Page 68 of Uncrowned

The thump in my chest hit hard. I looked between the door to Redmond.

“Where’s Penelope?”

“I left the guards. They heard shots from the dining room.”

I fisted his tie, jerking him forward as I leveled my knife at his neck.

“Where’s Penelope?”

My voice almost sounded demonic with the amount of fear mixing with rage.

“She’s in the queen’s chamber.”

I didn’t think. I let go of him and threw the door open, racing through the halls once again when I swore I wouldn’t. It wasn’t until I took the turn that I slowed, knowing the guards were ahead. I had to calm. I had to show authority and power.

From the look on their faces as they jerked their gaze straight ahead, I knew I showed a lot more than that.

Murder.

Terror—No—I kept that trapped inside me.

Fury.

My pace stayed steady but quick. My strides were long; my fists were clenched. I made another turn, taking in the four guards on each side of her door. My chest cramped and breath wouldn’t come. None of them would look at me as I approached and headed through the thick barrier.

Lord Oxley was standing next to the bed, his face tight and stoic. But I didn’t see him. I saw nothing but the new layer of bruising across her face. I saw the blanket pulled up to her chin and her closed eyes. Had I ever been more afraid? I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t chase down thoughts.

“She’s not—She’s—Not⁠—”

“No, Sire. She’s sleeping. I thought it best after what she’s been through. The shot won’t keep her out for long, but it helped in the moment.”

“What the hell happened?”

I was already reaching for my knife again, pulling it from the holster. Bile burned the back of my throat. Denials screamed. Blame—it fucking overwhelmed me.

“The guards. They found her in the halls.”

“They beat her. Did they rape her?”

Lord Oxley hesitated before nodding.

My head went back and a deadness infested me.

“She’s bleeding pretty badly. Luckily, the guards are fixed to prevent pregnancy. I don’t think there’s any major damage, but she’ll need time to heal. She was… pretty devastated when I arrived. She kept crying out for you. Screaming, really.”

“Thank you. I owe you.”

“You owe me nothing, Unavowed.”

My eyes snapped up.

“I’m not—Not yet.”

“Soon.”

I nodded, lowering my head as I walked to the bed. Tighter, I held to my knife, feeling my eyes burn. Darkness haloed under her lashes, and colors webbed over her cheek. Her nose had dry blood on the inside. I could tell her face had been at least wiped down. Most of the blood was gone, but some remained.

“I’ll leave you.”