Page 159 of Uncrowned

“What I want from you is a betrothal. A promise forged in the blood she’s lost. That’s the price of her freedom. She’s paid the blood. I want the promise from you. Otherwise, her debt is unpaid, and I’ll never let her leave. Not even The Council can save her.”

CHAPTER 54

Penelope

“Shhh.”

I couldn’t break my stare from Drayton as he cradled Marian’s trembling body. I couldn’t feel my hands. I wasn’t sure when I stopped breathing. The guilt over what I had allowed swallowed me whole. I knew the reasons behind Vaughn’s decision. I even understood and supported them. That did not erase how devastated I was. The aftermath was far worse than I could have imagined, and it made me sick. I was barely hanging on—barely able to stay in place on the floor as I watched her body jolt and become aware.

“Marian. Shhh, Marian. Calm down, it’s me. Marian.”

She pushed against Drayton’s chest, her head lifting and her legs kicking as she began going wild.

“D-Don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me.”

“Marian, look at me. See me.”

“Don’t hurt me!”

“Marian.”

She was juggled, but Drayton held on. She was looking around confused and completely lost.

Her stare stopped on the guard at the door, and she clawed at Drayton even worse, trying to move inside his jacket as he fought not to drop her.

“Marian. Marian.”

The angry, loud tone made her freeze in place. Her head tilted back and she finally looked up to him

“D-Drayton?”

“That’s it.” He let out a deep breath, pulling her in so that he could hug her. “I got you. Calm. You’re going to be okay.”

Her head shook, and she looked around the room again. First to the guards and then to me and Vaughn. I was crying so hard that I couldn’t breathe. Her face was so damaged. The entire side was dark purple and swollen. So swollen that there was a laceration on her cheek. They hadn’t just beaten her, they’d decimated her to extremes I couldn’t comprehend.

“W-water?”

Her voice was hoarse, barely even recognizable. Elec quickly walked off, heading to get her some.

“How bad is it? How hurt are you?”

Marian glanced back at us, only to face Drayton again. “Bad.”

“Do you think anything is broken?”

“I… don’t know. I… don’t—Just me.”

The last was so quiet, I wasn’t even sure I heard correctly. Just her… No… Something inside me was shifting. Something I hadn’t felt before this moment. Not just guilt or my betrayal. I was angry again at the guards who were under Vaughn. Who represented him. I was furious that they relished in their power to destroy women, even if they viewed them as nothing but slaves. It had me looking down even as the tears continued to leave.

“Here. Drink it slowly.”

“You can place me down. I can sit.”

“Can you stand?”

At Drayton’s question, I felt my gaze lift again.

The moment he eased down Marian’s legs, she cried out. Blood raced down her inner thighs, dripping on the floor. Horror had Drayton’s gaze cutting up to Vaughn murderously.