22. Vaughn
Vaughn
If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. Chaos.
Betrayal. Drama. There was always some sort of catastrophe gripping The Order.
Where one person was having the worst or best day of their lives, I got to evaluate it.
There was little that happened at The Order that I didn’t know, and the moment Redmond walked into my meeting, I wasn’t surprised.
Not because I was facing a member of the Collective High Council, but because I never made it through much of anything without some sort of interruption.
And Redmond had given it with bursting through my door, begging to speak with me. I wasn’t having it. Not today.
“He hasn’t moved in an hour. Is he so worried about death that he’s decided to wait out the verdict?”
I didn’t look towards Redmond. I wanted this meeting over with so I could get back to Penelope.
I’d be damned if I delayed it by finding out the next big travesty that awaited.
If anything, the damn captains at port had refused our sum and decided to delay shipment.
They’d done it before, and that could wait.
“Let’s continue, Mr. Prescott.”
“I’m not sure I can with him shifting so impatiently. He can’t be still. Is he trying not to piss his pants? He looks awfully jittery. Does your man have issues?”
I let out a deep breath, turning my glare to Redmond.
“If The Order isn’t being taken over, I don’t want to hear it.”
“Sire, a word privately, please.”
“Redmond.”
My tone was deep but the look on his face had me slowly coming to my feet.
My High Master wasn’t one to show emotion.
Not in front of someone as powerful as the man before us.
The Collective High Council was in control of every underground trafficking city, and Redmond knew how important this meeting was.
He was facing my wrath—possible death—to talk to me.
“A moment, Mr. Prescott.”
I didn’t even look at him as I headed for Redmond.
“So help me this better be good. I’m half tempted to kill you right now.”
“You may after this, Sire. Fuck.”
The thump in my chest hit hard. I looked between the door to Redmond.
“Where’s Penelope?”
“I left the guards. They heard shots from the dining room.”
I fisted his tie, jerking him forward as I leveled my knife at his neck.
“Where’s Penelope?”
My voice almost sounded demonic with the amount of fear mixing with rage.
“She’s in the queen’s chamber.”
I didn’t think. I let go of him and threw the door open, racing through the halls once again when I swore I wouldn’t. It wasn’t until I took the turn that I slowed, knowing the guards were ahead. I had to calm. I had to show authority and power.
From the look on their faces as they jerked their gaze straight ahead, I knew I showed a lot more than that.
Murder.
Terror—No—I kept that trapped inside me.
Fury.
My pace stayed steady but quick. My strides were long; my fists were clenched. I made another turn, taking in the four guards on each side of her door. My chest cramped and breath wouldn’t come. None of them would look at me as I approached and headed through the thick barrier.
Lord Oxley was standing next to the bed, his face tight and stoic. But I didn’t see him. I saw nothing but the new layer of bruising across her face. I saw the blanket pulled up to her chin and her closed eyes. Had I ever been more afraid? I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t chase down thoughts.
“She’s not—She’s—Not—”
“No, Sire. She’s sleeping. I thought it best after what she’s been through. The shot won’t keep her out for long, but it helped in the moment.”
“What the hell happened?”
I was already reaching for my knife again, pulling it from the holster. Bile burned the back of my throat. Denials screamed. Blame—it fucking overwhelmed me.
“The guards. They found her in the halls.”
“They beat her. Did they rape her?”
Lord Oxley hesitated before nodding.
My head went back and a deadness infested me.
“She’s bleeding pretty badly. Luckily, the guards are fixed to prevent pregnancy. I don’t think there’s any major damage, but she’ll need time to heal. She was… pretty devastated when I arrived. She kept crying out for you. Screaming, really.”
“Thank you. I owe you.”
“You owe me nothing, Unavowed.”
My eyes snapped up.
“I’m not—Not yet.”
“Soon.”
I nodded, lowering my head as I walked to the bed.
Tighter, I held to my knife, feeling my eyes burn.
Darkness haloed under her lashes, and colors webbed over her cheek.
Her nose had dry blood on the inside. I could tell her face had been at least wiped down.
Most of the blood was gone, but some remained.
“I’ll leave you.”
“Find Redmond. Send him in.”
“I will.”
My lids narrowed as I lowered, brushing back her hair. It was dried together, matted with… cum. It flaked and came apart as I crushed it between my fingers.
Death.
It came easily enough to me. I didn’t mind taking lives, but I hadn’t ever enjoyed it. Other than John and Allen, it was my job. But this…
The door closed, only to open.
I turned, seeing Redmond step in. He immediately went down to one knee.
“Where are the guards that did this?”
“Being prepared for The Judic.”
I could have cursed at their luck. They were saved… for now. “How many?”
“Two. There were four total that were there, but only two committed the act. The second had only started when they realized…”
“What?”
I was shaking as I took a step towards him.
“Your name, Sire. They put it together. The two witnesses immediately put a stop to the assault and called it in. She—Penelope. She was frantic for you. I didn’t know what to do but interrupt your meeting.”
And I’d kept him there an hour… She had probably been calling for me for what felt like an eternity for her, and I hadn’t come.
I did this. I knew I shouldn’t have brought her here.
Had I really trusted she wouldn’t try to run?
Had I been such a fool to believe she’d stay without some sort of fight?
She said what happened between us was a mistake.
She clearly didn’t want this—she didn’t want me.
Not like I wanted her. But I wasn’t letting her go. Ever.
“Tell Mr. Prescott we’ll have to reschedule. Then, prepare the guards.”
“They’re already—”
“Not those two. The entire fucking guard. Prepare them all. I will address them shortly.”
“The… Yes. Yes, Sire.”
“Redmond.”
He eased to his feet, hesitantly meeting my eyes.
“This is on me, not you. Go. Prepare them. It’s time to introduce my future queen so this never happens again.”
“Of course. I’m truly sorry.” He paused. “I’m afraid after this, she may never accept—”
My hand shot up, not wanting to hear what I already knew.
“Prepare them.”
Redmond spun, leaving me to turn back to the bed. I returned to my seat at her side, brushing back her hair, more trying to calm myself than to supply comfort.
“I’m sorry.” I lowered kissing her forehead. “I did this. I shouldn’t have left you. Wounds, I can bandage. Escape… I can find you. This.” I stopped, squeezing my eyes shut. “I can’t fix this, but I’m going to try.”
The burning grew, and the room blurred. Anger had me fisting the length of her hair.
“Penelope.” I cleared my throat, hating how her name came out sounding weak. “Penelope, wake up.”
Better. Cold. Disconnected.
“Penelope.”
Her body jolted at my deep tone and lashes fluttered. She was trying so hard to wake.
“Open your eyes. Look at me.”
Blue, so bright, flashed, only for her lids to drop almost immediately.
“Close, beauty. Come on. Listen to my voice and fight the sleep. I’m here now. But I need you to wake. We have work to do.”
“V…aughn.”
“That’s right.” I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her.
A soft cry sounded, and her bottom lip rolled down and quivered.
All I wanted was to stay in this room, to hold and care for her with the tenderness she deserved.
But mercy couldn’t hold a kingdom together.
It would not help me keep her—convince her.
Only one thing would, and it ruled me. It had to rule her, too.
“I know you hurt. I’m sorry, but revenge doesn’t sleep.
It doesn’t feel pain. Wake up, my queen. Wake up and make them bleed.”
Penelope’s lips parted but she remained quiet. Finger splayed, and a cry left her as her legs jolted.
“That’s it. Good girl. Fight it. Wake up.”
“Vau—”
Pulling back the blanket, I took in the long white nightgown she wore.
I knew it immediately as one of my mothers.
My eyes jumped to Penelope’s face, and my lips crushed into hers brutally.
She jumped, and I slid my arm underneath her back, grabbing her other arm to place around my neck.
When I eased under her legs, Penelope’s body convulsed through the tremor.
“Vaughn? Vaughn.” She sobbed.
“I’m right here, love.” I stood, cradling her and heading for the door. When I threw it open, the guards stiffened, continuing to stare ahead as I put myself in front of them.
Flames from the torches swayed and flickered, casting shadows. I reined in the heavy breaths, feeling my features harden even more.
“Take a good look at the woman I hold.” Nervous eyes lowered to Penelope as she still fought to wake.
Tears were running down the sides of her face.
“Look at her.” I walked the distance of them, angling Penelope so they could see her as she struggled to wake.
“Memorize every feature. Every detail. Because if after today you accidentally touch her, if you lay one finger on her, I will not just kill you. After I turn your body inside out with my knife, I will deliver you to hell myself. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Sire.”
“Follow.”
My order echoed from stone, imprinting a moment that would go down in Order history. This night would not be forgotten. Only once had a Masterson killed his own guard to set an example. Tonight, once I got my hand on the rapists, I’d do a lot more than that.
Every society had their own rituals. There were rules. Traditions. Some were the very foundation of what had created those societies to begin with.
The Order was bred from loyalty. Loss. Blood tied its members together, and those ties showed fealty to the supreme—to me.
Tonight, as I stepped closer to my title, I’d remind these men that loyalty wasn’t just a creed. It wasn’t a brand swearing the subject to a blacklined monarchy. The Order was life and death, and sacrifices weren’t necessity—they were obligatory.