10. Vaughn
Vaughn
Not anyone could be a queen. There was a certain aura of power one had to hold to wear a crown.
It wasn’t a fight—it was a forging. A mix of push and pull.
Submission and dominance. It was knowing when to use a sword or silence.
And it wasn’t a role most could fill. You had to have the strength to stab or the discipline to be ready and do so when the time came.
Royalty was resilient. It was steady and waiting.
“I’ve given you time. Five minutes, to be exact. You’ve been kidnapped. Your parents have been killed. Your captor is threatening to retrieve you. You’re too hurt and weak to physically win against him in a fight. Use your mind. Your instincts. What do you do?”
“Go to hell.”
“Not without you.”
Her eyes flickered, softening for only a moment. Her lips parted through her pause.
“I don’t want to come down.”
“That’s not what I asked you. You will come down. I’ll get you myself. Answer the question.”
Penelope swallowed hard, turning more towards me as she let go of her legs and lowered her feet to the step below.
“Think, Penelope. You’re here. I’ve taken you and killed your parents. You can’t fight me and win. You can’t escape. I’m threatening to go up there and bring you down. What. Do. You. Do.”
The deepness in my tone had her gripping to the stair. She kept her arms tight against her thighs as she held on. Seconds passed and she eased to her feet.
“I’m scared. I don’t want to go down there.”
“You should be scared, but you don’t have a choice.”
Hesitation, but she took a step down.
“What if you hurt me?”
“I killed those who hurt you.”
Another step.
“That doesn’t mean you still won’t hurt me. You said you’d force me down if I didn’t listen.”
“That is true. And I will.”
She didn’t move. She stayed on the step, waiting.
“How… How did you know they hurt me?”
“Because Lord Allford told me what he did to you before I killed him. Your father has a history of hurting you. I suspected, and I was right. He did.”
Tears raced down Penelope’s cheeks, and she quickly reached up and wiped them away. When the sob came, she stood straighter. She didn’t cower. She didn’t fall apart. Perfect. Fucking perfect.
Another step closer.
“Lord Allford…” Another step. “He told you what he did to me?”
“He did.”
Another step.
My pulse jumped.
“Why did he tell you?”
I took in how she was in the middle of the staircase, holding to her side.
“Your captor is running out of patience. He refuses to hold this conversation until you come down and get back in bed.”
Seconds passed.
“I want the entire story, or I go back up the stairs and fight.”
She took a step down cautiously but didn’t stop until she was sitting at the bottom of the bed, facing me. She looked like a cornered animal, but she’d followed orders while staying firm to what she wanted. I smiled, knowing she couldn’t see it.
“You want to know why he told me. It’s simple. Because I left him no choice. I’d already cut him up badly. The bastard was a coward. He was supposed to be telling me his secrets. I had no idea one of those would be you.”
“Oh. So… you learned about me by chance. I see.”
My head cocked to the side at her soft words.
“Nothing is chance, Penelope, just design.”
“Like… fate?”
I didn’t answer. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know.
“Do you plan to hurt me?” She winced, cringing through the agony she must have felt. “I’m not sure why I’m here.”
I took a step, watching as she scooted further down the bed away from me.
“I told you why you’re here.”
“No…” Her face went down and her cheeks reddened. “You said you wanted me. That doesn’t tell me what you plan to do with me.”
I took another step causing her to stand and ease around the far side of the bed. I didn’t put my focus on her as I came to sit on the mattress and lean against the headboard.
“One day at a time. I make no promises other than this. Everything I do will be in your best interest, whether you understand it or not. Like right now. Look at you. You’re in so much pain that you can’t let go of your side.
You’re constantly shifting your feet, and you’re paler than usual.
” An odd ache twisted in my chest. “The entire side of your face is bruised and swollen. I know you’re going to want to fight again, but I need to see if you’re okay.
To do that, I need you to come back to the bed and sit down. You’re not well.”
“I’m not getting close to you.”
She took quick steps back but stopped, crying out as she pitched forward, holding to herself tighter.
Something wasn’t right. I could tell by the way her color was quickly dropping.
“Think Penelope. You’re injured. Your captor notices. He demands you obey and return to the bed. Not to hurt you but to evaluate your condition. Do you panic and make the situation worse? Or do you take control and obey?”
“I control, but I’m fine. My enemy can just take my word for it. I’m not getting on that bed with you.”
But she would, one way or another. She wasn’t in control, I was, and I proved it as she took another step back.
My head gave a threatening shake, and fear flashed as she jolted to a stop.
She blinked rapidly, lowering her gaze through her thoughts.
She reached down to the long, white nightgown she wore with her free hand, bunching the fabric in her fist. Her lids closed and her breaths were deepening.
“It’s bad,” she said, straining. “Really bad. But I won’t die.
Bruises won’t kill you. Broken bones mend.
Pain fades. You can stop worrying about me…
and… tell me where I can get something to drink because I…
I—” She swayed, and I was already sliding over the bed, barely catching her before she hit the floor.
Penelope was limp in my arms, and I knew she’d passed out.
The damage was extensive, and I was not taking any chances.
I carried her to the bed, lying her down.
Black hair splayed over the dark pillow and for a long moment, I couldn’t stop the unexpected fluttering that took over my insides.
Fixation flourished, growing through the closeness.
I traced my finger over her bruised cheek, moving towards her full lips.
She was here… and she was badly injured.
The realization was enough to rip me from the spark of awe I’d been sucked into.
Damn Allen for hurting her. The beating I’d given him as he’d bled out did nothing to appease the demon inside me.
It clawed into my heart and mind making me see—making me feel—nothing but her.
How could I have taken my time and made him suffer when Penelope needed me?
Needed… me… like my mother had needed my father as she bled out. Like he’d needed her.
Vengeance hadn’t been there in those moments, only Penelope, and I hated that I couldn’t go back and make him endure my blade even more.
I reached for the strap of her nightgown, easing it over her shoulder. As I went to grab the other side, I paused, narrowing my eyes at the slight shake of my fingers. It made no sense that seeing this woman naked would be any different than the ones I’d seen before, but it was. It was her.
To say I hadn’t thought of her sexually would be a lie. Those visions lived in my mind. But now wasn’t the time. She was hurt, and I had to check her injuries for myself.
I took the thick strap, bringing it down as I grabbed the other.
With each inch that I pulled down her gown, I felt myself fall even more.
When I made it past her breasts, sweat was collecting under the mask.
My fixation made it hard to breathe. I only let my gaze linger for a second before the dark bruising began to make itself known with the gown’s descent. All lust died in that moment.
“Son of a bitch.”
My throat tightened through the anger. I gently lowered it even more, pulling her gown the rest of the way off. Dark shades of purple were clustered around her ribs, leading down her side to her thigh. As I rolled her closer to me, I could see the damage extended onto her back.
I shook my head at the possessiveness that nearly choked me. I lifted her enough to pull the comforter down to cover her up.
“Let anyone think of hurting you again…”
I pulled out my phone, hitting Redmond’s number. It rang only once before he answered.
“Sire. It is done. The bodies have been removed along with any evidence that could have been left behind.”
“I trusted you would take care of it. That’s not why I’m calling. Penelope needs a doctor. I don’t like how much bruising she has around her ribs.”
“I’ll contact Lord Oxley. Is that the extent of her injuries?”
“No. He marked her pretty good. The pain was too much for her; Penelope fainted. Have Oxley contact me so I can give him the location.”
“Right away.”
I hung up, lowering to the bed to bring myself closer.
Her beauty lured me in, but I quickly reached behind the mattress, pulling out the cuffs.
Penelope wasn’t going to like this, but I didn’t have a choice.
I could continue my analysis later. Her health was priority, and only when I knew Penelope was better, would I continue.
I picked up one of the gold cuffs that I’d had made especially for Penelope.
They were intricately designed with lozenge sapphires surrounding a large sapphire heart.
Speckles of diamonds decorated the swirls of gold, and I traced my finger over her wrist as I locked them in place with the special key.
It had the head of a lion at the end, the same one matching my family’s crest. The chains holding them to the bed rattled as I adjusted the length.
I eased my hand back, standing, and pulling out the blinding mask to fasten over her eyes.
Vibrations sounded from my phone, and I took off my own mask, bringing my cell to my ear.
“Lord Oxley.”
“Sire, Redmond tells me you need my assistance. I just left The Order. I’m in my car. Where should I go?”
“No addresses. What entrance did you leave from?”
“The north entrance. I’m not far from Upper Brook Street. I’m about to turn onto it now.”
“Perfect.” I reached over, not able to stop myself from tracing the pad of my thumb over her full lips.
Focus wavered. My heart raced. Even though I could almost see Lord Oxley’s location, all of my attention was on the angel before me.
Penelope’s lips parted at my pressure, and a moan nearly left me. “You’re not far. Head for King’s Road.”
“Alright.”
Minutes passed in silence. It could have been seconds for how lost I became.
I’d never been one to fall for appearance, but there was something about Penelope that felt so familiar to me.
So… right. How many times had I watched her from her window?
How many times had I followed her and her mother around the city?
Seeing her from afar wasn’t seeing her like this.
“Alright. I’m on King’s Road.”
“Circle back around to Symons. Make sure no one is following you.”
“Yes, Sire.”
Time.
“Alright. I’m on Symons.”
“Take your first right. Look for a yellow ribbon on a fence. You’ll see my car just past that. I’ll meet you at the door.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
I hung up, clutching to my keys. I took one last look behind me as I headed up the stairs and to the door. Worry mixed with adrenaline, and although I knew Penelope was in rough shape, it was a beginning—our beginning.
I had her.
If she continued to show potential like I knew she would… I was never letting her go.