Page 169 of Uncrowned

“I don’t care if he hurts me. He hurt you. I will never forgive him for that.”

Her arms tightened around me, and a sob followed.

“Don’t cry. Come on, Shark. Time to spill more blood.”

“I’m not—” Her head shook, and she held me tighter. “I don’t know that person anymore. You’re the shark, Penny. You always were. I told you.”

“You told me it was there. I didn’t want it to be. I was scared to face this. I’m not afraid anymore, Marian, and you shouldn’t be either. Look at me.”

She lifted, letting me wipe her tears.

“These men hurt you.” I scanned the room, increasing my volume so they could all hear me. “They hurt you, but someday, they will become just as much mine as The Unavowed’s. I will not forget this day. I will not forget this moment.” I turned back to Marian. “Neither will you.”

I leaned in, kissing her cheek.

“End this, Marian. Finish him.” I glanced to Vaughn who was studying me. “I’m going to go now. I won’t see you before you leave. I mean what I said earlier. I love you, and when you come back, because you will, I will be waiting for you. Every second of every day. Shark.” I reached down, picking up a serrated knife. “Shred him to pieces with these teeth. Show them all who you are. Show yourself. Remember.”

I turned, leaving the circle, watching as Vaughn’s stare followed me to the edge of the hall. I didn’t hide. I watched as Marian turned to the smaller guard. The quickness at which she swung the knife had me smiling. One slash. Two. Three. More.

She sliced this way and that, making an X over his chest. Chunks of skin were resting on the ground, and the guard’s face was so pale from the loss of blood.

“Shark.” She gulped down air, trying to catch her breath. “I’m a shark. I’m a shark.” She turned towards the crowd of guards that were eating up her every move, and she pointed the knife right at them. “I’m going to kill you all. I’ll destroy every one of you.”

With that, she thrust the serrated knife right through the middle of Simon’s throat, reaching for another knife off the cart and stabbing it into the center of the X on his chest. His body stiffened for only a moment before it went limp. I looked at Vaughn, nodding.

Now I could leave.

It was done.

Justice was served.

From the look on Vaughn’s face… at what cost?

CHAPTER 57

Vaughn

This was bad.

I knew that as I sent for the witness for Marian and Drayton’s consummation of their marriage. The torture scene had barely ended before the Magister’s hand came up, signaling that we needed to talk. And I knew why.

Penelope.

I could have cursed myself for not checking to make sure she’d gone to her room. Instead… she’d put herself right in the middle of the Magister’s crosshairs. I understood why she’d gone to Marian. I could even empathize with her decision, but empathy did not exist in the realm of realism. Not when the Crown was at stake.

And it wasn’t even that Penelope had helped or encouraged her friend. It was the way she’d stood up to me to do it.

Did it show she could lead—yes.

Did it show that she could be relatable to all sides—yes.

Did it show that she supported The Order—no. Not entirely, and that would not do. It could look like she’d chosen Marian over us and that was the issue. Especially after Marian’s threat that she’d kill all of us.

Trust.

Impulsiveness.

I cursed. The more I thought over it, the more my stomach twisted with uncertainty.