes narrowed.
When she did not reply, he tugged her face closer to his, grip tightening. “Answer me.”
She nodded, barely
“You aremineto protect, Guinevere. That is my duty, that is my charge. I might not be a man of Camelot —” His voice dipped low, “but I am a man of my word.”
His hold on her loosened, but not before dragging his thumb over her lower lip. Were the world quieter, Gwen might have sworn she heard a rumble come from his chest as he touched her. His hand felt possessive, like a claim.
Her eyes fluttered closed without her knowledge, leaning into his touch. “Good,” he whispered. “Let’s go.”
8
He stormed ahead of her, boots falling loudly on stone as she tried to keep up with his tirade. “Lancelot,” She called ahead, flush with embarrassment.
Once again, she had let the touch of this stranger lure her into his net. She had yet to figure out what game he was playing, but she knew that he was stringing her along marvelously.
“Lancelot, please slow down.”
He was on a mission, barreling down the halls of the palace. Gwen gathered her skirts in her hand as she tried to keep up, tocatch upwith him.
She almost lost him as he darted around a corner, hands curled into fists at his side.
When she rounded the corner, she saw him opening the door to Arthur’s meeting room. “Lancelot!” She hissed, pressing her hand against her chest in an attempt to soothe her racing heart.
He turned to look at her, a wide grin across his face as he pushed the door open.
By the time she made it through the door, he was already speaking to the king. “Her Grace has requested to visit the orphanage, and I intend to accompany her, Arthur. She does not require an escort — myblade will suffice.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Never in all her life would she have thoughtthatwas the reason her guard wanted an audience with the king. She felt a twinge of shame as she watched her husband look Lancelot over.
She could see the cogs turning in the king’s mind, trying to figure out how Guinevere could have possibly pulled this off. “I don’t believe she asked me about this, du Lac.”
“Perhaps she didn’t feel the need.” Lancelot smiled, and the world would have fallen at his feet.
“Is this true, wife?” Arthur’s line of question always turned to her. When she looked up, his gaze was severe, arms crossed like she was a petulant child.
“It has been a while since I’ve seen the children, your grace.”
“Come on, brother,” Lancelot laughed now, clapping the king hard on the shoulder. “You’re going to tell your queen she can’t visit fatherless children?” He cocked his head, waiting for him to disagree.
“Lance-”
“That was me, Arthur. And your mother was always at the orphanage. Queens like her” he nodded in Gwen’s direction “Hold great kingdoms together.”
“Are you using your parentless life as an excuse for my wife?” And though his words were accusatory, his stance lightened. “You’re taking this trial quite seriously, old friend.”
