6. Vaughn
Vaughn
I hadn’t been wrong—I hadn’t been right.
Intrigue. Bewilderment. Awe.
Those emotions weren’t typically in my vocabulary, but I had to be honest with what was happening. My reactions to Penelope weren’t fading over the weeks like I hoped they might. I did not indulge in wonder. I did not allow distractions. And yet… Penelope lingered in every part of me.
My possible intended was meant to be investigated.
Watched. Maybe even tested, and I’d done all those, but my reaction to her was different than the others.
That didn’t bode well for me. Not if I wanted to continue with the mindset I’d been raised to have.
Not just from my uncle who’d taken care of me after my father’s death, but from experience.
To live through my mother and infant sister’s grisly murder, only to see my father executed in front of me not a year later—I knew better than to step into those footsteps and put love before duty.
You couldn’t win back the Crown if you were dead.
And that was the cost of love. A victim didn’t need to hide if the reaper had its attention on a more tempting prize.
That was the cost of happiness—illusion.
But was this real or lethal? Was what I was feeling not worth having?
My racing heart said it was. My anger didn’t let me escape the possession that obsessively had me in Penelope’s clutches.
Awe… yes.
Love—never.
Her?
Mine.
I wasn’t sure the result would change. I wanted Penelope. This was temporary. It had to be. If I just got used to this, to her, my old self would come back. The numbness would return. The cold interior would mirror my exterior. I wouldn’t feel this yearning.
Risk.
I had to face the truth. Penelope wasn’t safe for the Crown. Not with me like this. I had to focus. I had to have zero distractions, otherwise, it might not just be me who ended up dead. What if they hurt her? Killed her?
A growl left me before I could stop it. There was no denying I was compromised.
She was under my skin. The distraction that had taken me over since facing her in the boutique was leaving me desperate for more.
I could have taken her then. I thought about it.
A king wouldn’t act so rash. He wouldn’t invite risk.
It was the only reason John and Allen were still alive.
A king planned. He had patience. Then, he destroyed.
Allen’s time was coming. When it did, I wouldn’t make it quick. I would make it worth it.
Until then, life was just as I wanted it. Me, listening to Penelope over the phone as I watched her….
“I finished Poppy’s last adventure this morning.
I’ll admit, I’m a little underwhelmed. I kept waiting for her to do something,” she paused, “exciting. Something not so typical. I mean, sure, it’s fun to see different locations and try exotic cuisine, but nearly thirty different times?
Where’s…” She stopped, letting out a frustrated sound.
Penelope reached up, brushing back the hair from her face, continuing to stare toward the gray sky.
“Like… do something. You know? Go crazy? Jump off a cliff. Have an affair. I mean, anything new. There’s more to life than scenery and food.
What about experiences? What about risk? ”
Risk? Had she been reading my mind?
“It’s so frustrating. It took me forever to finish the book because it was so repetitive.
Does she know how lucky she is? Why is she wasting her time on the same things?
Sure, the locations are different, but doesn’t she want companionship?
A friendship? She recorded saying hello to two different people in all of her travels.
Two. I’m not so social myself, but two?” Another sound left her and her face dropped.
Her mouth was pouty, and the sadness was back in her lowering gaze.
As she stared at the street, I stared at her, memorizing every line in her face I could see.
“You’re quieter than usual. You were getting so good at talking to me.
I like when you talk to me.” She sighed, waiting for me to speak.
When I didn’t, she continued. “Something must be weighing heavily on your mind. With me too. I’ve been avoiding it, but I don’t think I can do that anymore.
I have a secret. It’s making me sick. I’ve thought about telling you for a while now, but I think I’ve been too embarrassed to say the words out loud. ”
“Tell me.”
She paused, and seconds passed. “I told him yes. John. I said yes to marrying him.”
My head lifted from the headrest. The thumping in my chest was so hard, what sounded like drums pounded in my ears. Anger. It came back, tainting the peace I felt when I listened to her talk.
“He wants to buy me a vacation home as a wedding gift. I’m supposed to give him three locations. To research each one and write down the significance of the area. Then, he’ll go over them and choose. Well… I have. I’ve spent weeks doing so much research.”
Silence.
Penelope reached up, tracing her finger along the glass.
“I wanted to escape here. I thought by saying yes—I had hoped.” She stopped, and I couldn’t hold back.
“Running away will not make your problems disappear. It’ll complicate them.”
“I wish we could meet. You seem very wise.”
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
My lids grew heavier. My want of her increased.
“Life teaches us all. …You wish to disappear?”
I could definitely make that happen.
“… more than anything.”
“Answer me this. Is it from life or from your duties?”
Penelope shifted, turning more in the window seat as she drew her knees to her chest. She wore a pair of white slacks with a pale blue ruffled blouse. If she wore shoes, I couldn’t see them.
“From my identity. If I were someone else—if I were free—”
“You’d still have responsibilities.”
“I don’t mind those. I would gladly have a job or go back to the university. I loved it there. I was monitored, but at least I could breathe.”
“What about marriage? Will you not be free married to this man?”
Penelope rolled her eyes. “Maybe. I don’t know.
John, he’s not who I think he is. I’ve known him my entire life, and yet, I don’t think I know him at all.
There are whispers. I’m scared,” she barely got out.
“What kind of man could do such a thing? Hurt children? Who is he, really? My mother seems to think I can get control of him, but this could go bad for me. This could be very, very bad.”
I didn’t respond.
“I keep wanting to address you, but I don’t know what to say. Please give me a name this time.” At my silence, she sighed. “If you won’t give me a name, I’m just going to make one up, and I’ll never ask again. How about Charlie? Or Petey?”
“Don’t you dare.”
I smiled, not able to stop myself. Penelope burst out laughing.
“There we go. You’re back to talking. So… not a Charlie, eh? Hmm, what about Jack?”
“No.”
“Louis? George?”
“No.”
Still, I smiled, even if it was barely there through the sudden warmth in my chest.
“Dalton? Harrison?”
“You’re never going to guess. You might as well not try.”
“But I have to call you something when we talk. I like you…”
The euphoria at her words vanished as a car pulled in across the street. The white luxury sedan had me gripping to the phone tighter. I wasn’t ready to let her go, and he was uninvited.
“No. No.” Penelope’s tone deepened in just as much anger as I felt. “I have to go.”
“Tonight?”
She smiled brightly at my question.
“We’re making this nightly thing a habit. I would love to speak to you again tonight. I’ve been thinking, and don’t be mad. But… maybe… we can meet? Think about it. I have to go—”
“Penelope?”
“Yes?”
I swallowed back the need to push open my door and slaughter the man who was taking her away from me.
“It’s V… Just V.”
“V.” Her smile softened, and I didn’t miss her biting her bottom lip. “I like that. Until tonight, V.”
Penelope disappeared from the window, and my lids narrowed as I watched Lord Allford head across the street. With every step he took, the pressure in me built.
I like you… Her words came back, looping inside me. Wrapping and tightening around the man I was becoming. Maybe… we can meet?
Before I could reign control over myself, I threw the car in drive, stomping the gas as I pulled from the parking space. My car lunged forward, and John spun, slamming his hands down on my hood as his terrified eyes met mine.
The smile that came at his fear spoke of threats far worse than being hit with my car.
John’s brow creased, and his darting eyes studied my face with what appeared distant recognition.
His lips parted, and hand by hand, he walked himself down the length of my sedan, the anxiousness never leaving his features as he kept turning back.
Maybe he recognized me. Maybe he didn’t. Either way, it was done. I couldn’t take back my actions.
I hit the button on my steering wheel, placing the phone in my cup holder as John reached the stairs that led up to Penelope’s porch. I took off fast, cursing my impulsivity. Control came as I let out a deep breath and hit the button on my steering wheel.
“Call Redmond.”
Ringing was immediate. Tighter, I gripped to the steering wheel, turning to head down the few blocks to my new home.
“Vaughn. Unavowed.”
“Not. Yet. I said soon. You push me. Have you spoke to The Judic. Are they ready?”
“Their judgement awaits. Their loyalties revolve around you, Sire. Give me the day and time and they’ll be ready.”
My teeth ground against each other at my impatience—my mistake. You wish to disappear? … I think so… I like you… Maybe… we can meet? “The timeline has folded. Prepare them for tonight.”
“It is done. Is there anything you need? Will you be returning here while we retrieve His Lordship?”
“I have to finish preparations at my new place. It shouldn’t take me long. I’m almost done. I’ll head that way once I’m finished. It’s time. We put the plans in motion tonight. Alert those who have sworn in on this task. Let them know the clock has started.”
A deep chuckle sounded. “And so it begins. I’ll make the announcement. We’ll be prepared for your arrival. Are you sure you don’t want to keep her here when the time comes?”
“I told you not until I’ve decided. Penelope may not be the one. Only when I choose, will I introduce her to her new life. Not a moment before.”
“But you said she was taking to you well. Even eager to speak with you. I told you—”
“That means nothing, Redmond. I will not bring her to The Order yet. Maybe never.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
I ended the call, making it to my new place.
It was close to the penthouse, but far enough away that I was safe.
And it was a house. I wouldn’t think about how this was my first home, or that I’d bought it…
for me. But I had, and where I knew those looking for me would stick to dwellings for a single man, I bought a home worth a small fortune.
One with nine bedrooms, a garden, a pool…
and an underground special room. It was a purchase no one would expect from me, and one, aimed more towards her.
Structure. Discipline.
I had spent my life planned out. Careful. I hadn’t waivered now. The truth was, although somewhere deep inside I wanted to impress Penelope, we both needed safety. More so now than ever. This house with its elite security system would assure that. My time as a free man was running out.
My father once said no crown was worth a life without love.
I never understood it.
I never wanted to.
What was love worth without a crown?