Page 27 of The Last Knight

He was unarmed from what she could see, no sword across his back or dagger at his hip. Despite it, she was not fooled. He was lethal and could probably free himself from the magical hold. That was, if his powers worked in this realm.

“What are they saying?” Tammie, Niall’s wife, asked, shifting from one foot to the other impatiently.

“Shhh,” Gwen, Tristan’s wife, hissed leaning forward. “They are telling him something about not helping ‘cause they don’t trust him.”

Aubrey looked to Erin, who shrugged. “I can’t hear anything.”

They turned their attention back to the group of men who continued to hold their weapons at the ready in case Gunther tried anything.

He was darkness and evil, Aubrey reminded herself. Still, the memory of being in his arms, of his mouth over hers overtook all common sense, making it impossible to believe he meant harm.

“Look,” someone said, and she snapped from her thoughts to see that Padriag and Gunther were having an exchange. Padriag held a hand up and said something to Gunther.

As if in defeat, Gunther held both hands up and lowered them. Her chest tightened, a part of her hoping that they did the right thing. If Gunther had evil plans, then they were saving their homeland. However, if he was truthful and only wished to be freed, then how to live with that?

“I need to speak to him.” Aubrey sprinted from the room ignoring the alarmed calls from her cousin and the other two women.

Once outside, with them on her heels, she hesitated only for an instant, then sprinted toward the men, who hadn’t noticed her.

Gunther was the first to see her, barely giving any indication. Probably hoping she’d make it close enough and plead his case.

However, at the sound of the women calling her name, the other men all turned to look at her.

Padriag lowered his sword and held up one hand, palm toward her. She took two additional steps and bounced backwards, hitting an invisible wall.

“I need to know the truth!” She met Gunther’s gaze and screamed. “Why is my name in those books? Why are you really here?”

The women caught up to her. Both Gwen and Tammie moved to stand in front of her, but Aubrey pushed them apart. “Answer me.”

Looking first to the men, as if asking for permission, Gunther waited until Padriag nodded before replying. “I cannot read the ancient language of the realm. The Scribe translated that you are too lethal to the ruler of the Dark Realm.”

“Why?” Aubrey asked, her gaze taking him in. How a man could be so beautiful when holding evil within was alarming. His long lashed blue eyes narrowed as if trying to figure out what she was thinking. Aubrey almost cringed.

“I cannot answer you. I do not know.”

“Enough,” Tristan interrupted. “Return to the Dark Realm and do not come back.”

Gwen and Tammie held hands, prepared to chant the spell that would prompt his departure.

“I cannot promise not to return. I will continue to fight to be free.” Gunther dematerialized, leaving no trace that he’d ever been there.

The magic circle had not held him. He’d chosen to remain to plead his case and to not harm any of them.

“What were you thinking,” Erin chastised Aubrey for what seemed like the hundredth time. “He could have grabbed and taken you.” Worry lines crisscrossed her cousin’s face.

Aubrey shrugged. “He was in the circle.”

Everyone was inside the castle, sitting around a long table in the dining room. The men were mostly silent, seeming to be organizing their thoughts before speaking. The women were not as patient.

Gwen gave Aubrey a droll look. “You do understand he could have broken from the circle at any time right? By the way he dematerialized, it is apparent he stayed in place of his own will.”

“What does that say?” Erin asked. “Is it a trick? Something he did to manipulate us into thinking he is being honest?”

“If he is anything like Meliot, then yes.” Tristan let out a breath. “What he states is not of import. What worries us is his claim that Aubrey is named in Meliot’s tomes.”

“Is there something you can do? Some sort of magical protection to keep Aubrey safe from him?” Erin looked on the brink of tears. “I have been there, and it is horrifying.”

Tristan rapped his knuckles on the table getting everyone’s attention. “Although I doubt most of what Gunther stated, I do believe Aubrey is in danger. Any ideas on measures to keep her safe?”