Page 14 of The Last Knight (The Cursed Kingdom #5)

Chapter Ten

W hen Gunther materialized in Scotland, the world came into sharp, vivid focus.

He didn’t move—not because he was afraid, but because something held him fast. Looking down, he found himself encircled by a glowing ring of salt and glinting gems, a containment spell drawn with meticulous care.

Yet, before he even acknowledged the figures standing nearby, he closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.

The air was rich and alive; warm sun on fresh grass, the earthy trace of moss, and a trace of sea salt carried on the breeze from the nearby shore.

It was the scent of freedom, and yet he was bound.

Upon opening his eyes, he noted he was within sight of Dunimarle Castle. Looking from side to side he took in the men who surrounded him.

Four of the knights, who’d recently escaped the other realm, stood with a variety of weapons that, like them, spanned the centuries.

Tristan and Padriag held swords, whilst Niall McTavish and Liam Murray stood with feet apart, pointing guns at him. Gavin was missing, probably away and unlike in the other realm had to rely on the slower modes of transportation.

“You summoned?” Gunther asked in as calm a voice as he could muster while pushing back the dark powers that surged at being restrained. Despite being quite powerful in the other realm, he wasn’t sure to be as able here.

It was Tristan McRainey who spoke for the group. “Why have you appeared to Miss Macguire twice and asked her to help? Why would you require help from anyone?”

Past Tristan he noted movement at one of the windows. It was too far to see clearly, but undoubtedly, it was the men’s partners keeping watch. Was Aubrey with them? He ached to see her face, to hear her voice encouraging him. At this moment he was utterly alone.

“I asked you a question,” Tristan insisted.

Gunther met the man’s gaze. “I am fighting to leave the other realm and return to this one. I am bound by Meliot’s magic to the Dark Realm and cannot break free on my own.”

A huff got his attention and Gunther looked at Liam. The knight’s disdain was evident in the curl of his upper lip. “I sense darkness. You reek of it. What you wish to do is to spread evil here.”

No matter what he said, the men would never believe him. He didn’t blame them, for centuries they’d been mistreated, tortured and tormented by his predecessor.

“I admit that I do not deserve the benefit of the doubt. As it stands, the only way for me to be released from the throne is by death.”

There was silence as he was sure the men all thought his death was not altogether a bad thing.

“I want to return home. If I am to die, I wish it to be here.” Gunther looked up to the sky. “I am aware there is naught a way to convince you that I wish to bring no harm to this realm.”

Niall spoke next. “You are correct in that. Return to the darkness from which you came and stay there. Do not bother Aubrey again.”

“You should guard her,” Gunther said earning glares all around. “She should be kept safe, not from me, but from whoever succeeds in dethroning me. Aubrey is named in Meliot’s tomes.”

Gunther decided to try one last-ditch effort to convince them of his wish to return to a normal life. He directed his attention to Padriag, the one who he’d help rescue.

“When I helped you, I was not aware of the ramifications, that as the only person present I would absorb the wizard’s powers.

I was prepared to stay in the other realm; I deserve no less.

However, I do not wish to be fully consumed with the evil that lurks within me now and become overcome by the darkness.

That I do not deserve.” He held Padriag’s gaze. “I need your help. Please.”

The allusion to the young knight being indebted to him was left unsaid, but he sensed the man was moved, even if a miniscule bit.

“Even if you are being honest, there are no guarantees that the darkness that resides in you will not follow. Am I right?” When the others grumbled at Padriag’s words, he held a hand up and pinned Gunther with an intense look. “You do not know the answer to that, do you?”

The man was right. Gunther let out a long breath feeling a heaviness push down on him, the sickening voices rising in his head.

“Kill them. Kill them. It will feel so good. You will delight in it. Kill them.”

A heady sense like that of eating the most delightful morsel, of being pleasured, of gentle strokes all over his body felt wonderful and he almost moaned at the evil’s teasing. Summoning strength, he pushed it away and let out harsh breath, his jaw tight.

“No, I have no knowledge if my freedom will bring with it destructive consequences or if I will be able to live a normal life,” he replied.

There didn’t seem to be any softening in the men’s expressions and Gunther felt defeated. He lifted his hands and lowered them in a motion of giving up.

They would not help them and in all probability would keep Aubrey from him as well. He didn’t blame them, if she were his, he would die before allowing someone like him, a man destined to cruelty and madness anywhere near her.

Testing the circle’s hold, Gunther pushed against the invisible walls. Although the magical hold was strong, he was sure he could escape it. He didn’t try, instead, waited for whomever would come, curious to know if Aubrey would be among them.

Standing at the window, Aubrey could not tear her gaze from the view. Although the sash was open to allow for a breeze to blow in, it was impossible to hear the discussion.

In the center of a magical circle, feet planted wide, and shoulders squared, Gunther looked every bit a Viking warrior. The subtle wind blew through his hair, the blond strands playing across his shoulders.

He was unarmed from what she could see, no sword across his back or dagger at his hip. Despite it, she was not fooled. He was lethal and could probably free himself from the magical hold. That was, if his powers worked in this realm.

“What are they saying?” Tammie, Niall’s wife, asked, shifting from one foot to the other impatiently.

“Shhh,” Gwen, Tristan’s wife, hissed leaning forward. “They are telling him something about not helping ‘cause they don’t trust him.”

Aubrey looked to Erin, who shrugged. “I can’t hear anything.”

They turned their attention back to the group of men who continued to hold their weapons at the ready in case Gunther tried anything.

He was darkness and evil, Aubrey reminded herself. Still, the memory of being in his arms, of his mouth over hers overtook all common sense, making it impossible to believe he meant harm.

“Look,” someone said, and she snapped from her thoughts to see that Padriag and Gunther were having an exchange. Padriag held a hand up and said something to Gunther.

As if in defeat, Gunther held both hands up and lowered them. Her chest tightened, a part of her hoping that they did the right thing. If Gunther had evil plans, then they were saving their homeland. However, if he was truthful and only wished to be freed, then how to live with that?

“I need to speak to him.” Aubrey sprinted from the room ignoring the alarmed calls from her cousin and the other two women.

Once outside, with them on her heels, she hesitated only for an instant, then sprinted toward the men, who hadn’t noticed her.

Gunther was the first to see her, barely giving any indication. Probably hoping she’d make it close enough and plead his case.

However, at the sound of the women calling her name, the other men all turned to look at her.

Padriag lowered his sword and held up one hand, palm toward her. She took two additional steps and bounced backwards, hitting an invisible wall.

“I need to know the truth!” She met Gunther’s gaze and screamed. “Why is my name in those books? Why are you really here?”

The women caught up to her. Both Gwen and Tammie moved to stand in front of her, but Aubrey pushed them apart. “Answer me.”

Looking first to the men, as if asking for permission, Gunther waited until Padriag nodded before replying. “I cannot read the ancient language of the realm. The Scribe translated that you are too lethal to the ruler of the Dark Realm.”

“Why?” Aubrey asked, her gaze taking him in. How a man could be so beautiful when holding evil within was alarming. His long lashed blue eyes narrowed as if trying to figure out what she was thinking. Aubrey almost cringed.

“I cannot answer you. I do not know.”

“Enough,” Tristan interrupted. “Return to the Dark Realm and do not come back.”

Gwen and Tammie held hands, prepared to chant the spell that would prompt his departure.

“I cannot promise not to return. I will continue to fight to be free.” Gunther dematerialized, leaving no trace that he’d ever been there.

The magic circle had not held him. He’d chosen to remain to plead his case and to not harm any of them.

“What were you thinking,” Erin chastised Aubrey for what seemed like the hundredth time. “He could have grabbed and taken you.” Worry lines crisscrossed her cousin’s face.

Aubrey shrugged. “He was in the circle.”

Everyone was inside the castle, sitting around a long table in the dining room. The men were mostly silent, seeming to be organizing their thoughts before speaking. The women were not as patient.

Gwen gave Aubrey a droll look. “You do understand he could have broken from the circle at any time right? By the way he dematerialized, it is apparent he stayed in place of his own will.”

“What does that say?” Erin asked. “Is it a trick? Something he did to manipulate us into thinking he is being honest?”

“If he is anything like Meliot, then yes.” Tristan let out a breath. “What he states is not of import. What worries us is his claim that Aubrey is named in Meliot’s tomes.”

“Is there something you can do? Some sort of magical protection to keep Aubrey safe from him?” Erin looked on the brink of tears. “I have been there, and it is horrifying.”

Tristan rapped his knuckles on the table getting everyone’s attention. “Although I doubt most of what Gunther stated, I do believe Aubrey is in danger. Any ideas on measures to keep her safe?”

“We’ll have to go through things that belonged to your grandmother and see if there is anything that could possibly be used against you,” Gwen said.

Liam added. “The dagger was in your family’s possession; there has to be a reason why. There could be other things.” His ice blue gaze moved between her and Erin. “Where would her things be?”

It was Erin who spoke next. “We can search the cellar at Ashcraig House,” she suggested. “There are heaps of things stored there.”

“That’s a good idea,” Aubrey said. “Nothing else occurs to me. If it comes to it, I will speak to Da and ask if he has any other items of interest,” Aubrey quickly added. “Although that would be the least preferable thing to do. He is very inquisitive and will ask tons of questions.”

Aubrey blew out a frustrated breath. “When I asked Da about grandmother, he told me she was a collector of items that she considered to be used in medieval magic. Also, that she was casual about it, as if she didn’t quite believe in their powers, but liked the idea of it.”

“Aubrey and I will start the search right away,” Erin explained. “It is not a large space, so we should be able to handle it. I will ask for help if it is needed.”

“Meanwhile, Tammie and I will research protection wards for both the house and both of you,” Gwen said as the others around the table nodded their approval.

There wasn’t much more that could be done, and in all honesty, the more pressing matter at the moment was opening her studio.

Already notices had been sent to the local newspaper and preparations made for the grand opening in less than two weeks.

The amount of work that was yet to be done made her head spin.

“It will all have to wait for a couple weeks. As you may all remember, I have to be prepared for my yoga studio’s opening. I cannot be spending hours in a smelly cellar.”

They discussed how everyone had tasks at hand, from helping Aubrey with her studio to overseeing the building of homes on Dunimarle lands.

Finally, they deemed that Gwen and John, Liam’s partner, would work on the wards to keep Aubrey and Erin safe.

Aubrey let out a long sigh. She’d been counting on Gwen and John’s help for the studio, but at the same time, she understood that if she were snatched and taken to the Dark Realm, her life could be in danger.

And yet, she wasn’t afraid of Gunther. Her gut instinct was that he would never harm her.