Page 165 of Uncrowned

Hesitation had me looking towards Marian before I brought my attention back to Penelope.

“Do you think that is wise?”

She glanced down, but I saw the queen, the defiant woman who pretended to be angry with me appear as she coldly lifted her eyes to mine. “For my training… yes. I have to say goodbye.”

“Make it quick.”

I kept the anger in my tone, knowing it was all for show. Penelope raced forward, but I followed. Drayton stepped in, keeping at my side as we got closer to Marian.

“This will be no easy game,” I said, looking over, “but it should go quickly if your wife can follow orders. There’s hope. She appears to be a fast learner. I have to say, after everything I know of her, I expected more of a fight. There’s balance. You’re lucky.”

I glanced over to Drayton but went back to watching Penelope break through the ring of guards. The moment she got close, their arms lifted, shooting up. Their fear was valid.

Everything was coming together.

“Balance?”

“You’ll see. Her fight—I have a suspicion it’s… waiting. Let’s not let it fester. We’ll mold it. Craft it. Outlets are important.” I pointed to Elec, and the guards immediately began to push him over to us, but I addressed Drayton. “You’re part of the Gardens. You were just accepted.”

“Yes.”

“Why, Mr. Pennington? Why do you want to be there?”

I could barely focus on the question I asked Drayton. I watched Penelope hug around Marian’s stiff body. She was far away again. There were tears, but she wasn’t breaking down like a woman should. She needed this. Marian Pennington needed to break down the wall she’d built inside of her, and I was going to allow her to do that. Not just for her… but for us.

“I have anger. A lot of it.”

“Because of her? Because her accusation cost you your title as heir?”

Drayton’s jaw clenched repeatedly. “It’s so much more than that. My title. Our love. Time. Everything’s been taken from me. Every decision, every hope. Every fucking dream. It’s the story of my goddamn life, so, unfortunately, the need to hurt someone isn’t new. It’s been there since I was a boy.”

I nodded, my face morphing to different emotions as I continued to watch Penelope. I forced my gaze away, finally looking at Elec.

“Main Master Elec, I’m curious on your take. You live this life. You’re a trained professional in this sort of thing.”

“I’m a psychologist on top of a Main Master, yes.” Elec’s voice had my head turning fuzzy as it came through monotone. It made me want to attack him. I got defensive but stayed calm.

“Who would you say is more suited for The Garden of the Gods. Is it our dear Mr. Pennington with all his closeted rage and sadism or… his fragile, little wife?”

Elec laughed, looking at me with an expression I knew all too well.

“Marian is far from fragile. She’s no different than a grenade. She’s only going through the motions because the pin remains. She’s experiencing unfamiliarity and shock. To her, it’s black and white and she’s lost. The… color and screams should bring her back. Once her true self breaks through, we’ll see that explosion that’s waiting to go off.” Elec peered over to her only to come back to me. “That’s what you intend to do, correct? You’re letting her have her revenge?”

“Without getting a little of my own?” I laughed, bringing my attention back to Drayton. For seconds, I didn’t speak. “Black and white is boring. Letting her have her revenge is easy. She deserves it. She has suffered far worse than any of us. What I have in store…” My lids narrowed into a glare. “This will hurt you more than her. I happen to like her. I don’t necessarily like you. Not yet.”

CHAPTER 56

Penelope

This wasn’t the woman I’d spent a year with. I knew Marian was somewhere deep inside the shell of her body, but I couldn’t reach her no matter how hard I tried.

It didn’t help that with as hysterical as I felt, I had to try my best to stay calm. Composed. The Magister and Judic were present. They were watching me. Analyzing everything I did. I couldn’t forget that. I kept my voice down, trying to get her to focus on me.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Marian, forgive me.”

The tears came, but Marian stared ahead in a daze as I held on to her.

“I’m going to make this up to you. Once I—When I—I will. I’ll make this up to you.”