Page 146 of Unmasked

Penelope wiped her tears, pulling back. “Don’t you dare apologize. You’re doing this for The Order. I want you to fight with everything you have to protect it, just as I will fight to lead it. If you win…” she swallowed hard. “If you kill me, that is a good thing. That means you’ve succeeded in your loyalty.”

His head tilted, and tears were heavy in his eyes. The cart stopped in front of them, and Penelope nodded to the guard.

“It has been an honor serving under you, Intended.” Keith picked up a large knife with an upturned end. Penelope joined him, picking up one identical to his and testing the weight as she moved her hand in a circular motion. They put distance between them as the cart was rolled away.

The Magister stood, and I watched both begin to circle each other. Penelope’s steps were still… off. Slightly delayed as she watched Keith’s walk turn predatory.

“Fight!”

Still, they were taking slow steps. Penelope’s lids were narrowing. Her chest was rising unevenly through the heavy breaths. Keith slowed, changing his direction causing Penelope to halt unsteadily and follow. My feet planted as I fought not to react. If I moved, I’d ruin this for her. I’d kill him, myself, and that wouldn’t help anyone.

Dirt ground under their shoes, crunching as Keith went to lunge one way, only to stop. He was testing her. Maybe… giving her time? Or maybe he couldn’t quite find the courage yet to act. Both appeared conflicted as they took in each other.

But I was watching, and air wouldn’t come the moment I saw Keith shift his weight to his other foot. Penelope saw it too, but not fast enough. The large guard surged forward, slashing the blade in an arch, catching her bicep.

Penelope sucked in deep breaths, blinking rapidly as she shuffled back, bringing her knife back up. Pressure gripped my shirt, and I knew it was Lord Oxley holding to me.

Blood was pouring down Penelope’s arm, dripping from her fingertips as Keith lunged forward again. His blade was met with hers, sending a large clink to echo throughout the room. Before I could even process her arm shooting up, Penelope let her blade tear up Keith’s chest at an angle.

My fist jerked up to my mouth, and I held it there as a darkness flashed in the guard’s eyes. He looked down, seeing the blood soaking into his uniformed shirt. At the realization, he began swinging the blade wildly, throwing his large height and weight behind every swing.

Material caught and pulled against my chest, and I knew Lord Oxley was pulling me back. I could feel the pressure, but I couldn’t feel myself moving forward.

A cry of pain left Penelope, and I saw her eyes zero in as she ducked and put distance between them. Her focus seemed to clear. Her eyes were darting at every move he made. My arm shot out to Lord Oxley, and I held to his shoulder in a death grip as a hardness took over Penelope’s expression.

Keith pressed to her, looming over her with his size. He swung and Penelope countered, flicking her wrist to cut up his forearm as their blade disconnected. Keith’s lips peeled back in pain, and sweat was pouring down his face.

Penelope blinked hard nearly stumbling as she gave her head a shake.

“It won’t last much longer. She has to finish this.”

I barely heard Lord Oxley’s words.

They were circling each other again, and both were bleeding in more than one spot. I’d heard Penelope cry out, but I hadn’t seen where he’d gotten her. From the blood along her side, I wasn’t sure if that was from her arm or she was injured there as well.

“Come on. Come on.”

Was I whispering? Yelling?

I didn’t know as I saw Keith throw himself right at her. His arm was crossed over his chest, level with her throat. As he began to swing around, Penelope dropped, using both her hands to jerk the blade up.

Blood poured from Keith’s stomach, and he crashed to his knees. Penelope sobbed, spinning up from behind him and leveling the blade at his throat. She held to his forehead, slicing across his neck as she screamed. His body pitched forward, and her sobs were full of heartbreak as she collapsed, fisting his uniform shirt, and holding onto it as she buried her face in his back.

I didn’t think. I couldn’t as I rushed forward. Her cries were torturous to me. Full of so much pain that I couldn’t help but pull her up and wrap myself around her. Relief broke me as I cradled her head to my chest.

“Five minutes!”

The Magister’s voice was barely heard over her sobs.

“Move, Unavowed.” Lord Oxley was pushing up my arm, lifting it higher so he could attend to her wound. Separation was almost impossible. I barely managed to pull back enough to take in her face.

“Look at me. You did it. You did good.”

“Keith… He saved me. The Rapes. He—” Her head shook as she tried catching her breath.

“He will not be forgotten. He will be honored.”

Lord Oxley was pulling her to the table. “She’s going to need more stitches. Her arm is deep. The one on her side is shallow. We have to hurry. We only have five minutes.”