47. Penelope
Penelope
Functioning was almost impossible. My thoughts were scrambled. Clarity was skewed. The floor kept feeling as though it were moving beneath my feet. Yet… I knew exactly what was being asked of me as I stared into the darkness of the veil covering The Magister’s face.
“Choose.” He got louder. “Duchess? Or Queen?”
All the pain of my childhood came rolling back. All the lessons. The beatings. The verbal abuse. Hour after hour of studying. Of getting scolded and told I was stupid for not remembering what my father thought I should already know.
Blood.
Betrayal.
The Taylor name. Everything it stood for.
Or …
Vaughn.
The Crown.
The life I had already chosen.
“There is no choice, Magister.” I kept my voice steady. “I made it the moment I chose Vaughn and The Order. The title means nothing.” I let out a shaky breath. “I relinquish it, effective immediately.”
The Magister turned to The Judic. He gave a hard nod and they stood, heading down. They lined up in front of me, almost circling me in. My breath caught as one by one, they lowered.
The guards followed, as did Lord Oxley, but Vaughn didn’t lower. His expression hardened. But there was something else… something deeper. Reverence…
“It is done.” The Magister took out a dagger and the Judic mirrored him. They dragged the blade across their palms, letting the blood pool.
“By blood we remember… What was taken is restored. We recognize you. You belong to the Crown now. We are yours, Queen of The Order. Long may you reign.”
Their hands lowered, turning over as they pushed their palms down, imprinting their vow into stone. Slowly, they rose, bowing their heads to Vaughn before making their way to the side door. He didn’t waste any time heading for me.
“Penelope—” His voice was deep and choked with emotion. “I’m sorry. What happened wasn’t your fault.”
“I chose, and I chose right. I’m not sorry.”
Lips crushed into mine. I went to put my arms around his neck, crying out from the pain that flared from the stitches.
“Let’s get you cleaned up and taken care of before the celebration.” He turned to Lord Oxley. “Have the good stuff ready for when she’s finished.”
“Already done, Unavowed.”
Vaughn led me to the doors. The moment they opened, the guards outside lowered to one knee.
Although walking was a chore, I managed to get to our chamber without having Vaughn carry me.
I hurt everywhere. I was mentally shot and exhausted.
He led me to the shower, gently washing me as he continued stealing kisses.
I could sense his emotions were high. Higher than they’d ever been.
It was in the way he kept longingly looking at me.
In the tears that would come, only to disappear as he fought them.
In the constant little touches. It was in the care in how he bathed me.
“Did I say how proud I am of you?”
I smiled as he rinsed me off.
“You did.”
“You are so strong, Penelope. And worthy. More worthy than I am. The Order will thrive under you.”
“I wouldn’t be who I am if it wasn’t for you.”
I lifted my hand, trailing the tip of my thumb over his bottom lip.
“You taught me what it was to be strong. It was always there but it was smothered. Weak. You awoke me. You showed me not just who I could be, but what I could be. Vaughn… we did it. We made it through the hardest part. Together, nothing can stop us.”
His lips ravaged mine. Vaughn pushed his tongue into my mouth, moaning as he grabbed my ass.
“Dammit. Later. Tomorrow. You can barely stand. Everyone is waiting.”
“Well, I am the queen. Maybe they can wait a little longer?”
He laughed. “You can barely stand. Imagine if I had my way with you right now.”
My lips twisted. “I’d take the pain. I’d never make the celebration. I’d fall asleep the moment we were done.”
“Exactly. Come.” He dried me off, leading me to our room. He opened the closet, frowning as he pulled out a dark blue dress with gold trim. Small lions were embroidered along the edge of the sleeves, and I gasped as I leaned in, running my finger over them. “You can’t wear this. Not with your back.
“Oh yes I can. Put some gauze over it.”
“No way.” He went back in the closet. I grabbed a pair of panties, sliding them on as he returned with a black, silk dress.
It was backless and cut low where the front was conservatively high.
He unzipped it, and I stepped in. As he pulled it up, I slid my arms into the thin straps that rested on the outer part of my shoulders.
Zipping it up, he grabbed my hips, placing a kiss between my shoulder blades, between the lacerations. “Perfect.”
Turning, I walked over, grabbing the brush and slowly running it through my hair. Twisting it, I grabbed pins, trying not to wince as I secured it back from my face.
“For the celebration.”
I glanced up in the mirror, gasping as I caught the glistening from diamonds. Vaughn headed up, and I turned to face him. His smile was radiant as he lifted the crown, placing it on my head.
“I dreamed of this day…” He took pins from my hand, securing it on my head. “I dreamed, and here we are.”
“And now I get to see you in a crown. That’s a first.”
More, he smiled. “It’s been a while.”
“Get used to it.” I grew serious. “We’re going all the way. We’re getting that evidence and making it public. There has to be a way.”
“Later. Tonight is your night.”
He took out his keys, disappearing back into the closet as I moved to my vanity.
Clothes shuffled behind me as I applied a light amount of makeup.
When Vaughn returned, he was wearing a new black suit, and his crown was the same dark iron as his throne.
I stared up in fascination. Where his was dark, mine was light—beautiful.
“I think I’m in love.”
He laughed, opening a large box. My smile melted as I took in the gold, sapphire and diamond necklace.
“Vaughn…”
“Turn.”
I obeyed, holding my breath as he put it around, latching it behind my neck. My fingers came up, touching the square gems that were twice as large as my fingertips.
“Almost perfect. One more thing.”
He took a small black box from his pocket, lowering to one knee as he opened it. The large oval diamond rested above a diamond band. My mouth parted, and I gasped as I lifted my gaze to his.
“Marry me. Make this the happiest night of my life. I want you to be more than just The Queen of The Order. I want you as my fiancée. My wife. I don’t want to live another day without being able to say to the world that you’re mine.
I want them to see. I want everyone to know.
Penelope… I love you with everything in me.
I am not me without you. Please. … Say yes. ”
I wiped the tears that refused to stay inside. My hand was shaking as I placed it out before him.
“Forever, yes.”
Vaughn slid the ring on my finger, standing and cradling my face as he kissed me. He pulled back, and for a long moment, he didn’t move. He kept his forehead against mine, holding to my wrists as he kissed just below the ring.
“Fiancée. Finally.”
“I’ve always been yours. I will always be yours.”
He pulled back, nodding and looking down at the ring on my finger again. “I’m ready to keep you to myself. First, we celebrate. Slip on your shoes, love. It’s time.”
I smiled, walking over and sliding on the heels.
He was waiting by the door, and I took the arm he offered.
The moment he opened the barrier, the buzz of voices in the far distance registered.
Guards kneeled, and pain punched a hole in my chest for Keith.
Emotion sucked me in, and I held in the grief as we made our way down the hall.
Vaughn glanced down at me, slowing just outside of the entrance to the Throne Room.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m good. It was Keith. I…” I looked up, trying to hold in the tears. “He’ll never be at my door again. I’m going to miss him.”
“I’m sorry. You’ve lost a lot tonight.”
My head shook. “I’ve gained more. I’m not complaining. I’m just processing.” I stood taller. “This is a happy night. Let’s do this. I’m ready.”
Vaughn signaled to the guards, who opened the doors.
The loud hum of voices died out, and only when there was complete silence did Vaughn lead us forward.
The cheers as we entered were deafening.
Everyone lowered, and Vaughn led me to stand in front of my throne.
He headed forward, lifting his hands for everyone to rise.
“Twenty-eight years.” His words were quiet but powerful. “It’s been almost three decades since this Order has stood beside a queen.” He paused. “Since my mother.”
Tears burned my eyes as he swallowed hard.
“In that time, we have survived. We have adapted.” His voice grew deeper as it hardened. “You could say we endured. But we have not been whole.” Vaughn’s stare came to me. “Tonight, that changes. Not because Penelope was given a title… but because she earned it.”
His jaw tightened as he headed back in my direction.
“Penelope has bled for her position. Fought for it.” He reached for my hand, holding to it.
“She has sacrificed for it. Tonight, she stands before you not as a duchess… not as the Intended.” He looked back at the crowd.
“But as Queen of The Order. Penelope is mine to honor. And I am hers to defend. And soon, she will stand beside me not just in power… but in name.” He drew me in closer to him. “Recognize your queen.”