39. Vaughn
Vaughn
HEIRESS PENELOPE TAYLOR: PROTECTED OR IMPRISONED? THE MYSTERY DEEPENS
In a startling revelation, sources close to the situation allege that Penelope Taylor—heiress to the late Taylor estate—is living under conditions akin to house arrest.
While official channels claim this is protective supervision following the unresolved disappearance and presumed death of her parents, insiders question the level of control.
It is said that Penelope has repeatedly requested the freedom to return to a normal life, yet she remains confined within a high security London residence.
Complicating matters further, the masked captor responsible for Taylor’s abduction months ago remains at large, raising additional questions about why the young heiress continues to live under such strict supervision.
When reached for comment, King Lawrence expressed growing dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in the investigation.
“It is unacceptable that no resolution has been found,” the king stated.
“I have requested to see Ms. Taylor and have been obstructed.
One must wonder why access is restricted.
A young woman's life cannot remain in limbo while the person responsible remains free. Transparency is owed not only to Miss Taylor but to the public.”
Sources close to the royal house suggest the king himself remains active in discovering the mysteries of Taylor’s welfare, and the questions remain about who ultimately controls access to the heiress and the conditions of her confinement.
If she is truly being protected, the question remains—who, exactly, is Penelope Taylor being protected from?
“What do you think?”
I looked between Theodore and the newspaper article, slamming the paper down on my desk.
“I think everything was perfect until the king publicly stated that he wants what’s mine.”
“Yeah…” Theodore cringed. “I sort of took it that way too. Do you really think the SLB is blocking him from seeing Penelope… or is she doing that?”
My head shook as I picked up my phone.
“Let’s find out.”
Me: Has King Lawrence reached out to see you?
Theodore tapped his fingers against the arms of his chair as we waited. It had my gaze lifting and my voice deepening in annoyance.
“It’s nine. Do you not work today?”
He beamed me a smile. “When I saw the paper, I took off until lunch. I wanted to be here with you for moral support.”
“I bet you did. What about yesterday or the day before? Did you lose your job?”
“It’s my firm. Of course not. This is better than court or television. I get a front row seat.” His neck craned as he looked over to the tray of sweets I had on my desk. “Are you going to eat those?”
“You kiss my future queen. You drink my scotch. You keep eating all the food I bring in here. It’s every day. Would you like me to put you in the bedroom next to mine? How about a desk so we can work next to each other? I can set you up one right over there.”
“Really?”
I threw him a look that had him lounging back in the chair. As soon as he appeared to settle, he threw himself forward, trying to swipe a small cake next to a scone. I slapped his hand before he could grab it causing him to curse.
My phone dinged, and he dove for the cake making me point at him threateningly.
“Go get your own. You know where the damn kitchen is.”
I hit the button, growling as I looked down.
My Queen: He’s asked to come see me a few times. I’ve declined. I’m not sure he knows who it is declining though. I can’t really talk about that right now. Theo, I’m at work. What’s going on?
Me: Find today’s paper. You’re the headline.
My Queen: Shit! What did you do?
Me: I warned you… This ends, one way or another. I want you back. I want to marry you.
My Queen: You haven’t asked me yet. Saying and doing aren’t the same. And do not ask me over text. I will never forgive you.
“Fuck.” I glanced up to see powdered sugar on the tip of Theo’s nose. “Seriously? You’re making a mess.”
“He asked to come see her and she refused him. Am I right?”
“Yeah.”
“Yikes. A battle of epic proportions—for Crown and queen. Can he do it? Can The Unavowed win both despite grave circumstances—”
“Out. Go to work, Theodore.”
“And miss all the good stuff? I like it here. I may become a duke and never work again.”
“You’re not duke yet and won’t be unless we find something to prove my family’s innocence.”
Theodore reached for another miniature cake, popping it into his mouth.
“I’m working on it. Have faith. At this very moment, I have maids tearing apart my grandfather’s attic.
I’ve already got four trunks I have to go through from his summer house.
There has to be something in them. He loved to journal. Did I ever tell you that?”
I sat forward, grabbing my phone as a text came through.
“Are you crazy? Do you know how dangerous it is having those brought to your apartment?”
“No one knows that we’re friends. You’re technically a myth. My grandfather passed a few months back. I’d be doing this anyway.”
My head shook. “I don’t like it. You’ve been kissing my queen in front of the possible enemy. If anyone suspects—”
“They won’t.”
“I’m not taking any chances. I’m sending people to your place right now, and we’re having it all brought here.”
“Do I get a choice?”
“No.” I picked up the landline, pushing in The Reeve’s number. “Send movers to Theodore’s apartment. They’re to retrieve four trunks—”
“In my spare bedroom,” Theo called out.
“Did you get that, Reeve?”
“In the spare bedroom. Got it. We’ll have it here shortly. I’ll put it in the adjoining bedroom to yours.”
“Perfect.” I hung up, finally lifting my cell and going into Penelope’s text.
My Queen: Shit! I guess this is why Marian is calling me to her office. Dammit. I hope you’re ready. They’re going to be pissed. I’ll write you later.
Me: I love you too.
I stood. “I have to make morning rounds.”
Theodore grabbed the plate of cakes, standing. “Where to first?”
“You’re like a pet.”
“I’m bored and intrigued. Where are we going?”
“You cannot walk around The Order with me carrying a plate of sweets. I forbid it.”
“You’re seriously no fun.” He fisted two in one hand, grabbing another to pop in his mouth. “There. Where are we going?”
The edge of my lips tugged back.
“The morning sacrifice. How are you with blood? You seem to work on auction nights. Does killing make you uncomfortable?”
Theodore’s steps slowed, and my head tilted with interest.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“Look.” His expression got serious. “I don’t mind the idea of killing if I have to. Sacrifice?” His face drew in as he exposed his teeth. “I’m not going to pretend that I haven’t heard stories but… yeah… I don’t think that’s me.”
“You want to be my second, do you not?”
His tone lowered as he moved in. “Yes. But—”
“The Crown is heavy, but I carry that weight. And you’re going to help me. Blood is who we are, Theodore. Spilling it is how we show honor. Did our ancestors not bleed for us?”
“They did.”
“Yes… they did. Today, I want you to bleed for them. Honor them. Honor me. Let’s go.”
“I shouldn’t have eaten all those damn cakes.”
I slapped him on the back of the shoulder, leading him out of the study and down the corridor towards the Great Hall. It was still early, but a few Masters were standing around.
“Unavowed. Theodore Hart, is that you?”
Lord Oxley’s face lit up as he and Lord Summerlyn headed in our direction.
“It’s me,” Theodore said, reaching out, shaking his hand. “Lord Summerlyn. It’s nice to see you.” They shook and I placed my hand on Theo’s shoulder, giving a good squeeze.
“Theo and I were just heading down to make the morning sacrifice.”
Both men’s heads snapped over to me. Lord Oxley moved in closer. “Sire, Unavowed, can I come?”
“I want to go,” Lord Summerlyn piped in. “You can’t all go without me. I haven’t been to a morning sacrifice before. I didn’t even know we had one.”
“Wait.” Lord Oxley glanced over to Theodore. “Did I miss the branding ceremony?”
“Branding?” Theodore’s tone deepened as his gaze nervously came to me.
“You haven’t,” I said, waving the men to follow. “Theodore hasn’t said his vows yet. I’m not even sure he’s cut out for The Order.”
“Oh.”
The two Lords looked between each other confused. It was Lord Summerlyn who stepped in.
“Theodore, your loyalties are with us, aren’t they? I mean, you’re here. You’re in The Order. That’s… that’s death if you leave without joining.”
Green eyes widened only to turn hard.
“Maybe he wants to die.” I shrugged. “Or maybe he’s ready to take his place at my side. What’s a little blood and fire, Theo?”
“Are you all fucking with me right now?”
Both men laughed, unbuttoning and pulling open their shirts to expose the upside-down crowns burned over their hearts.
“You’re not fucking with me. Those aren’t just stories. I thought…Shit. I have to sacrifice something?”
“A slave.”
“Oh.” He nodded at me. “Just a slave. No big deal,” he said, sarcastically. “And then I—
“Take your vows,” Lord Oxley chimed in.
“Of course,” Theo continued. “And after that, I let you burn away my skin.”
“Precisely.” I threw him a smile. “Nothing too extreme. Just a typical Tuesday.”
“Right.” Theodore nodded, and the seconds drew out as we headed through a pair of large white and gold doors that led to the Ritual Room.
“So?” Lord Summerlyn’s hands came up. “Are you going to do it?”
Theodore popped the last cake in his mouth, chewing and throwing me a wink. When he swallowed, he dusted off his hands on his pants, nodding.
“Honor. Duty. Potestas nostra iterum erit.”
The two Lords cheered, shaking and slapping Theodore on the back in their excitement.
“The power will be ours again. I like it,” Oxley exclaimed. “I didn’t know you spoke Latin.”
“I’m supposed to be a duke. Of course I speak it.”
The men got quiet and Lord Summerlyn turned to me, lowering his voice and becoming serious.
“Unavowed, afterward, do you think we could possibly talk? It’s a private matter.
I’m horribly embarrassed about it, to be honest, but I’m…
it has to do with a Mistress from America who recently came here and…
” His face flushed. “I don’t know who else to talk to. ”
Lord Oxley leaned in. “You’re not talking about Melissa LaRoe, are you? I was going to talk to the Unavowed about her as well.”
I paused, stopping them.
“Both of you? What about Melissa LaRoe?” Just saying Marian’s mother’s name had my head getting fuzzy. She’d called last night again, hadn’t she?”
“Privately, Sire?”
I blinked the fogginess away, not liking how uncomfortable they were. “Of course. After this we’ll go to my study and talk. I want to hear every concern you have about her.”
The guards stood at attention, and I motioned us toward the doors.
Just as we approached, they opened. The Judic were already in place.
Confusion had Theodore looking over at me.
An auburn-haired woman stood nude; her body tied to a stake.
A gag was stuffed inside her mouth muffling the screams that got louder at our approach.
Fire raged in the background, and a poker was already being heated in the flames. It had green eyes coming to me.
“You planned this.”
“I warned you from the beginning. You’re long overdue, Theodore. What I’ve allowed is not done. No one comes to The Order that is not a member. I’ve given you months to adjust. It is time.”
“And if I would have said no?”
“You wouldn’t have. But,” I shrugged. “I think you know.”
“Right. Death.”
“Good thing you didn’t say no.”
He threw me a look as the Magister gestured for him to take his place in front of the sacrifice. Nervousness sparked, but he headed forward. Lord Oxley and Summerlyn stepped in next to me, keeping silent as the Magister took his place at Theodore’s side.
“Before the fall, there was order.
Before betrayal, there was loyalty.
Before the Crown was stolen, there was blood.”
He turned, his gaze settling on Theodore.
“Today, you stand before The Order of the Unavowed. A brotherhood, not bound by law but by oath. Not Crown… but blood.”
The Magister paused.
“The blood is strong within you. You are a Hart. You are therefore honored. Do you wish to continue? If you remain, you remain forever. The vows are only broken through death.”
There was no hesitation. “I am finally home. I wish to remain.”
The Magister gave a nod.
“Then you will swear to these truths…
Loyalty comes before life: The Order stands before country and kin.
Silence above mercy: What is seen within The Order remains within The Order.
Brotherhood above self: Together we bleed, we fight, we fall.
The Crown above all: The rightful line must be restored, no matter the cost.
Betrayal is death: No man who breaks this oath lives.
Do you understand these vows?”
“Yes, and I accept them all.”
Lord Oxley nudged Lord Summerlyn as they traded smiles.
“Turn to face The Unavowed and repeat after me.”
Theodore obeyed, meeting my stare. I didn’t hear the Magister.
I kept my attention on the man, on the blood, my namesake had trusted with his life.
A bloodline that I couldn’t help but feel the same pull for as well.
I’d spent months trying to distance myself from Theodore so I wouldn’t like him, but I did.
And I felt it in every inch of me as our stares stayed locked and all the voices faded but his.
“I give my loyalty… To the Order… To the lion who has fallen… To the blood that was betrayed… I swear my voice to silence, my strength to the brotherhood, and my life to the restoration of the throne.” He paused as the Magister walked around him.
“If I break this oath… May my blood be spilled as sacrifice, and my name be erased from history forever.”
Movement broke the silence, and the Magister waved towards the fire.
“The oath is spoken. The blood will remember.”
Theodore glanced over as the man with the brand came forward. He swallowed hard, unbuttoning and pulling open his shirt.
No hesitation. The glowing bright upside-down crown was pressed over Theodore’s chest, and a deep rumble started low in his throat, increasing in volume as he held his ground through the melting of his flesh. Skin sizzled and blood beaded.
The brand was pulled back, and deep pants left Theodore.
“You are one with The Order. Seal your oath in blood.”
Sweat was beginning to collect on Theo’s face.
The Magister lifted a silver dagger, leaving it flat over his hands.
Green eyes lifted to mine, and Theodore took the weapon, turning to face the redhead.
He reached up, and with one quick jerk, he sliced the woman’s throat open, keeping in place as blood began to gush from the wound.
Only when it slowed did he turn back to face me. I couldn’t stop the smile that came.
“Welcome to The Order…” I stepped forward. “Master.”