Page 134 of Uncrowned

Keith glanced down to me, nodding. “It’s time, Ms. Penelope. We’ve been trying a long time to bring you home.”

Home.

Another tear slipped free. My mind battled whether to run. To scream. Would this new imprisonment be worse than the SLB’s? Maybe. At least with Marian I’d gotten into a routine. And I was safe. Here, I’d have to face Vaughn. I wasn’t sure my heart could do that. He’d lied to me—at least by omission. I couldn’t even trust him. His motives were unclear. Secretive. Not to mention dangerous.

“Keith—”

“We know something is wrong between you and The Unavowed. He hasn’t been the same now for a long time. You’re having doubts, which I understand, but don’t run or force me to subdue you. I really don’t want to do that.”

My bottom lip eased out at the confliction. “He sent you on purpose. He knew I would honor my vow.”

He gave a soft shrug, but I knew he was agreeing.

“How have you been, Keith?” I asked quietly. “How’s The Order?”

“It would be a lot better if you were there.”

I smiled.

“I barely know the place, but I have missed something about it. Not him,” I forced out, “but The Order. I shouldn’t. It’s a terrifying, evil place, but… I guess… You all support someone I… loved. I’ve done a lot of research the last year. I’ve left no stone unturned. You’re backing the true king. I don’t believe the first King Vaughn committed treason.”

“None of us do. The Unavowed⁠—”

My mouth twisted, and he cocked his head.

“He didn’t… hurt you, did he?”

I bit the insides of my cheeks, trying to contain the anger that arose at Katia’s voice in my head.

“Not like how you mean.”

“I see.” We turned, and he hit the button for the lift. The doors opened, and we headed inside. Instead of choosing a floor, he pushed for the garage level. “I know it hasn’t been easy for you, Ms. Penelope, and it’s not about to get any better. Have grace for The Unavowed. He means well. He does. And I think if you’d just talk to him⁠—”

“Keith.” I turned, feeling my true self surge to the forefront. My eyes fell flat, and any good emotion I had disappeared in the darkness within. “The Unavowed will get treated exactly as he deserves. The grace inside me died when I found out everything he told me was a lie. I said vows to you and to The Order. You get my grace. Vaughn gets the Penelope he created.”

CHAPTER 46

Vaughn

The fear. The terror. I wouldn’t forget the emotions that crossed Penelope’s face as I approached her. I knew she’d turn and run, and that’s exactly why I’d put Keith next to the front door.

Vows were sacred. How people held to their word spoke to the foundation of their character. Putting Keith in Penelope’s way was more of a test than she knew. I wanted to see how she’d react when faced with her vow. One captivity for another. Would she fight? Run? Both?

I knew the moment she left the signing room, either were an option. What I didn’t expect was for her to make Marian stay. I thought they’d both leave and we’d get them in the hall.

I took the back way out, heading to let the men know to get ready. What I didn’t expect was to see a couple dragging Marian through the back door… right in the exact path my men were.

The man pulled out a needle, pushing something into her neck as she fought.

“Hey, who the fuck are you?”

The woman holding the door’s voice drew out two of my guards who came through the door just behind me. She immediately pulled out her gun, but she wasn’t fast enough.

Shots.

They rang out next to me, muffled from the silencer. It had the man running with Marian in his arms, ducking as he raced for the elevator. He wasn’t fast enough. Dale, Bastian’s guard, wore a black balaclava, different than my own movie-themed mask that covered my entire face. He stepped from a room, a few doors down, making the man jerk to a stop as he leveled the gun at his face.

“If you pull that gun out of the back of your waistband, you’re dead.” Dale stepped in closer. “Put the girl down and slide over the weapon. Then, walk back the way you came.”