4. Penelope
Penelope
To say I was livid—enraged—was an understatement. She was right there. Not five feet behind me… and we’d missed her.
I couldn’t blame the guards. I had been so careful to study every person outside of my home.
She hadn’t been there. The question of when she’d arrived during the walk had me repeatedly replaying the footage until the early hours of the morning.
And I didn’t stop until I couldn’t stay awake a second longer.
Nothing.
One moment she wasn’t there, the next… feet behind me. As if the bitch had manifested from thin air.
She was good. Too good, which had me waking up and feeling inadequate all over again.
Weak.
Weak.
I couldn’t allow her to toy with me. I would not allow her to be better.
I had to work harder.
I had to outsmart her.
“Again.”
Able swung, and I ducked, feeling the air from his swing skim right over my head.
I bobbed up, only to lean back as he swung right for my face.
My own hit was deflected, and I kicked out, feeling nothing but air as he caught my foot and half-supported me as he slammed me onto my back. The mats did little to cushion my fall.
Air cramped in my chest, and it took me a few seconds to catch my breath.
“Better.”
Able helped me stand, but even as he said it, my head shook.
“Not good enough. You’re taking it easy on me. Again.”
He lifted one of his eyebrows.
“We’ve been going all morning. Your lunch date with Mr. Hart is in one hour.”
I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight.
“I can’t get over it. She was right there. And look at me,” I snapped, pointing to the still frame of me walking on the monitor. “I keep my attention ahead almost the entire time.”
“Which was exactly what you were supposed to do,” Able cut in. “It was our job to catch her. We failed, not you. We won’t again.”
I took off the boxing gloves, tossing them to the side of the room.
“We thought our trip was a success. We all failed. One or all of us could be dead right now.” More I seethed. “This is one lesson I will not forget.”
“Nor I.”
“I’m going to shower and get ready. Have team two ready for this outing. She’s going to follow, and we’re going to catch her this time.”
“Yes, Intended.”
I bound up the stairs, not able to focus on anything but catching her.
Agent Marchase should not have been my motivation for becoming the best, but I couldn’t get past the way she’d lied to me.
Manipulated me. I knew some of what she’d told me might be fabricated, but she was so good at it.
I hadn’t been able to tell. It put me back into the mindset of the abused, na?ve, soft, gullible woman I’d been raised to be.
I hated it—I hated who I used to be. How I took the abuse as if I didn’t have a choice…
I headed into my room, taking in furnishings and decoration more suited for a child than a woman who was in her early-to-mid-twenties.
Ruffles.
Lace.
All creams and white.
Clean.
Polished.
Weak.
I headed for the closet, throwing open the doors and taking down an outfit similar to the one I’d worn yesterday. Sophisticated but calculated. I went to leave, stopping.
… My mind twisted. It raced.
Turning, I went back to taking in my old wardrobe and the new items I’d had delivered in the last few days.
This date demanded a softening, not a reckoning. I had to push my need for revenge away and think. My world wasn’t about her. It was about a life with Vaughn. She was a speck of what that encompassed. And I would get her. It was only a matter of time.
Think. Be the queen.
I placed the outfit back, instead grabbing a deep sapphire, silk, wrap dress.
It would move with me, and the color would catch the light just enough to be noticed, but not enough to demand it.
I was a chameleon—what everyone needed—no, wanted.
I was safe. Sweet. A love interest—a best friend. No threat.
I grabbed a cardigan to pair with the dress. It was another layer of protection, not that I needed it, but I wanted them to think I did.
Sapphire matching heels. Not high. Not low.
Hair down and in waves.
Sweet.
Yes.
Perfect.
I placed everything on the bed and jumped in the shower.
I sped through the process, getting dressed and putting on natural makeup to enhance my features and make them stand out without being overpowering.
As I sprayed my signature perfume, I let the soft scent register.
It would work for now. It was alluring but maybe too soft for the new me.
As I headed down the stairs and made it to the training room, the voices grew louder. Everyone was there. Even Theodore, who wore a navy suit, which happened to pair perfectly with my own outfit. The moment I stepped into the room, heads turned my way and more than one mouth parted in surprise.
Mission accomplished.
“I do believe we have a date.”
It took Theodore a few seconds to respond. His blinks were rapid as he forced a nod.
“Yes. We do. Wow.” He smiled, his head shaking in astonishment. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you. We’re making a statement. This was necessary.”
“Hey, I’m not complaining. I’m not looking forward to having King Lawrence eventually tell me to back off, but I think we all know it’s probably coming.”
“I’m trying to prevent that.”
Able stepped forward, taking the keys from his pocket. He didn’t speak, but we all moved to follow him as he headed for the door. As we stepped onto the porch, the men remaining locked the door behind us.
Flashes from cameras started. Reporters stepped away from where they were camped out or standing. As much as I wanted to take in every single one of them, I kept my enamored stare on Theodore.
“I’ve really been looking forward to this.”
Pressure added to the middle of my back from Theo’s hand, and he gave me a dazzling smile.
“Not more than me. Trust me.”
I knew he meant to tease Vaughn about it, but I felt no humor in my moment. Just sadness.
Would Vaughn and I ever be able to be out publicly together? Would we ever get to come out from hiding in the shadows of The Order?
“Miss Taylor, where were you for the last year?”
“Are you safe now?”
“Yes,” I said, looking over to the dark-haired reporter. Not Katia. I let my eyes scan as another question rang out.
“Is this a date with Mr. Hart?”
“We’re just friends.” Male reporter. Not Katia.
“Penelope, do you think the person responsible for your disappearance is still out there? Are you afraid they might come for you again?”
I paused, slowing as I met the green eyes of the blonde reporter before me. She wasn’t Katia, but that didn’t mean the agent wasn’t watching in person or on television.
“I’m not afraid. …Justice will prevail.”
I turned back to Theo, smiling up at him as I headed forward again.
My guard opened the door and Theo stayed at my back as I got in, heading around the SUV to join.
The moment the door shut, Able turned from the driver’s seat, giving me a look.
He pulled out, his eyes immediately lifting to the rearview mirror to meet with mine again.
“I do believe you’re baiting your agent.”
“I was stating the truth. Nothing more.”
“Will the Magister see it that way?”
My lips twisted, but I turned my attention to Theodore.
“Tell me about Vaughn. How is he?”
He sighed. “He’s holding strong. I know he’d much prefer to be going on this date with you right now. I got threatened every way under the sun before I left, so no kissing this time. I know I’m irresistible, but I’m a barrister. I need my tongue. Without it, I’m without a job.”
My smile was genuine. “No kissing. You have a deal. Vaughn tells me that we’re to go on a few dates. Are you okay with that—with this?”
“My loyalty is with The Unavowed and with The Order. If this is part of getting our king back in his rightful place, I will do whatever I must.” His lips pulled back on one side as he gave me a devilish look.
“I think I can handle a few dates. It’s not like being out here with you is putting my life at risk. ”
“Well…” I winced. “Technically, no, but—”
“You plan to put my life at risk?”
His charm was gone, replaced with concern.
“Being out with me could possibly be a risk.”
“Because of the agent…”
I glanced at Able but went back to Theodore.
“She’s determined to do something. I don’t think she’d go as far as she did before with locking me down in another location, but I can’t be sure.
Maybe it’s just a quick scare or torture session so she can regain the power.
She lost control when Marian took me to Miami.
She’s angry, and I’m sure she got in trouble for that.
I’m afraid she might somehow think to take that anger out on you.
Or maybe she’ll take the risk because she feels she can get answers from you about Vaughn. It’s not safe being in her crosshairs.
Seconds passed as Theodore studied my face.
“And here I thought you were the bait. Is it me? Am I the bait? Dammit.” The humor was pushed back as he turned serious. “I’m not afraid of the SLB. This may be the most important mission we’ll ever be on. I’ll take my chances.”
“Same, so don’t be mad at me for asking this of you. I wouldn’t ask anything I wouldn’t do myself.”
I felt the men’s full attention come to me as they all waited.
“What would you like me to do?”
“Sit with me.” I paused. “And help me hunt her.”
At his confusion, I turned to Able. “The press got what they wanted, a headline. I want to turn the tables. I say we go for a drive. I’m done reacting. If she’s watching… I want her to follow.”
The SUV was quiet, and in the silence, I only heard one voice in my head. An angry one. One filled with pain. I heard Vaughn.
The orders had come too easily… Perhaps I should have included him. He knew what to do better than I did. And he had mentioned wanting to be involved in my progression. He was even upset that he wasn’t allowed to.
Empathy. Emotion.
The Magister would want me to push away my feelings—to ignore Vaughn’s. Independence was important if I was going to be a good queen.
All I heard was Vaughn’s anger. It was in the way his tone changed.
In the way I could see his jaw tighten in my head as I heard him speak over the phone.
I didn’t have to be there to know how Vaughn looked when he was upset.
And the anger made me think of my father.
It wasn’t the same. I knew it wasn’t, but my body didn’t care about logic. It never had.
Mixed in with all of the negative was love. It was respect. I trusted Vaughn to know the right thing to do, and this decision was too big for me to not bring him into it. I would just have to take the punishment from The Magister if he found out.
“Actually… I should call Vaughn.”
Still, no one spoke. I pulled out my phone, dialing Vaughn’s number. He answered after the first ring.
“Penelope?”
“Vaughn.”
“Are you okay? I thought you were on your date?”
I glanced over to Theodore, jerking my gaze to Able’s before I softened my tone.
“I am. We’re driving to the restaurant. I… I had an idea but before I—Vaughn, … I want your help.”
“I’m here for you, love. You know that. Tell me your plan.”
The tension eased from my body at his coaxing tone. This was the Vaughn I wanted. This is the one I loved more than anything. Not the angry High Master who looked at me like a stranger because of how The Magister wanted me to behave. How did I become queen if neither of us even knew who I was?
“I want to skip dinner and drive around so we can see if Katia is following. I made the order, and then I took it back. I want to know what you would do.”
A long moment passed and his voice was relieved…smooth.
“Your instincts are good, but you don’t want to force her hand too quickly.
You’ll want a strategy that won’t fail. When we set the trap, you want to be able to close it.
Feed my poor friend before he starves to death, and you and I will come up with a plan on Holy Night.
We may only get one chance. Let’s make sure it counts. ”