Page 53 of Uncrowned

“No way in hell. Hold still.”

I wiggled against his hip, trying to find placement on the ground with my toes or hands. My ribs were screaming, but the pain joined into the aching and throbbing everywhere else on my body.

“I can’t believe what you’ve done. There’s blood everywhere. Cool off so we can communicate civilly.”

He swung me around, placing me on my feet long enough to wrap his hand around my throat and submerge me under the cold shower spray. I gasped, choking as I fought for air. It didn’t matter that I tried to pivot one way or the other. Vaughn kept me rooted without squeezing or adding pressure. He kept my hair in the water, keeping his face angled down in the direction of mine so he could watch me. I didn’t miss the red seeping into the white part of the skeleton mask around his nose.

“I hope it hurts.”

“Not as much as it’s going to hurt you.”

“All those months of talking to you—God.” My lip trembled. “How stupid can someone be? How could I have not put the pieces together? A stranger calls, the ultimate evil, and what do I do? I befriend him! I opened myself—to what? To sea slaves,” I barely got out. “I’m guessing those aren’t the only ones in this secret world. Murder. Masters. This is what you’re bringing me into, Vaughn?”

“…Yes.”

I slammed my fist into his chest, crying out as my knees buckled from the pain. I would have crumbled had it not been for his hold.

“I can’t believe—I …hate you. What are you training me for? Am I one of these slaves, too? Your shield so some other Master doesn’t try to kill you?”

“Not my slave.”

“Then, what. Surely not—Not as something more. Like… Like your⁠—”

My eyes widened but words wouldn’t come.

“Penelope… I warned you. I said love. I told you⁠—”

“You told me nothing. Besides, you wanted me to feel that. You⁠—”

He let out a deep breath, grabbing my wrist with his free hand. I tried to break the hold but failed. A low curse left him.

“These will scar.”

“You act like I care. They can join the rest from everyone else who hurt me.”

“Stop it.” Authority was in his tone as he shook me. “Stop. Accept.”

I swung at him again, but he easily blocked it from connecting.

“Accepting is the only way. I… I’m not letting you go. Ever. I’ve decided. You can do this.”

“But I don’t want to. Did you ever factor that into your decision? I don’t want this, Vaughn.”

“You want me. You did before you knew. You’d take me crazy over⁠—?”

“Evil? Yes!”

“You don’t understand. You won’t until you live this.”

I jerked in his hold, an answer without a single word.

“Fine. You want to fight?”

Vaughn reached down, pulling the button in his jeans free. His zipper slid open, and I grabbed his wrists beginning to panic as he pushed his pants down.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to give you a reason to fight while trying to convince you not to.”