12. Penelope
Penelope
I barely recognized the strong woman before me.
Crying.
Shaking.
Trembling.
For hours, I questioned her. And for hours, I broke her apart, piece by piece. Vaughn didn’t interrupt, nor did he do anything to distract my focus. He stayed in the background, watching me with fascination.
The Reeve came and went on occasion, whispering something to Vaughn, only to leave. At one point, they switched places and Vaughn disappeared. I barely noticed with how determined I was to make Katia pay.
I hadn’t lied when I told her I knew everything about her. On paper, I did. How much aside from the facts were true, I didn’t know.
She was part of the Jane Doe Foundation out of America.
She was employed by the FBI there, where she also worked for the SLB here.
She was a double agent and received her orders from a board of retired agents who picked the cases but stayed anonymous.
Supposedly, that is where she’d gotten assigned to Vaughn, but she didn’t know by who.
I wasn’t sure I believed her, but I had moved on, battling the sickness that wouldn’t stay away. It was distracting, but I refused to stop.
Marian had trained with the Jane Doe Foundation before her mother pulled her out. She didn’t think Marian was strong enough to withstand the grueling training. With how much of a fight Katia was still trying to give me, I believed her.
Katia hadn’t broken completely. Every answer was a struggle. Every piece of information was a puzzle. But I’d come far throughout my time with her.
The woman could barely stay upright in a sitting position. She kept swaying, and her swollen eyes were barely open.
As much as I wanted to admit I was thriving in her torture, I was barely holding on myself. The nausea was returning, and I hadn’t eaten lunch or supper. It was late. Well past that.
I blinked through the sudden sway, managing to not stumble or even step.
“I will be back. Don’t get comfortable.”
Katia fell over to the floor, groaning and curling her head down to her chest. I turned my attention to Vaughn as he stepped forward, placing his hand at my lower back.
As he led me out of the room and locked the door behind us, I had to reach to the wall for support.
I quickly let go as he turned back to me.
“You’re pale.”
“I’m still recovering.”
“I thought you were better.”
I kept my pace slower than usual, more focused on keeping one foot in front of the other. We left the cells, weaving through the halls. By the time I made it to the Great Hall, I was sweating and slightly out of breath.
Sleep.
Yes. I needed to sleep.
“Sit.”
Vaughn led me to our table, and I didn’t argue.
“You’re going to eat. I’m going to bathe you. And then you’re going to see Lord Oxley. If you think to argue—”
I didn’t. All I could do was nod as he headed over, telling a slave my order. I tried to sit up straight, to appear the queen, but I found myself lowering, crossing my arms over the table to lay my head down.
“I should have stopped you hours ago.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
I yawned, opening my eyes, and catching a glimpse of Vaughn before darkness called me in again. What felt like only a few seconds passed when Vaughn was easing me up and placing food before me. The smell had my eyes flying open.
I jerked my head from the left and then the right, panicked as I slapped my hand over my mouth.
The room rocked, and the smell was too much. Vaughn moved fast, understanding what I couldn’t say.
“Right here.”
Vaughn grabbed a small wastebasket, barely getting it under my mouth before I heaved.
His hand was holding back my hair, and I could feel myself swaying as my stomach tried to expel everything it held.
By the time I was finished, I was nearly falling out of my chair.
I grabbed the water he held, washing my mouth out.
“What did it?”
“What?”
“What made you sick? Was it lying down or…”
“The smell,” I managed. “I can’t—”
His face softened.
“What are you thinking?
“You’re not sick, Penelope… you’re pregnant.”
“What?”
I looked at Vaughn, my eyes widening through the claim.
“I think you’re pregnant. You don’t have a virus. You’re having my child.”
My mouth opened to argue, but I shut it as I began doing calculations in my head.
My last monthly was… roughly two weeks before we left for Miami. I’d come here…had sex with Vaughn the very first night… that was weeks ago….
“I’m late.”
“Pregnant.”
“I’m…” My hand went to my stomach. “I can’t be pregnant yet; I have The Trials.”
Vaughn’s features tightened.
“I have The Trials,” I repeated. “I thought this would take longer. I thought—Already? So fast?”
I stopped, pushing the plate of chicken and sides away.
“Vaughn… what do I do? I can’t be the queen unless I pass The Trials. I… I can’t have our baby and not be married. I…” My lips parted, and I pushed to stand. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Calm, Penelope. It is fast, but we’ll figure this out.”
“I have to do The Trials now, before I can’t. I have—”
“Penelope.” Hands cupped my face, and Vaughn’s mouth pulled back to the side. “We’ll figure it out.” His face softened even more. “I think we’re having a baby. Nothing is better than this. Do you know what this means?”
Silence reigned before us.
“The line lives,” I whispered.
He smiled bigger. “The line lives. This is the best news. The only news that matters.” His hand slid over my stomach. “We tell no one but those closest to us. The news cannot get out yet. But… love…” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “A baby.”
“It could be a virus.”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
He pushed the chicken back before me. “I’m calling Theodore. Eat. At least try to,” he encouraged.
I reached forward, grabbing the drink from the table again. Vaughn was deeper in the Great Hall, pacing while he spoke on the phone. I brought the plate back to me, picking at the food as my stomach continued to roll. When he headed back over, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him so happy.
“Theodore is on his way. I called Lord Oxley as well. He’s at home. I told him not to bother coming tonight but he insisted.” He paused, and the smile melted. “Penelope, about Scotland.”
My hand shot up. “I have to go.”
“I don’t think I can let you.”
“Neither of us have a choice. It’s only four days.
Think about it this way.” I turned more in his direction.
“This gives me time to steer him far, far away from me. When he sees I’m clearly not interested, he’ll start looking elsewhere.
We need that, Vaughn. Otherwise, his invitations are not going to stop. ”
“But if we were married—”
“Which can’t happen until after the trials…”
He stopped, closing his eyes.
“I’m going to take them when I get back. I’m out of time. I don’t have a choice.”
“I’ll talk to The Magister again.”
“Again?”
Vaughn jerked out his chair, sitting. “If we were married, you could tell King Lawrence—”
“You didn’t. Vaughn. Tell me you didn’t beg The Magister to pardon me from The Trials. Because of Scotland?”
“You don’t know what I do,” he growled. “King Lawrence isn’t who you think he is, Penelope. He’s manipulative and evil. He’s going to twist your mind and…”
“And what? Make me not love you anymore? Force me to marry him instead?” My head cocked to the side at his hard look. “You have me. I belong to you. Especially, maybe now.”
His face softened.
“Vaughn, I love you. You’re going to see that this fear you have over Scotland is nothing.
The days are going to fly by, and before you know it, I’ll be back here and we’ll be moving into our new house together.
Aboveground this time. Into a bedroom. With a real kitchen where I can learn to cook.
And maybe a nursery,” I whispered, grabbing his hand. “It’s going to be fine.”
He cupped the side of my neck, leading me in so he could hug around me.
“If anything happens to you—”
“It won’t.”
“If—”
“Stop. It won’t.”
“But if it did—”
“Vaughn.” I lifted my head. “It’s going to be fine.”
He stayed quiet, pulling back and tapping my plate.
I tried my best to eat. Time passed. I managed to make a small dent into it when Theodore entered the Great Hall.
He was wearing a pair of plaid pajama pants and a black t-shirt.
His usually styled hair was a mess. He lifted his arm, displaying the bag hanging from his grip.
“I’m here.”
“You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”
“Sweets.”
Vaughn laughed. “I’ll never give you a hard time again.”
They smiled, and I stood, grabbing the bag from Theodore. “You’re amazing. Truly, thank you.”
“You never have to thank me.”
When I started walking, they followed. It had me stopping to turn and look at them.
“I’m going around the corner to the bathroom. Are you going to wait outside the door?”
Theodore glanced over to Vaughn, nodding. “I didn’t get out of bed for nothing. I’m waiting. The suspense is killing me.”
Vaughn nodded. “You don’t even have to ask.”
I sighed, shaking my head as I walked around the corner.
I knew they were following, but I was too nervous to focus.
Although I was excited, I was terrified what this meant.
The trials were not something to rush. I could die.
If I was pregnant, I could lose this baby. It wasn’t something to take lightly.
Opening the box, I read the instructions.
Vaughn said we would figure this out.
As I took the test, I forced myself to believe him.
A baby was a blessing for his line. It assured the survival. It reshaped history. It…
I swallowed hard, watching the saturation increase over the control line. I bit my lip, opening the door to look at the men. Vaughn surged forward with Theodore right behind him. I stared at the test on the countertop. I watched as the color intensified.
And then not one line… but two. I clenched my fists, watching as pink leaked into the line, growing brighter by the second. Lips crushed hard into my cheek as Vaughn hugged me from behind.
“We’re having a baby.” He let go, slapping Theodore’s shoulder, but keeping his voice low. “We’re having a baby.”
Loud laughter and cheers wavered behind me as I continued to stare down. I took in the lines. The meaning… and I processed. I let my mind race. Calculate.
One week.
That’s how long I had when I got back from Scotland…
I could do it.
I had to.
The later I waited, the more risk for the child. Morning sickness was already setting in. I had to work on my defense. Able was going with me. Just because we were in Scotland didn’t mean my training would stop.
I’d find a way to make this work. To pass the trials in record time. I no longer had a choice.
If I failed the trials… I died.
If I waited… I risked the baby.
I couldn’t afford to do either.