Page 120 of Uncrowned

Movement broke the silence, and the Magister waved towards the fire.

“The oath is spoken. The blood will remember.”

Theodore glanced over as the man with the brand came forward. He swallowed hard, unbuttoning and pulling open his shirt.

No hesitation. The glowing bright upside-down crown was pressed over Theodore’s chest, and a deep rumble started low in his throat, increasing in volume as he held his ground through the melting of his flesh. Skin sizzled and blood beaded.

The brand was pulled back, and deep pants left Theodore.

“You are one with The Order. Seal your oath in blood.”

Sweat was beginning to collect on Theo’s face. The Magister lifted a silver dagger, leaving it flat over his hands. Green eyes lifted to mine, and Theodore took the weapon, turning to face the redhead. He reached up, and with one quick jerk, he sliced the woman’s throat open, keeping in place as blood began to gush from the wound. Only when it slowed did he turn back to face me. I couldn’t stop the smile that came.

“Welcome to The Order…” I stepped forward. “Master.”

CHAPTER 40

Penelope

The problem with lighting fires is that eventually, something burns.

I stared down at the screen of my phone for what had to be the millionth time since I’d talked with Vaughn over text.

Heiress Penelope Taylor: Protected or Imprisoned? The Mystery Deepens

The headline made me nervous, but it was satisfying to get the truth out there. Vaughn had done exactly what I’d asked him to do, and now I was going to have to face the consequences of that. It had me closing my eyes to breathe. Calm. I had to stand my ground. I was pissed, and they were going to know it.

I opened the drawer to my desk, putting my phone inside. The last thing I needed was to remind them how I got word out. It’d been hell getting that phone to begin with. I really didn’t want them to take it away. I didn’t care if they were listening or reading everything I wrote.

Leaving my office, I saw Marian’s door open in the distance. The buzz of voices was nonstop, pausing as I passed cubicles on my way down the hall. Cassandra glanced up at my approach, her eyes lowering through the firestorm that was no doubt awaiting me through Marian’s door.

As I entered, Marian was standing behind her desk, her face hard and stoic. Katia was leaning against the wall length glass window. Her stare could have shot daggers at me with as angry as she appeared.

“Shut the door, Penelope.”

My full name.

I felt like a child as I obeyed.

Did they think I was acting like one?

The thought only heated my blood even more.

“Take a seat.”

I looked at the chair Marian gestured to, glancing at Katia before shaking my head.

“I’d much rather stand, thank you.”

Katia nodded. “Marian, you’re going to have to excuse us. I hate to do it, but what I need to say is between me and Penelope.”

Marian’s green eyes flickered to me and there was hesitation before she nodded and left. The moment the door shut, Katia pinned me with a glare.

“The article you had put into that paper—Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“What I’ve done? What. I’ve. Done? I’ll tell you what I haven’t done. A crime. Yet here I am, a prisoner in this building.”

“Not a prisoner, a ward of Marian’s.”