Chapter Drayton #2
“One more threat, I don’t make you suffer, I make her.
She doesn’t need her tongue to conceive an heir.
She doesn’t need fingers or toes. She doesn’t need arms or legs.
I will take a body part from your wife for every time you think to threaten me.
If you don’t believe me, try. Threaten and watch me act.
The only one who is going to lose here is you. ”
“Unavowed, this was not part of the plan. You’re walking a line you really don’t want to cross.”
“A line?” He shrugged to Bram, smiling. “I see no line, only what is my right. I’m breaking no rules.
This man killed one of my guards. He wants the death of two others.
Do you know the cost of blood? My blood?
Those guards are mine. They’ve given their life to me.
So… you want a piece of me dead. Fine. But nothing is easy.
Mr. Pennington and I made a deal. I’m collecting on it.
Mrs. Pennington volunteered to take his place.
Ask her. This,” he said, waving his hands around the room to all the guards, “is just for everyone’s safety.
See, I’m being nice. I’m being a good host.”
“Penelope.” He turned, seeming to calm. He cupped her face, his eyes softening as he looked down. “You will follow my orders as before. Go to our room and ready yourself for bed. I will be there when we are finished.”
“May I—Can I …” His lids narrowed, and I knew from his look that her asking anything wasn’t what he wanted. “I didn’t get to spend time with Marian like you said. Can I at least tell her goodbye?”
Silence.
The Unavowed looked towards Marian, only to bring his focus down on Penny.
“Do you think that is wise?”
Her eyes flickered down only to lift back to his. “For my training… yes. I have to say goodbye.”
Defiance. Even a spark of anger flickered in her depths.
“Make it quick.”
She raced forward while we started following. The guards pushed against my back, but I stayed at The Unavowed’s side on my own. I had to get closer to Marian. I was afraid of what this man planned. He was crazy. He wasn’t stable.
“This will be no easy game, but it should go quickly if your wife can follow orders. There’s hope. She appears to be a fast learner. I have to say, after everything I know of her, I expected more of a fight. There’s balance. You’re lucky.”
“Balance?”
He glanced over to me but went back to watching Penelope break through the ring of guards. The moment she got close, their arms lifted, shooting up. My brow drew in, and it was clear none were risking even touching her.
“You’ll see. Her fight—I have a suspicion it’s… waiting. Let’s not let it fester. We’ll mold it. Craft it. Outlets are important.” The Unavowed pointed to Elec, and the guards immediately began to push him over to us. “You’re part of the Gardens. You were just accepted.”
“Yes.”
He looked over to me as Elec approached.
“Why? Why do you want to be there?”
There was silence as I took in Penny, throwing her arms around Marian. Penny was sobbing, but Marian was still so far away. I could see the tears, but she wasn’t breaking down like I knew she should have been.
“I have anger. A lot of it.”
“Because of her? Because her accusation cost you your title as heir?”
My jaw clenched repeatedly. “It’s so much more than that. My title. Our love. Time. Everything’s been taken from me. Every decision, every hope. Every fucking dream. It’s the story of my goddamn life, so unfortunately, the need to hurt someone isn’t new. It’s been there since I was a boy.”
The Unavowed nodded, his face morphing to different emotions as he watched Penny. He finally glanced to Elec.
“Main Master Elec, I’m curious on your take. You live this life. You’re a trained professional in this sort of thing.”
“I’m a psychologist on top of a Main Master, yes.” Elec’s voice held a slight boredom. He almost held that monotone pitch he’d had with Marian.
“Who would you say is more suited for The Garden of the Gods. Is it our dear Mr. Pennington with all his closeted rage and sadism or… his fragile, little wife?”
Elec laughed, and I saw something pass between them.
“Marian is far from fragile. She’s no different than a grenade.
She’s only going through the motions because the pin remains.
She’s experiencing unfamiliarity and shock.
To her, it’s black and white and she’s lost. The…
color and screams should bring her back.
Once her true self breaks through, we’ll see that explosion that’s waiting to go off.
” Elec peered over to him. “That’s what you intend to do, correct? You’re letting her have her revenge?”
“Without getting a little of my own?” He laughed, bringing his attention back to me.
For seconds, he didn’t speak. “Black and white is boring. Letting her have her revenge is easy. She deserves it. She has suffered far worse than any of us. What I have in store…” His eyes met mine.
“This will hurt you more than her. I happen to like her. I don’t necessarily like you. Not yet.”