Page 71 of Uncrowned

They sparked in the darkness, leaking in as I tried searching out what was happening. The sound was slow. Barely even audible. It was almost one with the heavy stillness surrounding me. It triggered… something. There was… something.

Agony branched out, racing through my inside with an intensity that tore me from the darkness. Memories assaulted me just as viciously as those guards. I could feel my nails breaking under the impact of stone. Muscles tore, and piercing pain had a scream forcing its way from my throat. The strength behind my voice sent an echo so powerful that I could feel it through every inch of my body as it left me. I flew forward, scraping in oxygen. Every breath. Every gasp and whimper carried as I stared around the large, opened room with wide eyes.

Light flickered from the torches, casting shadows over the continuous long lines of guards. They stood at attention, not moving. Barely blinking. My legs drew up, and I sobbed through the fear. Panic had me pushing into the hardness behind me, only for the heat to finally register. My head spun, and I took in Vaughn. I was cradled on his lap, and we were sitting on a large, black throne. Where I was looking at him, he was glaring murderously at the guards ahead.

Redmond stood in the front, his eyes on the both of us—emotion gone.

I felt trapped between two deadly powers. But these weren’t opposing forces. This man behind me was controlling them. Challenging them. And there was no question who reigned above them all.

“Vaughn.”

My lips shook as I spoke. The fragility amongst such strength caused me to shake even worse. He still wasn’t moving, and I wasn’t sure whether to throw my arms around him or run. The fear that came with both had a sob forcing its way out. Consequences pinged, throwing off alarms. What was right or wrong no longer fit into those categories. My world was rocked, and nothing made sense as I threw my arms up, holding around his neck so tight, I was terrified to let go.

“I want to leave now. I want us to leave, please.”

“Look at me, Penelope.”

No holding. No tenderness.

It took me seconds, but I let go, braving to look up and face him. I searched his eyes as a flash of something unrecognizable mixed with the coldness.

“We do not run from fear. We face it.” His thumb flattened against my chin, and the tip traced along my bottom lip. The action was soft and only for me as he kept the lethal stare in place. “Look at them.”

I blinked through the tears. I didn’t want to look. I wanted to disappear. To curl into myself and never see them again. But I knew better because I knew the man in front of me. He believed in me. He saw something in me no one else had.

Grabbing Vaughn’s suit jacket, I hesitantly turned to Redmond and the guards. The trembling was so bad that it moved from my arms and legs to my mouth. My teeth chattered through the need to flee. I clenched my jaw, trying to get it to stop, but that only caused my body to randomly jerk.

Vaughn lifted us, holding to my hand as he placed me down next to him. When we walked forward, I stayed close to his side but kept my eyes on the countless faces until we made our way to the front and center. Vaughn let go of my hand, turning his back on the guards as he stepped in front of me, cupping my face.

He didn’t speak, but he didn’t have to. The authority emanated from him like a beacon. I looked to the throne and then back to him, feeling my heart race even faster. Confusion was there, but I felt myself stand taller. My hands clasped before me and he gave a nod of approval, stepping back and turning to face them.

“Look at her.”

The order boomed along the walls penetrating spaces so deep in me that I knew I’d never be able to forget this moment. Guards’ heads snapped in my direction, and I could barely catch my breath.

Clasping his hands behind his back, Vaughn began walking the length of the room. Every foot further away from me brought a twisted terror. I felt like a target—but I was the threat. All eyes were on me, and the weight of their gazes were just as heavy as the silence I’d awakened to.

I glanced at Redmond, looking down to see Vaughn. He made it to the end of the room, circling back to head in my direction. A tinge of relief flickered but got extinguished just as fast as his voice exploded through the room and the guards voices answered him.

“We are⁠—”

“The shadows above kings!”

“We are⁠—”

“In the blood that silence brings!”

I took a step back, jerking my head to Vaughn as he watched me.

“We are⁠—”

“The truth they fear to find!”

“We are⁠—”

“The wrath they left behind!”

“Once again⁠—”