51. Vaughn
Vaughn
“I can’t.” Harder, Penelope sobbed. “Did you see her? Oh, God. I can’t breathe. God.”
“Look at me.”
She choked on her sob, throwing herself into my body and wrapping around my waist. Only moments ago, I had to pull her from the Great Hall before she broke out in hysterics.
“I can’t act like this. A queen wouldn’t—but Vaughn—Unavowed,” she begged, holding to my suit’s jacket as she collapsed to her knees.
“Don’t do this. I beg you. You can make them stop.
I know what they’re planning. I saw the guard’s look.
They’re going to destroy her.” The sobs returned as she clung to me. “She never hurt anyone. It’s not fair—”
“Stand up.”
I didn’t help her. I let Penelope push to her feet as she continued pleading.
“First, they beat, and then they rape. They’ve already hurt her.”
“Yes. And they will continue to. Marian will face rape if she hasn’t already. It is the only way. A king—”
“I know.” She cut me off, sniffling and choking on another sob. “I know but—my heart.”
“Your heart will come to understand. If Marian is ever going to back us, is ever going to be accepted, she must not only have her blood spilt at The Order, but she must transition as you did. She has to see the evils of this world if she’s going to conquer them.
I’m giving that to her. I’m preparing her. ”
“Wait. Stop. Circle back around.” Penelope wiped her face, moving to sit on her bed. “You said, ‘back us’. ‘Preparing her’. She’s an American. What do you have planned? What is happening? You know more than what you’re telling me.”
I nodded, kneeling before her and taking her hands.
“I found out this morning. The Collective High Council is giving Drayton Pennington Marian as revenge for her accusations. What you saw in that hotel was him manipulating her. He knew even then that she’d be his. He plans to make her pay. Maybe far worse than what we’re doing here.”
“No. He… He loved her. I saw it on his face when he kissed her in front of her fiancé, Bastian. I—”
“He very well may love her. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t hate her.
She ruined his life, Penelope. She destroyed his reputation.
A lot of people were hurt during one of his episodes.
He lost his title as heir of his family.
It’s been reinstated as of days ago, but that means nothing if he doesn’t make her pay for the last decade. ”
“What… What are you going to do?”
I couldn’t stop the smile that came. “I’m going to force them into a betrothal.”
“A betrothal? To…” Her eyes flew open, lowering through her racing thoughts.
“To our child,” I said, kissing her hand. “They are our equivalent in America. Do you see what this could do? What it could mean?”
A calmness was setting in as I let her soak in the significance. Her whispers grew louder.
“This is good. Fucking horrible, and I hate it, but…”
I kissed her finger again smiling as she reached out cupping my cheek.
“I hate it, Vaughn. I can’t stand the thought of her being hurt.”
“I know. We can’t live in the horrors of today. Not when the Crown weighs in the balance. We do what’s best for The Order. For us. If that means blood is spilt in the process—”
“It spills. I know.”
She lowered, pushing her lips into mine. I stood, hooking my arm around her back and pulling her higher on the bed so that I could cover her body with mine.
“Your screams.” Echoes of her begging for mercy, her fear and desperation, they wouldn’t leave. “I nearly crumbled. I never want to hear you scream like that again.”
Penelope’s full bottom lip pushed out.
“I’m truly so scared for her. She was good to me.”
“And her reward is coming. It’s just going to take time.”
“I almost ran to her. Vaughn, I was so close. How long does she have to be here? As much as I hate us separating under these circumstances, I want her gone.”
“To her new husband? Drayton Pennington will hurt her.”
“Not if we stop him. We have to do something.”
“This is Council orders, Penelope. But…” My mind raced. “Perhaps if my revenge were… extreme.”
“Extreme?”
“You say he loves her. I got that impression as well. It’s one thing for a man to want revenge. Another to have someone hurt the woman he loves. If he were to see her at her worst—”
Penelope’s lips parted. “He wouldn’t be able to hurt her. He may even want to help her. Heal her?”
“I would. But it’s hard to know. Hurting her that bad could backfire or fail.”
Fingers came up, caressing along my cheek.
“We don’t fail. We have to try. He loves her. I’m confident in that. And I know she loves him. I hate the thought of hurting her, but I hate the thought of him hurting her worse. We can control what happens here. We can’t monitor her when she leaves.”
I grabbed her hand, kissing her palm.
“I will talk to the Reeve. Weapons are created in extreme conditions. That’s what we’ll introduce her to. In the meantime, I’ll delay as much as I can. We’ll only have a few days. A week, if we’re lucky.”
“A week.” Tears appeared but Penelope held them in. “That’ll feel like an eternity to her. I can’t bear it. I have to, but I feel sick. I hate this. I’m never going to forgive myself. I’m not sure I can even forgive you. I hate it. It goes too far.”
“You care about her, and that’s okay. But I need you to trust me, Penelope. It’s the only way.”
“I don’t know…”
“Trust. Nod.”
Her lip quivered and tears fell as she nodded.
I lowered, rubbing the tip of my nose against hers. For minutes, I kept us in silence, kissing. Nuzzling. It wasn’t until I felt her body soften that I pulled back.
“You barely ate anything. I’m going to have food brought in.”
I went to lift, stopping as Penelope grabbed my tie.
“Maybe I don’t want to eat yet. After. Come back down here.”
My head slowly shook. “You didn’t eat much last night either. I need you strong. I want you training immediately. If I take you now, you’ll not only skip another meal, but you’ll be unable to walk tonight.”
Her pout had me swooping into bite against her bottom lip. Penelope’s arms wrapped around my neck, holding tightly.
“There’s too much on my mind, and I don’t want to think. I can’t. Keep kissing me. We’ll be quick.”
I licked my lips, cursing as I swooped her up, spinning her to straddle me. Penelope dove to meet my lips, and the moment I touched my belt knocking had both of us looking at the door.
“Dammit.” Penelope eased off, throwing me a look. I got up, heading for the door to swing it open. The Reeve gave an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry, Unavowed. I didn’t want to disturb you, but I was told you wanted to talk to me about Marian LaRoe.”
“Yes.” I turned to Penelope. “I’m ordering food to be brought to your room. Eat it. When I get back, there better not be anything left.”
“I said I wasn’t hungry.”
I winked. “It better be gone when I return for your training.” Slamming the door, Penelope’s four guards were already stepping in—two on each side, but I put most of my focus on Keith.
“Her food will be here soon. No one goes into this room. My Intended does not leave this room. Not for anything. If she tries, you call me immediately. Do you all understand?”
“Yes, Unavowed.”
“If anything happens to her. If she gets free. If she gets hurt. If anyone makes it past this door, I will kill you.”
“Yes, Unavowed.”
Turning back to The Reeve, I took out my phone. “Let’s head to my study. We can talk there.” I punched in the number for the kitchen. It was answered almost immediately.
“Would you like to place an order, Unavowed?”
“Yes. Have the ‘training’ dinner prepared for my Intended. Make sure the portions are accurate.”
“Yes, Unavowed.”
I hung up, turning as we entered the adjoining hall. I went down a few doors, swinging the barrier open. The Reeve followed me in, shutting it behind him. I took a seat behind the desk, placing my phone in front of me so I could see it in case Penelope tried to call.
It was still almost impossible to leave her.
I feared someone would try to take her. That she would leave and get hurt again.
I knew she couldn’t stay locked in her room for the rest of her time here, but I was torn between having her home, or here, where I could keep her close.
Outside places were a risk. At least here, she had The Order to protect her.
And they knew her now. Unless they wanted to die, they wouldn’t risk even accidentally touching her.
Unless…
No.
Dammit.
Why did Theodore have to leave for his grandfather’s estate at the most crucial time?
I needed him here to watch over Penelope when I couldn’t.
Traitors were always a danger. Betrayal came just as naturally as breathing to some.
I prayed that wouldn’t be the case for us at The Order, but I had to trust. I just wouldn’t let my guard down.
“Sire, before we start, I just want to let you know, I’ve gotten word that Mr. Pennington is in London at the Raldalgo. Top floor.”
“Good to know. Keep watching him. Now… Marian LaRoe.” I grabbed my pen tapping it against the desk.
For a long moment I couldn’t speak. All I could hear was Penelope crying out for mercy.
No matter what I did, I couldn’t make it stop.
Her pleas battled the king I was groomed to be.
The one who had survived horrors no one knew about.
The one who’d been taught to get what he wanted out of the most impossible situation.
I couldn’t fold. I couldn’t go easy. That would be my downfall.
“Beat the guard who allowed her to escape. Have four men teach her what happens when you don’t follow orders. Do it repeatedly. Anything goes, but you make sure they don’t seriously injure or kill her. Is that clear?”
“Anything?”
I dropped the pen, looking up. I deadened the emotion in my eyes, letting the darkness take me over.