Page 147 of Uncrowned

Marian glanced to me, only to go back to him. “Look at her,” she sobbed. “Look at Penny and tell me she looks happy to you. Tell me that’s a woman who feels safe. This is how you treat a woman you claim is yours?”

He looked over meeting my gaze, his face turning hard as he turned back to her.

“Penelope must earn her right at my side. Until she does, she will hold her rank.”

“She hinted you might love her.” Vaughn’s face softened the smallest amount. “I love her, too. She’s my friend. Please, at least let me go check on her. I don’t understand what’s happening, but I’ll do whatever I can to work this out. Just… please. She’s been through so much. I want to make sure she’s okay.”

“Penelope’s wellbeing is no longer your concern. If I were you, I’d focus on yourself. The Order is not a safe place. It is not friendly to enemies.”

“Enemies? I… I don’t know what you mean. I don’t know you.”

“Your mother did. She knew a lot of us,” he said, gesturing around the room. “And her sins are now your own. Your mother⁠—”

“She’s not a good… She… She—My mother…”

Vaughn cocked his head at her silence.

“Your mother is dead. Your own Main Master killed her. Elec. Elec Wexler.”

Her eyes shot up. The name triggered something within, and her brow creased through thought.

“There it is. Recognition with confusion. Fascinating.” His smile grew wide again. “There’s such mystery surrounding you. It’s all so intriguing.”

“Please, I know my mother did things.”

“Your mother was a very evil woman, Marian. She was corrupt and got what was coming to her. Your entire family—” he laughed. “Well, from the video that was leaked, their deaths weren’t pretty. But… you’re still here. And you do owe me. I had to ask myself, what would someone pay for the last of such a prestigious line? For revenge from such a manipulative mother? Sure, you belong to someone else, but that means nothing when there’s a debt unpaid. And I always get paid, Marian LaRoe. Not only did your mother lie to me, but your security, that building you live and work in…” He laughed, gesturing and shaking his head in disbelief. “You’d think me or my men would be able to get through, but no. No. Do you know how much money I’ve spent trying to get Penelope back? How creative I had to become? Debt. I’ve subtracted some. I mean, Florida, really? That was too easy. Not that I’m complaining.”

She flinched as his hand came out, swiping blood from under her nose.

“Your little outing was exactly what I had been waiting for. You took my dear Penelope with you, and let’s be honest.” Vaughn shrugged. “With how I found you, I probably saved you from a worse fate. Look who you were going to marry. I saved you.”

“From Bastian Allard?”

A look swept over Vaughn’s face, and his laugh was genuine. Even slightly shocked. “You really don’t know anything that’s happened, do you?”

“I know some psychopathic couple lured me near an exit so they could kidnap me. I know the man’s phone read that my parents were dead. But then they pulled me through the door and shot me up with something. That’s when you showed up. I remember nothing after that. Is that man here?”

“You didn’t know about your family’s death? They’ve been dead for more than a week.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“No one… contacted me. My parents never answered when I reached out. I thought—It’s not unusual for them not to take my calls.”

“This keeps getting better and better. They kept you in the dark. This changes things. For The Council to not bring you in immediately.” He stopped, expressions flashing through his thoughts. “They debated their choice.” The last was quiet as he looked down.

“Who debated? The Council? I don’t even know who that is? I’ve never heard the term before. What choice? And… you called Elec my Main Master. What is that? What the hell is going on?”

Vaughn gave a hard shake, looking at the guard behind her. “Start the process. When she’s done with Medical, bring her to my private quarters. With help. She’s been trained to fight. She is not to be approached without at least two guards. For her… the more the better. Be sure to spread the word, and don’t hesitate to remind her where she is. If she fights or runs again, break her foot. If she continues, break them both. I don’t need her to walk to auction her off. I’m pretty sure they’d prefer she didn’t.”

Marian was drug away. She didn’t understand. Maybe she never would. The Masters wanted revenge for her mother. She thought Vaughn was the monster. She had no idea he was the only thing standing between her and the real ones.

CHAPTER 50

King Lawrence

“What the hell do you mean she’s missing again?”

My roar echoed through my dining hall, sending staff and aides racing for the doors. Dominique’s shoulders drew in, but he stayed put as I stared him down.