Page 33 of The Last Knight

“All right. I suppose you do look the same. I am not sure how I would be able to tell if you were consumed by evil.”

His wide shoulders lifted and lowered. “I suppose you will sense it. I will not come near you if the darkness overtakes me.” He looked around the space. “Is this where you hope to find something to help me?”

Aubrey put the horse down gently and lifted her phone to turn off the music. “Not to help you, but to see if there is something that is causing this.” She motioned between them. “Since I don’t know anything about magic or such, I have no idea what exactly to look for.”

He was dressed casually this day, with brown slacks, a blue pullover and joggers. The blue shirt made his eyes seem especially brighter. The blue pools making it hard to tear her gaze away.

Forcing herself to look away, she motioned to a stack of small boxes. “I am going to sort through those today. If you wish, you can do it with me.”

Why was she inviting an evil being to hang out? Aubrey prayed he’d say no.

“I was going to offer to help.”

Suddenly awkward, Aubrey wasn’t sure how to handle things. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Perhaps later.” He moved to the first box, lifted it and placed it on a table. Then he motioned to it. “Do you wish me to open it?”

Aubrey nodded and then stood transfixed as he reached to his side and took a dagger from a sheath she’d not noticed. While he cut through the packing tape, head bent, it was as if he were a normal guy helping her. A very hot, but regular guy. Not one who ruled an entire realm, a king of sorts. A ruler who wielded magical powers and was equal parts good and evil.

“How does it feel?” Aubrey asked. “To have powers and rule an entire…realm?” She reached into the box and took out a pair of wrapped bundles.

A crease formed between Gunther’s brows as he considered her question. “I am still not accustomed to it. It is as if currents of electric…” he pointed to the swaying lightbulb. “As if currents travel under my skin constantly. I do not care for it. However, when I have dark thoughts, when the darkness beckons, the sensations are different, enjoyable…I suppose you can call it stimulating.”

He lifted a wrapped bundle and Aubrey nodded, giving him permission to tear it open. She did the same to the two she’d dug out. All three were part of a set, cups and saucers with matching floral motifs. The rest of the box was the same, all with the same pattern.

Gunther lifted the box and placed it next to the other items she planned to donate. “Two to go,” Aubrey said.

Curiously, as they worked, opening boxes and going through the items, she didn’t want him to leave. He was good company, not pushing for a conversation and he’d not tried to do anything to make her feel uncomfortable. If anything, she was the one who couldn’t tear her gaze away when their eyes met, and who stole glances at him when he busied himself opening boxes or digging through them.

“What do you think about this?” He held a tarnished pewter goblet. “It looks to be quiet old.”

Aubrey walked closer, studying the object, timid to touch it. “Do you sense anything? I would think that you would know better than me.”

“I am not sure that I would,” Gunther admitted. “To be honest, like you, I have no idea what to look for or that, if we do find the item, I will know.”

“Let me see,” Aubrey held out her hand and he gave her the goblet. At their fingers touching, awareness spread up her arm. Begrudgingly, she admitted to herself that she could be holding the Holy Grail, and it was doubtful she’d realize it. A look or touch from Gunther was more powerful than the garish goblet. “I will put this aside. So far it’s the only item we have found of interest.”

They held each other’s gazes for a beat too long. “We should talk,” Aubrey began.

Gunther didn’t break eye contact. “About the kiss?” His attention moved to her lips. “I think about it all the time.”

Her breath caught. “Yes, well we shouldn’t have. I was impulsive and being who you are, I prefer it not happen again.”

Taking a step closer, his eyes narrowed. “I would prefer it to happen again and often. You are different from any woman I have ever known. What I mean is, had known, before I went to the other realm.”

Unable to stop herself, Aubrey wondered if the women in his realm were more beautiful and if he’d been in any relationship there. “What are the women in the other realm like?”

Gunther dropped his gaze. “The females in the Dark Realm are from a race called Torant. They are large, tall as me, humanlike, but have elongated faces, like a horse…or maybe a wolf.”

“That doesn’t sound attractive,” Aubrey said. “Are there no humans there?”

“In the other realm where I lived for many years, there are women who live in the villages.”

As she was about to ask how long it had been since he’d been with a woman, dongs of bells sounded. Someone was at the front door.

“Keep looking. I will be right back.” Aubrey hurried up the stairs. The interruption was a good thing. Asking about other women would give Gunther the wrong impression. That she was interested in him.

Catching her reflection in a hallway mirror, she hesitated. Cheeks flushed, eyes bright, she looked excited, happy even. Her hormones were definitely working.