Page 62 of The Last Knight

Chapter Twenty

A Month Later

Gunther walked out of the large home and held his face up to the sun. No matter how many years passed, he knew he would never take the changing skies in this realm for granted.

It had been a month since Aubrey had brought him to Ashcraig, allowing him to recover without much interference. He’d joined the three who lived there for dinner every evening and had spent hours in a sitting room watching television, mostly what they called news, in order to become acclimated to the new world he was to live in now.

Padriag had insisted he remain on the first level in the guest room, which was separate from the rest of them, who slept on the upper floor. Gunther understood. The women had to be protected until everyone was sure he didn’t retain evil.

Despite the Padriag’s initial resistance, they had formed a rapport, not quite friends, but no longer enemies either.

Gunther looked across the expanse of land to a winding road upon which cars traversed the bends with ease. He followed one in particular, a bright red one because it reminded him of Aubrey’s.

“It is a very different world is it not?” Padriag came to stand next to him. “Did you come to this realm often and keep up with the changes?”

Gunther shook his head. “Most of my time was spent in the other realm, I was held captive for an entire century. Meliot did not trust me to travel until in the last few years.”

“So, the changes must be stark for you.”

“I am not sure I’ll ever learn it all, to ever…” He stopped. He’d meant to say, fit in, but it was an obvious observation.

With a chuckle and shake of his head, Padriag shrugged. “All of us feel that way. However, I am glad we’ve been gifted with the women we have as partners and the remote location we live in. It gives us time to learn at a slower pace.”

Another obvious thing to say would be that Gunther didn’t have that luxury. Although he was very much attracted to Aubrey and wished for more, she’d been distant since he’d arrived. Friendly and welcoming but seeming to keep him at arm’s length.

“What about you and Aubrey?” Padriag asked, seeming to read his mind. “Are you and she going to clear the air? You seem uneasy around each other.”

Gunther nodded. “I plan to speak to her.” He turned to Padriag, his stomach tight with shame. “Do you know of somewhere I can live. Until I find a way to earn a living, I can only offer to work in exchange for a place to lay my head.”

The man nodded. “I do. You can live at one of the cottages at Dunimarle. Tristan and I have already discussed it. You can work at the stables with Gavin or help with construction. First, I suggest you speak to Aubrey. Figure out what’s going on in her pretty head.”

As she pulled into the driveway and shifted the car into park, Aubrey sank back against the seat with a weary exhale. The house loomed before her, familiar, cozy…and he was there.

Every day, stepping through that front door stirred a storm of emotions. Gunther lived there, and even when he wasn’t in the same room, it felt like his presence filled every corner, his quiet strength, his watchful eyes, the scent of him, a bodywash gifted to him by her, that lingered just enough to make her breath catch.

Of course she wanted him there. She wanted him to have a safe space to heal, a roof over his head, warm meals, and someone who cared. But the closeness, the domesticity—they brought more questions than comfort. Gunther’s bruises had faded, and lately he’d been testing his range of motion without the sling. Physically, he was healing. But what about the rest?

More than anything, she needed clarity about their relationship. Considering the way she caught him looking at her, feelings were still there. She’d kept her distance, because she didn’t want him to feel obligated, physically, emotionally, or otherwise, just because he was living under her roof. And while she missed the warmth of his touch, the easy laughter they’d once shared, she’d rather suffer in silence than risk making him feel bad.

The moment she stepped inside the house, she was greeted by Padriag who was lounging in the front room with that all-too-knowing expression he’d perfected.

“Hi,” she said cautiously, eyes scanning the space. “Are you alone? I didn’t see Erin’s car.”

He took her tote bag, his brow arching with practiced drama. “He’s in the back garden.”

Aubrey’s stomach fluttered with nerves.

Padriag stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You two need to talk. Erin and I are getting tired of pretending we don’t notice the tension. It’s like watching a pot boil while the lid shakes.”

She opened her mouth to protest—but the words caught. Instead, she sighed, weary and uncertain. “I will talk to him. I just…I need a few minutes to think.”

“Nope.” Padriag’s hands gently clasped her shoulders as he steered her through the sitting room, into the kitchen and toward the back door. “You’ve had plenty of minutes. It’s time.”

He opened the door and nudged her toward it with a small, encouraging smile. “Go.”

The sun bathed the garden in golden light, and a soft breeze carried the scent of blooming jasmine and fresh-cut grass. Aubrey paused at the back door, momentarily caught up in the sight before her.

Gunther stood with his back to her, shoulders broad and still, his gaze cast toward the horizon as though searching for something just beyond reach. His hair, now past his shoulders, swayed gently in the breeze, catching the sunlight in glints of gold. She hadn’t realized how long it had grown. Padriag had shown him how to use a modern shaver, but a trip to the barber had somehow slipped her mind.