40. Vaughn #2
She ducked, weaving and ducking again as Able jabbed. The moment his hand drew back, she stepped in knocking him right on his ass. Blood poured from his nose, and Penelope jumped back as he tried to kick her feet out from under her.
“Fuck. You got me good this time.”
Able groaned, letting her help him to stand. I headed forward at a fast pace, watching our Reeve stiffen at my approach.
“Who did that to her face?”
Penelope turned in my direction, lifting her head even higher as she answered me.
“It’s hard to say. I’m not sure they even knew. I took on all three. They held their own, but I won.”
“I can see that.” I angled her face from side to side, shaking my head and gritting my teeth through the anger. “You’re going to have to cancel everything until the ball. You can’t go out looking like this.”
“Is it that bad?”
I wrapped my arm around her waist, carrying her to the full-length mirror. Penelope gasped, only to smile.
“They sure did some damage.”
“You don’t say.”
She glanced over at my angry tone. It was for nothing. I knew this was technically great news for the trials, but the man who loved her couldn’t stand to see her hurt.
“I think I’m ready. Who will I fight?”
“We won’t know until the time comes.”
“I stand a chance.”
I stared at our reflection and how small she was next to me.
And she’d be fighting someone. Some man twice her size.
But I couldn’t tell her the truth of my fears.
Not yet. Not until after… or maybe at all.
I did have faith in her abilities, but the past only fed terror at the possibilities of one wrong move. One misstep.
“I’d say you stand more than that. I feel sorry for whoever has to face you.”
“Is it really to the death?”
Penelope’s expression saddened, and I let her down, turning her to face me.
“It is an honor to die for the queen.”
“And if I’m the one who dies?”
My head shook, and I felt sick.
“Don’t say that. You won’t die. I won’t let you.”
“You can’t stop it. If I die, I’m not worthy.”
Silence rested between us.
“You are worthy.”
“Not if I die.”
My eyes burned as I stared into blue.
“You’re not going to die. If you’re not ready, we could delay another few months.”
Her head shook. “No. It’s time. We need an heir. That is the upmost importance. The line must go on no matter what. We need it. I’m doing it in two days.”
“Penelope—”
“Vaughn,” she countered, grabbing around my finger.
I cursed, pulling her in to hold.
“I hate this. Hate it.”
“Maybe not as much as you’re going to hate what I tell you next.”
I eased back, studying her face. “Is it about the trials?”
“No.” She looked at the Reeve, heading over to grab her purse as I followed. “We should go home. I can tell you on the way. It’s almost midnight.”
“Alright.”
I gave Able a wave, walking for the door and holding it open for her.
“What is it? You’re not thinking of going to Rosemoor again, are you? Because if—”
“Don’t get all defensive. I’m not leaving.”
“Good. What, then?”
Penelope let out a deep breath. “Something is shifting in King Lawrence.”
I slowed but forced myself to keep up with her steady pace.
“What do you mean, shifting?”
“Towards me. I’m not sure I can really describe it other than just telling you and letting you explain to me if this is what I think it is.”
“Start at the beginning.”
She nodded. “He called me on my way to training.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. A little after ten. It was small talk at first, but then he revealed the real reason he called. I said something to him that he can’t stop thinking about.”
I stayed quiet, allowing her to continue.
“In the prison room, do you remember when he was asking about The Order, and he made the comment on why someone would want to buy a person? Like… what they’d use them for? I knew sex was the first thing that came to his mind so then I said—”
“Even death,” I whispered.
“Yes.” She quickly nodded. “Those words stuck with him.”
My brow crinkled as I tried to gage his mindset. “What about it?”
“He asked me if I could kill a person. If I’d like it.”
My head snapped to her. “He asked you that?”
“It gets worse. He said he wanted to watch me kill someone. He said I could do it at the palace. That it was safe there. I think he was… I.” A look of unease had her hands coming up to interlace. “I think maybe he was…” her hand gestured.
“What?”
“You know… pleasuring himself.”
“What? When? When he was talking to you about killing someone?”
“Maybe. He wanted to meet me at Rosemoor tomorrow. I told him no. That I had other plans. So, then he told me to come to the palace tonight. I said absolutely not. Then I told him to go to bed, and I hung up on him. I turned my phone off after that.”
My hand went up, and my head lowered as I took slow steps. Anger was there, but more of an uneasy disbelief. I almost couldn’t wrap my mind around how brazen he was being. To confess, to admit…
“So…” I let the words leave me as the thoughts raced. “King Lawrence wants to watch you kill someone, because he takes pleasure in that?”
Penelope shrugged. “Maybe? I don’t know.” She reached into her purse, turning on her phone. Alert after alert had her eyes going big as they came to me.
“Put it on speaker. Let’s see what he has to say.”
A slight shake took over her hands as Penelope obeyed.
“You will come to the palace tomorrow. I don’t care what time. You will come, and you will meet with me.” Anger thickened his tone. “Don’t make me find you.”
I jolted to a stop and the second message started.
“You can’t just hang up on me.” He paused. “I was wrong to sound threatening. I didn’t mean it. You just… you confuse me. I can’t describe it. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. And you… you’re perfect, really.”
Heat blistered my insides as the third message began.
“I can’t sleep. Do you usually keep your phone off at night?
That’s not very safe. Listen, I read the email you sent with Jarrod.
I’ve been looking at the narrowed list of stud managers you’ve chosen.
I’m down between two. I think we need to look into those deeper.
Also, the jumper, dressage issue. We’re going to have a lot to go over.
Let me know when Rosemoor works for you.
I know I mentioned the palace tomorrow, but that’s not going to work.
I have other obligations as well. I shouldn’t postpone them. Goodnight, Penelope.
At the fourth message, I couldn’t stop the heaviness of my breaths.
“He’s not good for you, you know. You think he is because he’s forced himself so deep, you can’t see anything else. I think you have Stockholm Syndrome. Truly, Penelope. I think you have it. It’s the only thing that makes sense. I think you’re blinded by everything but what he wants you to see.
“Just… do me a favor. Think about this for a moment. Vaughn killed your parents. He isolated you for months. He hurt you. Forced you to do things you didn’t want.
” Penelope’s stare lifted to mine. “Look at the scars you carry. You were raped under his care. Think about how you felt during that time. When you were trying to leave. You lived in fear. Terror. But then he comforted you. He manipulated you to make you into what he needed. He was good to you. He said he loved you. He made you feel safe when really it was him you should have feared. And you didn’t know better.
He didn’t leave you a choice. He forced that life on you.
That isn’t love, Penelope, that’s conditioning.
My blood ran cold, and Redmond’s words returned practically mirroring the king’s warning.
I felt sick. Exposed. The way fear and guilt made a home inside me didn’t feel real.
It brought back the one question that haunted me.
I loved Penelope… but did she truly love me? Or was she a product of my making?
Rage, defensiveness, it increased through my fears as I watched Penelope’s eyes lower. She shifted, adjusting her shoulders as he kept going.
“I gave you Rosemoor in hopes this would prove me wrong. The fact that you’re not gaining any independence worries me.
Did you at least give it thought? What do you think he would say if you told him you were moving there and you wanted to take things slow?
” He paused. “I bet you he wouldn’t let you leave.
I could bet… he’d find some way to keep you right where you are…
monitored. Brainwashed. And his. I’m truly afraid for you.
And maybe after this, you won’t call me back.
But at least then, I’ll know. And if he’s listening to this and you don’t call, I guess we’ll all know. ”