Drayton
Twenty-seven hours and forty-two minutes.
That’s how long it took for the Unavowed to grant Bram Whitlock’s request. And only because Bram threatened to bring the entire Order down if he didn’t comply.
We were granted entrance but not happily.
The entire day had been an absolute shitshow, and it didn’t appear to be getting any better as we headed through the dark tunnels that were meant to lead me, Bram, and Elec to The Order.
Guards in dark blue uniforms escorted us past torch-lined walls, and the scowls the men wore weren’t hidden as we turned off, moving deeper into the real catacombs of London.
I wasn’t sure how far we’d walked, or how many turns we’d made, but when we finally reached a two-story arched double door, I knew we’d arrived.
The front two guards walked forward, opening the shiny white and gold barriers as we all headed inside.
A set of guards walked just ahead of us while another set stayed at our backs.
I didn’t like that none of our own men were allowed to come, but The Unavowed wouldn’t budge, and Bram assured me and Elec that it would be fine.
We weren’t so sure…
“This way.”
One of the front guards gestured as we followed and entered a large, open room full of tables. Some were occupied while others were empty. There was a set of stairs that led up to the second story, and I could see from the landing that squared off, people were walking above.
We headed through the room, passing the stairs and into another hallway.
Rooms rested along each side, but the length wasn’t long.
A door came into view, and we went through it, entering another large, open space.
At the back were looming thrones. Only one was occupied.
Next to it, on the floor, sat Penny. She was in a white slip dress, and her head was mostly cast down, but she was stealing glances up as we approached.
My gaze lifted, and I couldn’t stop the glare as I faced the largely built man in the suit who sat on the throne.
His eyes swept over Bram and Elec, stopping on me.
Immediately, his head tilted like it had last time he’d seen me, and I couldn’t stop the challenging smile that tugged against my lips.
It was enough to have him assessing me as we came to a stop a good twenty feet away
“We’re here for Marian LaRoe.” Bram’s voice was deep. “You need to collect her and bring her to us.”
The Unavowed’s lids narrowed threateningly.
“I told you. Marian is indebted to me in lieu of her mother. She must do her time.”
“Bullshit.” My head shook. “If Melissa owed you, I’ll make the payment, but you’re not going to take it out on what’s mine. You’ve already had her long enough.”
The man sat straighter, ultimately standing to come closer. He eyed me up and down, walking to the side as he took me in.
“You hoped I’d come.” I lifted one of my eyebrows at him. “Well, here I am.”
He smiled. “Here you are. I thought it might be you. I’m impressed. Great mask. I couldn’t even tell.”
“I want Marian. She’s done her time. If Melissa owed you money, you’ll get it from me.”
Slowly, his head shook as he stepped back.
“This is about blood, not money. Only Marian can pay for her mother’s crimes.”
“Her mother is dead.” Bram’s face hardened. “I’m not here to negotiate with you. You will release Marian LaRoe, and you’ll do it right now.”
The Unavowed made a dramatic cringing expression.
“Yeah… I can’t do that.”
Bram took a step forward. “You will do it, or you will not like the consequences from The Collective High Council. Not only will we take Marian,” Bram glanced to Penny, “you will lose your own chosen, not to mention your life. Right now, The Council is willing to overlook your crimes, but if you do not release Ms. LaRoe, you lose them both.”
The man’s face drained of patience, and his head lowered while his eyes cut up. “You try to take her, and I will kill you all. Penelope is mine.”
“And Marian is mine!” I took quick steps towards him. “You have my chosen brought to me, right now. I want to see if she’s okay. If you’ve hurt her—”
“Oh… she’s hurt.” The Unavowed’s expression morphed, dripping with vehemence. Violence was something he wanted, and I didn’t miss the wild look in his eyes. “On top of her payment, the slave broke rules. She’s facing the consequences for that. Every hour. Every guard. Sometimes multiple guards.”
“You son of a—"
Elec and Bram grabbed me as I lunged forward, pulling me back as guards crowded in. I fought against them, managing to point my finger.
“Get her… now. You bring her to me right now!”
His lips twisted. “I can bring her in, but she’s not finished.
Her mother ruined multiple marriages. She took money and property from my Masters without their knowledge or consent.
The High Council decided not to return them.
So, Marian can work off the cost. I figure.
” He looked down at his watch. “She has another four lifetimes to go. Maybe five.”
“You want the properties back?” Bram held to my shoulder. “That’s what you’re saying? You want what was stolen?”
“Maybe you missed the part about marriages? About the lack of knowledge or consent? What she’s done—”
“She’s paid for,” Elec exploded. “I killed Melissa, myself. If you want material possessions or funds, that’s through The Council. Marian is not part of that. You get her right now, or what I’ll do to your chosen at The Gardens—”
“Enough!” Bram’s hand sliced through the air as The Unavowed stepped towards Elec. “You have 10 minutes to bring us Marian. We’re leaving with someone, and if it’s not her, it’ll be Penelope. If you don’t believe me, start counting. Watch what happens when your time runs out.”
The Unavowed was breathing hard. He looked behind him, taking in Penelope before he came back to face us.
“No.” I was grabbed again at his pause, but he continued. “She doesn’t leave until I have The Council’s word that what was taken will be returned. I will show you proof of life, but she goes back into the cell until The Council can assure me my request is granted.”
Bram pulled out his phone. “Have her brought in. I’ll call them.”
The Unavowed gestured to the guards as they took off at a fast pace. “That won’t work here. You’ll have to go above ground to make contact.”
“Your phone works just fine.” Bram got a look as The Unavowed shrugged, but Bram didn’t stop. “Bring her, and I’ll call them. Here. Not above ground.”
“You can try. Like I said, it won’t work.”
My voice echoed through the room. “It’ll take an hour for him to get out and another hour for him to return. That’s not even including the call or decision.”
“More fun for my guards.”
A growl mixed with a threatening sound as I stared him down. He didn’t care as he walked back to the throne to sit. I turned to Bram and Elec, trying to control my shaking.
“I’ve heard the stories of what happens here, but is he telling the truth about Marian? Would he allow his guards to go that far? She’s elite. She’s mine.”
“She’s the enemy. It’ll be bad.” Elec’s eyes shot to Bram, and he nodded. I squeezed my lids shut, but I was spinning in my need to spill blood. Heat poured from me through the rage that was building to dangerous heights.
“I want him dead. I want him fucking—”
“Impossible. Don’t make this worse. Let’s get Marian out before this talk.
” Elec pulled me in closer. “No matter what you see, you cannot lose your temper. You cannot react. She’s been here for days.
She may look horrible. Maybe unrecognizable.
No matter what, you do nothing. Do not give him the satisfaction.
But… if she leaves this room again, if he returns her to her cell while we wait, she may get it worse.
They could kill her. Do you understand me? ”
“She’s not going anywhere.”
He nodded, and my fists clenched at my sides. Minutes passed. I tried to stay still but all I wanted to do was pace. When the doors opened, I didn’t move. I couldn’t through the shock at what I saw. Marian was being carried but wasn’t awake. Was she even alive?
The dirty slip dress she wore was smeared in mud and splotches of blood. There were cuts and scrapes all over her dirty arms and legs. The half of her face I could see was swollen and bruised, and there was a laceration along her cheek.
The guard walked up, and where I lifted my arms out to take her, he stopped a few feet away, dumping her roughly on the floor.
I wanted to rush to her. To go crazy and destroy everything and everyone around me from the blood smeared along her inner thighs.
By some miracle, I managed to walk forward at a leisurely pace.
When I crouched and went to place my fingers on her pulse point, I saw the dark bruising around her neck.
A part of me broke as I pushed against her skin, feeling the slow beats.
My heart ached and constricted. Marian whimpered, but she didn’t wake up.
“See. She lives. How long, is the question.”
My stare rose. Maybe there were tears. I couldn’t process anything as I reached down to scoop Marian in my arms. The Unavowed’s hand shot up before I could even slide my hands underneath her.
“Don’t bother. She’s going back to the cell until—”
I didn’t break my stare from his as I picked her up and cradled her to my chest. I knew my look was claiming, possessive and murderous, but I didn’t care.
She was mine. Marian was everything to me—both good and bad.
“We’re making the calls. Marian’s not leaving me until they’re finished.
The Council gave her to me. I own her, and before it’s over with, I’ll be leaving with what is mine. ”
Sniffling sounded in the distance, and The Unavowed stiffened as Penny’s nearly silent cries turned to sobs.
“I’ll be back.” Bram looked around the room. “I’ll hurry as fast as I can.”
Elec and I nodded, and The Unavowed put his focus on Penny as she began to get more hysterical. I shifted Marian in my arms, letting the extent of her injuries register.
“She needs a doctor. Fuck. Elec…”
“Shh. No emotion.”
“I’m not leaving here without her. I’m not letting her go. They can kill me. I don’t care. She’s not going back to that cell.”
A loud threatening sound had me looking toward whatever The Unavowed was saying to Penny.
She was sobbing, pulling at the bottom of his slacks as she cried harder.
I looked back down at Marian, taking in the cut down the center of her bottom lip.
She was shaking, even in her sleep. Whether it was from the pain, the fear, or that she was just cold, I didn’t know.
I couldn’t even wrap my mind around what I was seeing.
Had I wanted to hurt her? Decimate her? Fucking destroy the love of my life because of what she’d done to me?
…Yes. But I didn’t want this. This was not justice. This was not the revenge I wanted.
“I could almost believe you cared for her. Wasn’t your plan to kill her after she produced you an heir?”
I looked up to The Unavowed as he came back in my direction. Whatever he said to Penny was working. She was quiet, but I could still see her crying, even if it was silent. I took in his words, not even sure how to answer him.
“You don’t appear a man who wants to kill her. You look at her with love. With pain.”
“How I look at her is none of your concern, nor is our future.”
“I disagree.” He glanced down at her but came back up to look at me. “You see, there’s only one way I’m letting you leave The Order with your chosen. And that’s with a clause that you can’t take her life until I get what I need. Like I said, she owes me.”
“She’s mine, so I owe you. What could you possibly want with her being alive? Do you see her? You nearly fucking killed her.”
His head shook. “No. She’s fine. Rape never killed anyone, and my guards are fixed and clean. She’ll survive. It’s in her blood… and that’s what I want.”
“… I don’t understand.”
Elec’s hand lifted as he stepped forward, studying The Unavowed with such deep thoughts that it drew in his brow.
“I see what you’ve done.” Anger was in Elec’s words, but also something else. Respect, awe, even if he didn’t like it? “They know Bram will be calling. It wasn’t about the properties at all. You want the Pennington heir for your own. They know… You’re going to—”
The Unavowed looked impressed. “Not me. I don’t think I’ll be so lucky, but someday we will take our rightful place.
They thought they could cheat my family out of what was ours.
I may be The Black Line, but watch as I turn ruination into royalty.
We will reign again. The LaRoe blood is the key, as is Penelope’s.
It’s why I chose them. Founders, older than ours.
Conquerors. More connected. More powerful with more sway.
Nothing can beat this.” His eyes moved over to mine.
“What I want from you is a betrothal. A promise forged in the blood she’s lost. That’s the price of her freedom.
She’s paid the blood. I want the promise from you.
Otherwise, her debt is unpaid, and I’ll never let her leave. Not even The Council can save her.”