Page 3 of The Darkest Knight (The Cursed Kingdom #3)

Chapter Three

T ammie pulled out a small backpack she’d grabbed from Gwen’s room earlier and began looking around the room deciding what to take. Was the alter-world cold or warm? Did she need to bring sweats or shorts?

Where was Gwen? Her older sister had traveled to the alter-world when rescuing her handsome husband, Tristan.

No sign of anyone approaching, so she settled for a pair of worn jeans and a t-shirt and stuffed them into the pack. She went to the small bathroom and grabbed toothpaste and a toothbrush. After a few minutes she decided to grab a deodorant and a small bottle of body lotion.

Tammie walked back into the bedroom and screamed, dropping her toiletries in her fright.

Niall stood by the bed, glaring down at the backpack.

“You actually meant to come to the other realm?” he asked in deep, heavily accented Scottish tones.

“Y-you startled me,” Tammie stammered, crouching down and picking the dropped items off the floor.

He opened the backpack and peered inside. “How long were you planning to stay? You are not packing very much.”

His clothing that consisted of a tunic and leather pants, was interesting. Somehow, his way of dress suited his wide-shouldered, well-built frame. Then again, the man would look good in just about anything.

She shoved the toiletries into the backpack. “As long as it takes to convince your stubborn self to tell me what the terms of breaking your enchantment are.” Tammie jutted out her chin and looked up at him.

“That is not enough clothing for two hundred years.”

“You do realize that the sooner we break your curse, the sooner Padriag can be rescued. Not only that, but then the others can go on with their lives.” Tammie let out a slow breath before continuing. “Don’t you think it’s time for everyone to be happy?”

“Yes. I do.” His brows drew together, his lips pressed into a tight line. When they locked gazes, Tammie was the first to look away. “Do you not have a husband you should be with?”

“I am not married,” Tammie replied. “But I do not plan to stay here trying to help you for two hundred years. Besides, at the most I have about sixty years tops left to live.” She snorted at her joke.

He scowled, but did not say anything.

“Do you have a lover?”

Interesting that he’d ask that. “What difference does that make?” Tammie sat on the edge of the bed and frowned. “I do have a man in my life. His name is Gerard.”

“Return to him and leave me. I am where I want to be.”

“Really?” Tammie asked and glared up at him. “You want to stay in that place? All alone without your friends? You want to give up on ever having a family, a normal life?”

The storm in his eyes made her wish she’d not spoken. He’d had a life, a family, and lost it all.

“My reasons are my own. I know what is best for me. There are things that even breaking from the enchantment would not change about my life.”

Tammie found herself at a loss as to how to help him. “Have you explained to the others why you don’t want to leave? Because honestly, I don’t get it.”

“No. There is nothing to explain.”

Stubborn, stubborn man.

Tammie decided to change tactics. “What about Padriag? What if his enchantment terms are tied to you?”

“I doubt it. The conditions of his enchantment have nothing to do with me.”

“Has he told you the terms of his enchantment?”

His nodded. “All of us know the rules for breaking his enchantment by heart. The lad never stops talking.”

Tammie smiled. “I have not met him. He sounds nice from what the others say about him. Can he leave the enchantment and appear here?”

“Perhaps. He leaves and goes back to his ancestral home quite often.” The familiar scowl returned. “I must go.”

His abrupt announcement caught her by surprise. “Oh, no. You can’t. Not yet.” Tammie grabbed onto his sleeve. “I can’t let you leave until you promise to return and discuss the situation again. Otherwise, I will come to you.”

Niall’s eyes locked to where she held onto his arm. She fisted the fabric tighter, hoping he couldn’t disappear if she hung on to his clothing. Then, not satisfied, she grabbed his hand with her free one and held her breath. Just in case he decided to flash away, she’d be semi-prepared.

“Why do you close your eyes?”

Tammie opened them. “I was preparing myself in case you left and took me with you.”

He didn’t respond, but she noticed his gaze flickered from her face to their intertwined fingers. “You can release me. I will return.”

“Tomorrow.”

“Aye, tomorrow.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Still not sure, she released his shirt, but not his hand. “I don’t know if I trust you.” She studied him. “I need some kind of insurance.”

He rolled his eyes.

Adorable . It was the first time he’d shown any kind of an almost fun gesture. Tammie caught herself and scowled at him.

“What are you two doing?” Liam stood at the doorway. Gwen and Sabrina’s faces peeked around him.

The blonde knight smiled at noticing their clutched hands and earned a growl from Niall who tried to pull his hand free of Tammie’s. She hung on to it.

“I won’t release him until he swears to return tomorrow,” Tammie explained to the group.

“I’ve promised,” Niall retorted through gritted teeth.

Tammie looked to her sisters who both studied Niall. “Should I trust that he will do as he’s promised?”

Sabrina pushed past Liam and moved closer. “I don’t know, I think he has too. Some kind of knight rule.” She turned to Liam. “Am I right?”

“Why don’t you ask him?” Liam replied, obviously enjoying Niall’s discomfort.

Everyone looked to Niall who in turn looked straight ahead to the blank wall. “I must keep my word. It is part of the Knight’s code.”

“There you see,” Gwen, ever the trusting soul, told Tammie. “Let him go. He looks like he’s in pain.”

“He’s not in pain.” Tammie stood on her tiptoes and studied his face. “Are you?”

A muscle on the side of his jaw pulsed, and Tammie bit her bottom lip. “Oh goodness maybe he’s got a headache.”

At Liam’s loud laugh they all turned to him. “He’s not sick, he’s mad. Furious in fact.”

Tammie yelped and released Niall’s hand jumping away from him. “Jeez. Once you’re free we’re taking you to see someone about anger management.”

Niall looked at her for a long moment. For those few seconds it was as if no one else in the room existed. She was surprised that anger was not present in his eyes, but instead a deep longing and something else, an emotion that she could only describe as sadness.

“Well ladies, we must bid you farewell for now. Niall will be here tomorrow.”

Both knights disappeared.

Niall never looked away from her.