Page 55 of Uncrowned

I was moving through a puzzle of life and death and pieces were missing.

Staying with this man would kill me. The realization was fact. Leaving him was my only chance. But I’d never escape by fighting him. And whether I wanted to or not, there was risk staying. I’d fall even more. Especially now.

Vaughn bandaged up my arms, reluctantly letting my hand go when he finished. I found myself stepping back away from him. The action had his lids narrowing with a spike of sadness. They followed me to the sink as I began to brush my teeth. The damn questions plagued me, and I couldn’t stop stealing glances in the mirror as he leaned against the table, watching. His brow crinkled and he headed for the bed, pulling the blankets off. Vaughn headed for his jeans, and I felt my body come to life again at his nearness. He pulled out his phone and the keys, and I watched as he headed back, picking up the blankets and disappearing up the stairs. Only when the door shut behind him, did a shuddering breath leave me.

Gasps came fast through the spike of adrenaline and fear, and I was sure I was going to be sick. Shock. Terror. Love. Suffocating, sick love.

What did I do?

Who could I trust?

I knew I couldn’t trust Vaughn, but at this point, could I even trust myself?

CHAPTER 20

Vaughn

It was a good day for torture. Redmond’s—Penelope’s—Mine.

No one in the room was happy, and Penelope and I hadn’t been since I’d left the room nearly twenty-four hours ago. We’d barely said a few sentences to each other, and I couldn’t stand it. I hated how she looked at me. More than the disgust or anger, the betrayal was like a stab in the heart. And although it had to play out this way, I hated every minute of it. She was right to look at me like the devil. In a way, I was. But what she didn’t see was that I didn’t have a choice in who or what I’d become.

I was born into this.

I didn’t have the opportunity to quit or pick another path. My family wouldn’t even be in this role had our true one not been stolen from us—from me. And I wouldn’t stand for it. I would get the Crown back, no matter what it took.

“It’s simple, Penelope. Redmond will stand and face that wall, and you will tend to him when I finish.”

No nod. No agreement.

Blue eyes went back and forth from me to Redmond as she held to the white slip dress at her thighs. I’d taken it from The Order, only because I couldn’t stand to be out longer than I had to. Not after seeing what she’d done while I was gone. I shouldn’t have even come home when I had, but when I pulled her up on camera… there was so much blood. I’d raced down those halls so fast, I was sure I’d stirred all sorts of talk. Which is what I didn’t want to do.

As the upcoming Unavowed, I had a reputation to uphold. My appearance mirrored what I represented. A leader—the future. A king wouldn’t go sprinting through his halls in a panic. But I had. I’d broken rules, and I did it for her.

“Penelope. Do you understand?”

Her shoulders straightened a little as she gave me a defiant look.

“I understand perfectly.”

I flexed my jaw through the need to put her over my knee and spank the ever-living hell out of her for the attitude. Gesturing to Redmond, I watched Penelope shift as he began taking his jacket and shirt off. I held tighter to the flogger as I took a step towards her.

“It’s wound care. Maybe some stitches. I haven’t decided how much flesh I want to take,” I said, louder, letting my anger leak in.

“I don’t fear a little blood, Vaughn. I’m not a baby you have to protect.” Her arms crossed over her chest, but I saw how scared she was. Violence made her uncomfortable, and I knew it was because of how much she’d been through.

“You’re not a baby, huh? Good.” I thrust the flogger in her direction, pushing it into her hand. “Then you should have no problem punishing Redmond after you tell him exactly what you think of him.”

Redmond eased his shirt to the chair, looking between us, but settling on Penelope as her face hardened. She shifted under our gazes, even if she kept hers on his.

“Why must I speak to him at all? I don’t want to.”

“I don’t care what you want. We don’t punish without explanation. It’s the way it works. You will tell him what you think before you harm him, and you will be honest.”

Multiple angry expressions flashed. Penelope looked between us, but she settled on him. Her steps were hesitant. Slow.

“You’re a leader… but I think you’re weak. I think you’re a coward. You killed a woman and her unborn children.”

The words were shaky, but she took another step forward. And another. Redmond swallowed hard, ripping his gaze from her to look at me. I stood tall, keeping my expression flat.