Page 10 of The Last Knight (The Cursed Kingdom #5)

Warm water streamed over Aubrey’s skin, washing away the sweat from the day but not the questions swirling through her mind.

Marcus. Two years had passed since he walked out of her life.

The first, she’d wasted imagining him knocking on her door with an apology and a promise.

The second, she’d rebuilt piece by piece, learning how to move forward without looking back.

So why now?

Why, after all this time, did his presence affect her? She pressed her palms to her face, letting the water fall around her.

Could she really feel anything for him now?

No. Trust, once broken, rarely healed without leaving scars. Whatever they’d once shared had been very good, but when he’d ended things so abruptly, it had shattered more than her heart. It had shattered any chance of a reconciliation.

Even the thought of friendship felt unrealistic.

It was settled. She’d speak to Marcus and ensure he understood nothing would ever happen between them and that she had no desire to ever be with him again.

Feeling better, she wrapped a towel around her body and stepped out of the bathroom stopping short, a scream erupting from her throat.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Aubrey shrieked, and without thinking she rushed forward and punched Gunther in the stomach, catching him off guard. He let out a combination grunt and gasp before stepping backward.

This was not how she pictured this day going at all. First she was to have a peaceful yoga session in the village park, followed by a delightful visit to her shop and then the day was supposed to end with a glass of wine and takeout, perhaps curry.

Only the first item on the list had gone as planned. Ignoring Gunther, she stormed to the bed, grabbed the clothes she’d laid out, consisting of leggings and an oversized long sleeve t-shirt then returned to the bathroom. “Go away,” she called through the door.

Not that she expected he’d be gone. She let out an annoyed groan. What now? And why did Gunther look different? Something about his clothing.

As she expected when she walked out, Gunther remained standing, next to her bed.

He held her cell phone and studied it. He wore modern clothes.

Black slacks, a dark grey button-up shirt and loafers.

He’d fit right into current times. Looked like most men, or perhaps not.

He exuded wealth, his clothing obviously tailored to fit his toned body perfectly.

“I came to ask if you’d reconsidered my request,” Gunther said, his deep voice smooth, the kind that made women take notice.

Aubrey neared and took her phone from his hand. “Even if I had any idea how to help you, I can’t. For all I know you wish to come here and spread darkness. Bring the evil with you.”

His chest expanded as he took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “It is the evil that I wish to escape. The pull to lose myself in the darkness becomes stronger every day. I fear soon it will consume me and take with it my humanity.”

She was mesmerized by his throat when he swallowed. “Can we talk,” he asked.

“Perhaps somewhere other than your bedchamber?”

Did she have a choice? If she were to be honest, questions bubbled in her head, there were many things she wanted to know.

“Very well.” Crossing her arms, she met his gaze. “Don’t push your luck and try anything. Oh, and do not take this as me agreeing to anything.” Aubrey wasn’t sure, but she thought the corners of his lips inched up just a bit.

They made their way from her bedroom to the sitting room. Scottish hospitality won out and she offered him a drink. Gunther nodded and she went to the kitchen, returning with two wine glasses, a bottle of red wine and a corkscrew.

Gunther took the bottle and waved a hand, the bottle uncorked on its own, the movements fluid and graceful. Then he poured them each a glass, holding out hers.

When she eyed it suspiciously, he gave her a bland look.

“It’s safe. What would I have to gain by adding anything to it?”

“So many things. You can get the password to my phone; you can control my mind and make me help you…” She took the glass, deciding he could do any of those things if he wished to without tampering with her wine.

She lowered to one of two love seats, and he joined her, leaving very little space between them.

Up close she could see that he looked to be about thirty.

No wrinkles, the only marks were a pair of tiny lines on the outer corners of his eyes, and, of course, the brutal mark on the left side of his face.

He had a perfectly shaped thin nose, full lips and sharp cheekbones.

Long, dark blond eyelashes framed his bright blue eyes, the color of the Mediterranean Sea.

Today his hair was brushed back from his face, the waves falling to barely graze his wide shoulders.

To sum it up, the man was breathtakingly handsome. Absently, she wondered how women had reacted to him when he last lived in this realm.

“So,” Aubrey started. “Why were you taken by Meliot to begin with?”

For a long moment he was silent, a slight frown appearing between his brows. Obviously it was not an easy question to answer.

“I served as a knight in service to Stadtholder Willem, when I was taken to the Dark Realm during the Anglo-Dutch war.” He studied the wine in his glass.

That was a strong conversation starter, Aubrey considered. “Where did you live before being taken?”

“The Dutch Republic, seventeen eighty-one.” If he noticed she avoided asking questions about his supposed culpability, he didn’t remark on it.

Doing quick math in her head, she realized he’d been in the other realm for just over two hundred years.

Which made him a significantly older man.

Aubrey almost giggled at her thoughts but found it impossible.

Gunther emanated power, parts good, parts not.

It was the latter that made her want to move away from him.

“What about family? Were you ever able to see them again?”

He shook his head, a faraway look on his face. “No. I was captive for so long, they were all dead by the time I could travel.”

It was strange to sit there with a man who could snap his fingers and kill her, a man who ruled a dark kingdom of evil.

And yet, despite the darkness that swirled around him, Aubrey was not afraid of him.

In the deepest recesses of her being, she understood that he would never do anything to harm her.

“You said you saw me mentioned in a tome while Meliot still lived. Why do you think that was?”

He studied her, his gaze lingering on her face before falling to study her hands.

“I believe because the magic knew you were to be someone that was to be an integral part of something that could affect the Dark Realm.” His left shoulder lifted and lowered.

“And it could be that you hold magic within that has been dormant.”

“Ha,” Aubrey said shaking her head. “That I sincerely doubt. If I had magical abilities, they would have surfaced when I was involved in Padriag’s rescue. I was surrounded by magics and not once did I feel anything stirring.”

As if doing his best to be patient, Gunther sighed and looked up to the painting over the mantel.

It was an original of her great-great-grandparents on her father’s side.

She followed his line of sight, recalling that her departed grandmother had once possessed a magical dagger that had been instrumental in saving Padriag.

Said object was also the reason why Gunther was now ruler of the Dark Realm.

She turned and looked at him. “Strange to be sitting here drinking wine with you, a man who rules an evil and dark realm. Almost like the devil.” Goosebumps formed on her arms at the thought.

Was this man in fact more evil than good and pretending, doing his best to trick her into doing something foolish?

Some of her doubts lifted when he looked affronted by her words. His mouth opened, but it seemed he was at a loss for words. Then he cleared his throat and frowned. “I can see why you think that. It’s understandable.”

“Another question,” Aubrey began. “What exactly do you think will free you? And what would you do if freed?”

“Those are two questions,” Gunther clarified with a smirk. “I am certain you hold the key. Otherwise, why were you in Meliot’s book? I am not sure what I would do, or where I would go. The Dutch Republic is no more.”

Aubrey stood and walked to stand next to the fireplace. “I can’t help you. A part of me believes that you are sincere in wishing to be freed, to leave the other realm. However, there are too many reasons as to why I should not.”

As if measuring his movements, he stood to his full height, which she guessed to be perhaps six-four.

Then, before she could stop him, he stood in front of her.

He took her right hand in his and placed it flat on his chest over his heart.

Solid chest, Aubrey considered, the steady thudding of his heart under her palm steady.

He met her gaze. “On my honor as a knight of King Wilhelm, I swear that I only wish to be freed. I will do no harm to you or others.”

When their gazes clashed, Aubrey searched the blue depths. Was he as honest as he appeared to be? A knight never violated an oath made. At the same time, the darkness within Gunther could push past any honor.

There was no evidence of anything other than sincerity and the darkening of his eyes was not evil, but something else. Desire.

Realizing how close she stood, with her palm flat against his muscular chest, Aubrey pulled her hand free. They stood so close, she could smell the woodsy aroma and something clean. She wanted to sniff to be sure, it smelled as if he’d used a very expensive shampoo or body wash.