Page 166 of Uncrowned

“I want to leave.”

Her words were mumbled, and she was staring right at the guards who hurt her. At the movement, her stare jerked to the guards at the door, and then to others around the room. She was panicking inside, and I knew I had to empower her.

“Marian.”

I stepped back, leveling my hands at her cheeks but not making contact. I wasn’t sure whether to touch her.

“Marian? Please. I know this is… hard for you. I know—Just obey. Listen and obey. If you fight anything asked of you, it’ll only be worse.” I paused, not sure how much of me she was hearing. “Take orders and get out of here. That’s the only way you’re leaving. Marian… Marian?” I was running out of time. My hands connected hard to her face, cupping her cheeks and holding. The contact had green eyes jerking to me as if I had just appeared. “If you want to leave, listen. Obey. Nod.”

Her head went up and down.

“Someday, we’ll see each other again. I’ll miss you every second until that day. You helped me. You made me happy, and I love you.”

I turned to leave, but Marian quickly grabbed my hand. The action had the guards reaching for their weapons. Her eyes flew open wide through the fear, and she froze.

“I love you, too. Penny, this isn’t your fault. I don’t blame you for this.”

She was crying again, flying into my arms. Guilt ate at me, but I kept it inside as I hugged her back.

“Obey, Marian, no matter what he says. Be strong, but show him you can take orders, and he’ll show you mercy. Focus on the task, not on what you’re doing.”

She kept nodding. I pulled back, racing to leave. The men parted, and I saw Vaughn ordering the guards to strap Drayton to a large wooden X. He wasn’t wearing the tux’s jacket or shirt anymore. He was bare from the waist up. They were cuffing his wrists and ankles, and his eyes were fixed right on Marian and the guards who were circling in around her.

I went around the corner, stopping as the guards behind me shifted. Keith cleared his throat. I turned, lifting one of my eyebrows at him and throwing the rest a look.

“I’m not leaving. I’m staying right here. If you want to go out there and tell The Unavowed, be my guest. I wouldn’t suggest it though. Your best bet is to stand here with me and be quiet.”

Confliction passed between the four guards as they looked at each other. I didn’t pay them attention as I went back to watching. They knew better than to touch me, and I knew none of them wanted to interrupt Vaughn.

Squeaking sounded as two more Xs were rolled in next to Marian, and the guards were placed in the cuffs. At their nearness, Marian fled, colliding with a random Master. Bram, the Council Member, quickly grabbed her, pulling her to his side.

“Now we’re having fun!”

Vaughn’s voice echoed through the large stone area. Chairs were being moved out of the way while The Judic carried small torches, beginning to light ones fastened to the wall. The brightness from the large chandeliers above dimmed, and the glow from the fire increased. Vaughn’s smile grew as he lifted his arms. I already knew what was coming.

“We are⁠—”

The explosive words had Marian jumping in Bram’s arms.

“The shadows above kings,” me and the guards repeated with the rest of the room.

“We are⁠—”

“In the blood that silence brings.”

“We are⁠—”

“The truth they fear to find.”

“We are⁠—”

“The wrath they left behind.”

“Once again⁠—”

“Born to rise.”

“Forever more⁠—”