22. Vaughn
Vaughn
I shouldn’t have been here. I had guards posted outside of his room and at both ends of the hallway. Theodore was protected. He was barely even conscious. But I couldn’t leave yet. Not until Lord Oxley got here so we could transport him to The Order.
Theodore had almost been murdered. It was lucky at all that Katia had given me the information when she did, or else Theo may have died in his bed, alone.
I could still see the bloody sheets and comforter from the video call from the guards. Theodore had been so pale. And he’d been unconscious. I thought he was dead. I thought—a man almost like a brother—someone else I cared for… gone.
But he wasn’t. Theodore had put up a good fight.
Enough so that the man had fled. I did manage to get that through his bouts of consciousness.
But he wasn’t okay. I shouldn’t even move him.
I knew that. But what choice did I have?
They’d come back for him. They’d kill him if they got another chance, and I wasn’t going to let that happen.
“You look like hell.”
My eyes jerked up, and I smiled at Theo.
“You, my friend, are the one who looks a little rough. Welcome back. Again.”
“I think I died. There was an angel. Red hair—”
My laugh had him looking over, and he wasn’t amused.
“Is that so funny?”
“It is. That wasn’t an angel, Theodore. It’s your nurse. She has red hair.”
His head turned and he smiled. “So… there’s a chance.”
“No, there’s not, because I’m taking you to The Order.”
He didn’t fight. He didn’t even argue.
“How did you know?”
I got quiet, looking down at my phone on my lap. It was off, per hospital policy in our wing. I sighed, meeting his gaze.
“Katia. She said…” I lowered my voice. “King Lawrence put a contract out on you. It was pure coincidence she told me the same night. From the sound of it, it’s been out since Grove Square, although he may have put a pause on it. Apparently, he changed his mind. We almost lost you.”
“That son of a bitch.”
His eyes widened, and I dove forward to stop him from trying to get out of bed.
“Penelope. Have you checked on her?”
I paused, showing him that my phone was off.
“I’m sure she’s fine. She’s on the hunt. The Reeve and Mark will watch out for her. You, on the other hand, are not okay.”
He dropped his head, closing his eyes.
“You saved my life. Katia may have told you, but you didn’t hesitate. You came for me. Thank you for that.”
My heart got heavier as he opened his eyes. “That’s what we do, Theodore.” My hand rested over my heart, and he brought his shaky hand up, mirroring the action. The door opened, and Lord Oxley stepped inside.
“I got one of ours in. He’s going to do the transport via ambulance. I called and got the queen’s chamber ready and waiting, just as you requested, Sire.”
Theodore’s lips peeled back in a big smile as his gaze came back to me.
“You are moving me in next door. Do I get a desk in your study, too?”
His voice was so weak, not holding the humor that it usually did.
“That’s pushing it.”
He laughed, wincing, going even paler.
“I have to get back. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Sure thing… neighbor.”
I rolled my eyes, chuckling as I turned to Lord Oxley, lowering my voice.
“You have every single guard here accompany him or follow behind. He better make it back to The Order alive.”
“Yes, Unavowed. We’ll have him there as soon as we can.”
Nodding, I turned, waving to Theo. I kept my head down, feeling my own guards step in close as we made our way out of the hospital and into the waiting SUV. I turned on my phone, my brow drawing in as notification after notification began to roll through.
“Sire, Able has requested you call them. It’s concerning your Intended.”
“My Intended?”
I immediately clicked into the cameras seeing her bedroom one was turned off.
“What the hell?”
I clicked through to The Reeve’s feed, confused as I took in the front of a seat. Was he in a vehicle? Scrolling through, I went to Mark’s, taking in the road before me.
My head shook through the confusion, and I went back to the feed of Penelope’s camera, scrolling over as I went back in time.
I could see The Reeve grab the camera, and the room seemed to be full of people.
I kept going back, cursing as my phone rang and the screen disappeared.
Penelope’s name came up, and I sighed in relief, answering it.
“Hello? Penelope?”
“Oh my god. Where have you been?”
A sigh left me. “I should have called and left a message. I figured you’d be busy.”
“Busy getting the hell out of here. Why haven’t you called? Rowan’s been trying to get ahold of Able for hours. He was in meetings. I thought you were hurt. Dead.”
“Not me. Theodore was attacked last night. He almost died. We barely got there in time.”
A gasp. “No.” Penelope paused through her shock. “He’s alive? He’s going to be okay?”
“I think so. If Katia wouldn’t have—”
“Katia?”
“Yeah. Before she died, she said King Lawrence put a contract out on Theodore back when you were at Grove Square. The timing is miraculous, to say the least. Had I waited to check on him, he would have been dead. He lost so much blood.”
Penelope sniffled. “That’s horrible. This… This is all my fault.”
“No.”
“It is.” Another sniffle. “The bastard. He’s not going to stop, Vaughn. I knew he was up to something. I just… knew. And then the supposed physician.”
“The what?”
Penelope made an aggravated sound.
“When Rowan said you weren’t answering, and that Able was in a meeting, I went back to my room to call you.
Some man was in there. My stuff was everywhere, as if he were looking for something.
It was strange. Anyway, I threw a fit. I made so much noise, everyone hurried in to watch and listen.
My breach of privacy and safety got me out of there, but it still doesn’t explain what he was doing.
We’re going to review the feed when we get on the plane.
“I don’t like any of this. You’re okay, though?”
“I’m fine. Just tired from my theatrics.”
“At least you’re on your way home.”
A soft laugh sounded. “I know. I saw the opportunity and I took it. That doesn’t mean that he won’t try again. I fear now, he’ll be more determined than ever. Especially if he did put that hit on Theo. I hate that we can’t prove it.”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “I know. We’re going to have to be careful. Especially you. Now that you’re a Duchess—”
She groaned. “Don’t remind me of my duties right now.
I know, I know. I’ll have to be out in the public more.
There’s lots to do. There’s going to be press, parties.
I just… can’t right now. I’m sleepy, my stomach is starting to hurt, and the nausea is already kicking in.
I want on this plane and to be home already. ”
“How much longer before you get to the airport.”
“We’re pulling up now.”
“Great. I’m pulling up to The Order. Call me when you get on the plane.”
“I will. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I hung up as the SUV pulled into the parking garage. I got out, meeting Able as we entered The Order. I waited for him to start talking as we headed down the halls.
“Unavowed, your Intended—”
My hand went up. “I just got off the phone with her. Penelope is okay. They’re on their way home now.”
He let out a breath of relief, nodding.
“Excellent news. We also readied the room for Theodore, per Lord Oxley’s orders. And I’ve had the kitchen prepare your breakfast for when you’re ready.”
“I appreciate it. I’ll be in my study if you need me.”
“And I’ll be outside in case you need me.”
I wasn’t going to tell Able I’d be fine.
He was trying to make a good impression, and he was.
He’d handled everything flawlessly. Turning, we split off from the main hall, going the few doors down.
As I entered, Able kept outside. The television was still up, showing The Reeve, standing across, talking to Penelope as she sat down in her seat on the plane.
The main door was still open, telling me they’d just gotten on.
She had her purse in her lap, looking far too pale as she rubbed her hand down her face.
I could tell by how much he kept shifting, something wasn’t right.
I brought up my phone, hitting her number and watching as she dug through her purse. Before she could get it out, Penelope shot to her feet, racing past The Reeve and disappearing in what I knew was my plane’s bathroom. My phone rang almost immediately.
“What the hell happened?”
The Reeve’s voice was slightly winded.
“I’m not sure, Sire. She started having stomach pains around the time we left the vehicle. She could barely walk by the time we got to the plane.
“What happened? What changed?”
“… Nothing. She was fine. Then her stomach started hurting.”
“That’s not good.”
Echoes of Penelope vomiting sounded.
Seconds passed.
The Reeve reached out, knocking on the door.
“Talk to me. Tell me you’re okay.”
Deep breaths sounded, and a cry left her. Again, she started to become sick. My head shook repeatedly as I paced.
“Come on, Ms. Penelope. Talk to me.”
A sob. “Hurts.” Another loud cry. “Rowan, call Vaughn.”
“I already have him on the phone.”
“Somethings not… right.”
Again, she heaved.
“What the hell happened,” I growled. “You’re sure she didn’t get into anything? No drinks? No food?”
“No. Not that I saw. We were there, and it hit.”
“Earlier. What did she eat?”
The Reeve paused.
“A banana and yogurt. That’s it. I didn’t even see her with a drink.”
“Shit.”
No. This wasn’t right. He did this. Somehow, he did this.
Deep breaths left her, and Rowan didn’t knock. He opened the door. Penelope was laying on the ground, barely propped up by the wall. Her coloring was so off, just as Theodore’s had been. I felt my heart stop.
“Reeve, we got company! King Lawrence is pulling up.”
Mark’s voice cut through the air. Rowan cursed, picking up Penelope and carrying her back to the seat.
“Unavowed, I’m going to have to call you back.”
The line went dead, and maybe part of me did as well. Penelope could barely keep her eyes open. Her body was limp, and her lips were taking on a blue hue.
“No, no, no.” The Reeve patted against her face and boots stomped in, coming towards them.
“Your Majesty.” The words came out pained from The Reeve as King Lawrence walked past the guards. “What are you doing here?”
“It looks like I’m saving The Duchess’s life. Go home. We’ll take care of things from here.”
He swooped in, trying to pick up Penelope’s unconscious body. She wasn’t even responsive anymore.
“Sire, I can’t do that. I’ve vowed to protect the Duchess. I can’t be released by anyone but her. If you’re taking her—”
I heard the gasp and grunt before I could process that the camera had lurched forward. The king jerked his arm back, revealing a dagger coated in blood.
“No!”
Mine and Marks yells overlapped. I could see the king, spinning to Mark, thrusting the knife as The Reeve crashed to his knees. My door burst open and Able slid up next to me, breathing heavily as the angle pitched forward and Rowan’s camera went dark.
“My jet.” I pushed against Able’s shoulder. “Get my jet ready. They’re taking my Intended.”
Voices from the king’s men cut through as Able burst from my office. Fear overwhelmed me. It cloaked around me so tightly that it stole more than my breath—it stole my ability to function.
There was only one thing I knew… King Lawrence had just declared war on The Order, and he was about to face a wrath not even love could sway.