Page 6 of Uncrowned

Where I should have let her reputation deter me, all I wanted to do was erase everything associated with it. To protect her in all ways, even if I knew I could teach her to protect herself. Those fucking eyes. In the nude picture, I could see the anger mixed with surprise. Fear. Fury. It existed beneath. I could see a part of her she was hiding, and I wanted to prove to myself that I was right.

One article on her father mentioned that she was quiet and shy, but I knew better than that. Underneath the abused shell was rebellion. Rage. It was lurking below. And I could build on that. She could be strong. She could be my queen, so long as I made her fight to become one. I wanted to—I wanted her. That wasn’t a good thing. Instinct told me to choose someone else. Someone plain. Someone strong and cold without so much baggage.

Again, I stared hard into her blue depths.

Want and duty battled.

My body reacted.

I shut my laptop, going through the motions during my shower, but I was far from in my penthouse. Penelope ruled my mind—my motives. I wanted her just as much as I wanted my rightful throne, and it didn’t help that I knew King Lawrence wanted her too. By the time I hit the bed, I didn’t focus on trying to sleep like I usually did. Dreams sucked me down, gifting me the one thing I suddenly couldn’t be without. It wasn’t even her. It was… hope. It was a lifelong mission that seemed to finally be falling into place.

No one had been good enough. No one was the right fit. There was a true chance with Penelope. She was old blood in a new world. She had a title I didn’t need to fight to replace. I could mold her due to her lifelong abuse, and she’d caught the king’s attention. That was everything. That would make this worth it.

I could have her before he changed his mind.

Penelope could be mine.

If I took her, those that mattered wouldn’t see their mistake until it was too late.

CHAPTER 3

Penelope

I could leave.

My mind told me that.

I could just leave. I had no access to money anymore, but shouldn’t I just risk the elements to escape certain doom? And it was certain now that I was secretly betrothed to John.

Monster. Sick.

God, I could still feel his finger trailing over my cheek. Down to my neck.

What was a title when attaining a lifelong curse? And that’s what I’d surely be facing if I went through with this. Decades of more abuse. But… sexual abuse. The man was caught trying to gain the attention of a child. A girl barely a teen. It wasn’t the first time. He’d hurt one, once. Or so the rumor went. And I was meant to patch up the predator’s reputation?

You couldn’t fix something like that. Not by marriage. A bullet, maybe, but short of going from Countess to convict, the best I could do was sacrifice myself for the sick man who I was being forced to marry. But could I go through with it? Could I even escape if I tried?

I bit my bottom lip, tasting blood. The buzz of voices in the boutique barely registered. My heart was racing. Sweat was coating my palms.

“You have the attention span of a child, Penelope. Focus. This is important.”

“Of course, Mother.”

She picked up a hat, only to put it down and pluck up another. Her finger traced over the feather protruding from the side. Slowly, she shook her head. The plum silk blouse shimmered as she turned back to me, and her lips tightened into a line.

“You’re still standing here. You’re not even trying. Is the thought of your father’s company party so boring to you? He expects you to look your part. Do I need to remind you who will all be in attendance?”

I took a step back, scanning the racks of formal dresses in the distance.

“Very important people, Mother. I haven’t forgotten. I just thought since I didn’t get to wear the sapphire dress⁠—”

“Sapphire? For this event?” She let out a deep breath. “All those lessons. For what?”

“Black. Modest. Silver accents or accessories.”

“Thank God.” She nodded, but I was already backstepping and turning for the racks. Heat filled my cheeks and anger blossomed as I felt myself harden.

Me… outshine my beautiful mother in public? Never. She made sure of that. How many black dresses did I already have?