Page 73 of Uncrowned

“We aren’t the men who hurt you. Those will face the Judic for their punishment, and you can rest assured they will bleed for you afterward if I don’t feel it is sufficient. But for now, take ours as compensation—as an amends and reassurance that for as long as I’m alive, my blood, The Order, we will live to honor you, protect you, and serve you.”

“For life.”

The words were spoken in a roaring unison that had me jumping at the room’s response.

Vaughn shrugged off his suit’s jacket, tearing down the buttons to remove his shirt. He let it drop to the floor, handing me his knife.

His stare searched mine, and I knew he was putting his trust in me. I could hurt him. Kill him.

I felt sick as he lowered to his knees before me. I held tightly to the handle of the knife, trying to grasp the new world I’d been brought into. This man—this… king? It still didn’t make sense. And these guards. They respected him. They believed him to be something more than some random man. And here he was, pledging it to me—bringing me in as his future queen?

“You can do this. Cut, Penelope. Right here.” He pointed over his heart.

“Vaughn.”

Even as I said it, I leaned closer, feeling myself sink to my knees before him. Tears blurred the room as I blinked them down my face. I lifted the knife, letting the tip touch his skin.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I hurt you by bringing you here. Penelope.” Pain flashed, and I saw the million things he wished he could say. “Take my blood and know that I give it to you freely. I want you to have it. Blood for blood—loyalty for life.”

I sniffled, looking around the room at the guards who watched. I turned to Vaughn, taking in his tattooed chest. I had to do this. I didn’t have a choice.

I bit my bottom lip, adding pressure, feeling the blade easily break his skin. I brought the tip down, watching as a deep red began to bead and race down like a river. Two inches. My lids narrowed, and I brought the blade back up to the top. Vaughn didn’t move, but I could sense his surprise. He watched as I broke through his skin again. As I curved the slice around, forming a P, his breaths turned harder. Heavier.

There was a fire in his eyes as they jumped up to mine. He began to move in, almost as if he were going to kiss me, but stopped himself, nodding in approval. There was a hesitation as he stood, but I saw the other men were removing their shirts.

The first guard lowered, taking Vaughn’s place.

“Blood for blood—loyalty for life.”

I couldn’t stop shaking. “Blood for blood,” I forced out. Leaning forward, I nearly gasped at the upside-down crown branded over his heart. I swallowed the reaction back, reaching forward and cutting a two-inch incision in his chest. Crimson race down from the wound, and I dipped my finger in the blood, writing the P next to the upside-down crown. “Loyalty for life.”

The guard met my eyes, flashing me a quick smile. He was… happy? Yes. It had been there as he stood and was quickly replaced by the other.

“Blood for blood—loyalty for life.”

Blue eyes met mine, lowering just as fast.

“Blood for blood.” I pushed the tip in, dragging it down at an angle. Collecting the blood, I wrote in the first letter of my name. P. “Loyalty for life.”

The guard stood, and the third had my lips parting. It was the large man who had grabbed me originally. The one who stopped the rapes and brought me to Redmond. He’d stood up to them through his uncertainty, and he’d saved me. He didn’t have to. He served Vaughn in his heart. His loyalty was unwavering. I’d felt that.

“Blood for blood—loyalty for life.”

“Keith.” Tears raced down my face, and I could barely keep it together enough to respond. “Blood for blood.”

I leaned forward, emotional as I marked his chest through the trembling. Blood flourished, oozing from the incision. I dipped in, drawing the P, and reaching for his hand. Our eyes held, and I gave a quick nod. “Loyalty for life.”

He smiled, standing.

Vaughn eased me to my feet, taking the knife and sliding it back in the holster he held. The room was still silent, but the energy was amplified with a reserved excitement. The guards were grabbing their shirts and heading back to formation, and I didn’t miss what I was truly witnessing. This wasn’t just a configuration of discipline. These men were more than guards. They acted as soldiers… for a king. For Vaughn.

CHAPTER 24

Vaughn

I wasn’t a good man. A king—yes—a man… no.