Page 61 of Uncrowned

“Shh, Penelope. What did I say?”

I bit down hard, trying to hold in the shock and anger that Lords would be at a place like this.

We went down further, stopping. Creaking immediately sounded to a door, and I was turned again as the barrier shut behind us. The blindfold was pulled off. I blinked, trying to bring the dim room into focus.

“Vaughn.” Redmond’s voice was full of surprise as he stood from an oak desk. Books decorated the walls, and there was a bar set up not much further down. “What are you doing here? You didn’t call to tell me you were coming.”

“I didn’t have time. I got a call not half an hour ago. One of the members from The Collective High Council is in the city. He’s coming to meet with me over our situation, plus other things.” Vaughn ran his fingers through his hair. “We have a lot to discuss. I’m not sure how long it will take.” His eyes darted to me, and I saw his worry as his gaze jumped down to my forearms. “I need her watched and protected.”

“You want me to babysit⁠—”

“Protect. Do I need to remind you why you still breathe?”

Redmond’s jaw flexed. “No. But in a few hours, I have my own meeting with a few captains from the port. You know how short they’re in town. I can’t miss it. If you’re not back by then, she can stay in here. I can put two guards at the door. She’ll be safe.”

Vaughn’s head went to shake but stopped as he turned to me. For a long moment he stayed quiet—clearly not sure what to do.

“Penelope, I’ll make it as quick as I can. It will still take a few hours.”

“Okay.”

Tentative eyes searched mine. “You’re going to sit here and be good. Don’t give Redmond a hard time, and you don’t leave this room. Not for anything. It is dangerous out there. Do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

“Penelope, I’m serious.”

“I’ll stay.”

Apprehension had him hesitating before he nodded.

“I’ll be back. Be good.” He headed for the door, stopping to turn back to Redmond as he grabbed the knob. “I didn’t get a chance to feed her dinner.”

“I’ll have her some food brought down.”

Vaughn’s gaze came back to me, and I saw how hard it was for him to open the door.

“They’ll make you whatever you want. I’ll try to hurry.”

“I’ll be fine. Go ahead.”

Vaughn stood straighter, nodding as he jerked open the door and disappeared. When it closed, Redmond let out a sound, shifting in his chair as his eyes went back to the paperwork in front of him.

“How’s your back?”

He kept his head down, writing something on the paper. “Hurts like hell. I hear you had your own bandages not too long ago.”

My arms wrapped around my waist, and I trailed my fingers over the wounds that were healing.

“Metal cuffs. I’m fine now.”

He glanced towards me but went back to the papers. There was a chair in the far corner with a blanket folded on the back of it. I bit my bottom lip as my mind raced.

“May I find a book to read over on that chair?”

Still, he didn’t look up.

“Go ahead. Any idea what you want to eat?”