Page 11 of The Last Knight (The Cursed Kingdom #5)

Her wits were rattled, Aubrey thought as she moved away, turning to face the large windows that overlooked the back gardens.

“I am not promising anything. But I will search through my grandparents’ things in the cellar.

Perhaps there is something there. Although I do doubt it, so don’t get your hopes up. ”

She turned to look at him. The man was gorgeous, which made him even more dangerous. It was impossible, at least for her, to not feel the pull of attraction.

“That is all I ask,” Gunther said, lowering and then lifting his gaze to meet hers. “Do not be afraid of me.”

Of course she was afraid of him. The man ruled a realm known for death and torture. It certainly would be foolish to let her guard down.

“I am not afraid, but uncertain of you,” Aubrey replied. “How can I not be?”

He moved closer, not stopping until she could easily reach out and touch him. He slid a glance sideways as if deciphering what to say. It was almost as if he was nervous, uncertain, like a teenager about to ask a girl for a first date.

She let out a huff, annoyed with herself. “What is it?”

Finally, he met her gaze. “Do you…er, are you in a relationship?”

Aubrey blinked in surprise at the question. “What?”

“I mean,” he quickly added, “it could make for complications.”

“Complications?” Aubrey let out a breath. Not waiting for him to say anything else, she quickly said, “I am not at this time, not that it any of your business.”

The corners of his lips inched up just a bit. “I am glad to hear it.”

Gunther leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. It was brief, teasing, just enough to make her breath catch and her body react. Whether it was meant to be romantic or not, he’d just lit a bonfire.

Aubrey grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him closer. His eyes widened just before she rose onto her toes, looped her arms around his neck, and kissed him with a hunger that had been building for too long.

Their mouths collided in a passionate tangle, no hesitation, no holding back. His arms came around her like instinct, crushing her against the hard, unyielding planes of his body. There was definitely chemistry because the heat between them flared instantly.

She deepened the kiss, her fingers threading through the soft strands of his hair, claiming him. His low growl vibrated against her mouth and sent a delicious shiver down her spine.

Every inch of him was muscle and heat and need. And every part of her wanted to touch all of it.

When his hands slid down her back, slow and deliberate, she let out soft moan and dragged her fingers along his muscled arm. He was trembling. So was she. Whatever this was, it wasn’t a kiss anymore. It was the start of something dangerous. Something inevitable.

And heaven help her, she wanted more.

“Aubrey!”

The voice was like a splash of icy water jolting her out of the moment. It was as effective as a bucket of icy water, and just as shocking.

She shoved Gunther away, breathless and dazed. He stumbled back a step, his broad chest heaving and turned to the doorway.

“Oh…shit,” Aubrey whispered, eyes locking onto her cousin.

Erin stood in the doorway, wide-eyed and stiff with disbelief, her mouth slightly open as if she were still trying to process the scene before her.

Her arms crossed slowly, deliberately, as she shifted from stunned observer to judgmental witness.

The look on her face made Aubrey feel sixteen again and caught kissing a boy behind the school.

She glanced at Gunther who, infuriatingly, managed to look both guilty and impossibly gorgeous.

His face was flushed, though whether from passion or embarrassment, she couldn’t tell.

His tousled hair looked like she’d run her hands through it, which she had, and a smudge of her lip color curved along the edge of his mouth. He looked completely ravished.

It might have been funny…if he weren’t the literal Prince of Darkness.

“You should go,” Aubrey said quickly, smoothing her hair and trying to gather what little dignity remained. “I’ll explain to my cousin what we discussed.”

But Erin’s eyes narrowed, lips pursed like she was channeling every furious matriarchal ancestor. “Oh no,” she said, voice clipped and authoritative. “He stays. Both of you are going to explain what exactly is going on.”

Gunther cleared his throat and straightened, though the pink stain on his lips betrayed any attempt at regality. Aubrey sighed. There was no easy way out of this one.

Both she and Erin watched as Gunther straightened, shoulders back. “I am here to once again ask Aubrey for help in leaving the other realm.” He cleared his throat and slid a glance to her. “I have given her my oath that I would not hurt anyone or bring any darkness to the realm.”

“Are you prepared to speak to the others? Tristan, Gavin, Niall, Ian and Padriag?” Erin asked tapping her foot. “They are better suited for this than Aubrey. Neither my cousin nor I have any experience in helping you or anyone.”

“Once the key is found I will return.” With one last glance in her direction, he dematerialized, leaving behind the expensive scent and Aubrey’s rattled senses.

“Oh. My. God.” Erin repeated, pacing in the kitchen as Aubrey poured a tall glass of cold water and drained it, her heart racing and body pulsing with desire the entire time.

“I don’t know what came over me,” Aubrey said covering her mouth with both hands to hide the fact that for some stupid reason she kept smiling.

Erin huffed. “He took advantage, plain and simple.”

“Actually…I kinda grabbed him. I mean, he did kiss me first, more like a peck. It was sweet…but when he made to leave…I sort of attacked him.”

Her cousin blinked. “Why would you do that? He’s going to become very evil, even if he isn’t yet. Padriag says, he is powerful and able to do much more harm than Meliot.”

“I always did like the bad boys,” Aubrey quipped, attempting to lighten the moment.

To her relief Erin relaxed and nodded. “True. But he is as far from a boy and way more than bad.”

“You can say that again,” Aubrey said letting out a long sigh.