Page 170 of Uncrowned

Bad. Yes. This was fucking bad.

As I stepped from the couple’s room, I felt myself slow. I looked down at the guards outside Penelope’s door a few rooms down. I was torn whether to go to her first or wait.

What the hell did I do? As the Unavowed, I’d have to discipline her. I needed to instill the rules better and make it clear when she could speak up and how. But I couldn’t control her emotions. Not unless I wanted to destroy what was left of them. It was a sticky situation. One I needed to maul over before I decided on the best course.

Turning, I left the hall, heading for my study. I shut myself inside, pouring half a glass of scotch and forcing it down in one drink. I barely had the second poured when knocking sounded at my door. Just as I turned, The Reeve stepped through.

“I’m sorry, Sire. You know I’d never intrude on your privacy if I didn’t have to.”

“What’s wrong?”

I tossed back the second drink.

“It’s your Intended.”

I put down the glass, stepping forward.

“I know⁠—”

“No, you don’t. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

The Reeve’s face hardened.

“She’s with the Magister. He has her in the Ritual Room. He’s waiting for you.”

“Shit. Why the hell does he have her in there?”

Even as I asked, I was already walking to the door where The Reeve waited.

“I’m not sure. He didn’t tell me he was taking her. It was a guard from her door, Keith, that called it in. They’ve maintained their position. They meant to tell you when you left from The Penningtons’ room, but you went the other way. That’s when they called me.”

“Thank you.”

I kept my pace steady but furious as I headed through the halls. My heart was racing. My mind was screaming that something about this was not right.

Who was he to take my Intended without asking? Penelope was mine. She belonged to The Order, yes, but he didn’t have more say than me. We were a balance, and he should have informed me before ever removing her from her private quarters.

Turning onto the hall, I took in the guards outside the barrier. They opened the door as I approached, letting me in. What I saw had me jolting to a stop and my heart plummeting to my toes.

Tears streamed down Penelope’s face. She was gagged and hanging from cuffs, barely able to reach the floor with her toes. Her dress was lifted so high from her position, revealing raised up welts on her thighs. Some were split open and bleeding. The streams led down her calves, dripping from her heal and covering her toes. Her body was shaking through her silent cries.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

The threat in my tone had The Magister turning. The Judic were against the wall, and none spoke as I put myself inches from the man who held the cat-o-nine.

“What does it look like I am doing, Unavowed? I am providing punishment as is my right. Your Intended broke rules. She interrupted a sacrifice and provided aid to a woman she clearly stated she abandoned for The Order. She lied.”

“She did not. She helped her friend overcome fear so that she could continue the sacrifice.” My hand lifted. “Penelope did not choose Marian over The Order. She helped her for The Order. Now… Release. Her.”

“I will not. Either she has too much empathy and we must fix that, or she is not fit to serve as queen.”

I grabbed the cat-o-nine, ripping it from his hands.

“You cannot know that without putting her through the trials. Did you even let her explain her side before you gagged her?”

“What must she explain? We were there. We saw how everything unfolded. Unavowed… you are influenced.