Page 153 of Unmasked

“I’m going to call and have breakfast waiting for us.” I was already holding my phone, following behind as we headed through the hall to enter the large kitchen and living area. “Are you sure you don’t want to take more time? You have injuries.”

“Bruises. The lacerations are barely worth stitches. I’m more sore than anything. I’m fine. I want to go in.”

A moment passed before I nodded. “Breakfast. Do you want anything different than usual?”

Penelope slowed, stopping as she looked around. At her silence, I looked up from punching in the number on my phone, glancing around to see what she was doing.

“Penelope?”

“Wait.” She blinked heavily, looking out of the back windows that gave view to the large patio and garden in the back. “Something is… different… or…”

I was careful of her stitches as I pushed against her lower back to take us out of the center of the room. We entered the kitchen, stopping behind a small hall that led to my home office. “What do you mean, different? Explain.”

“I don’t know. Hold on.” She craned her neck, taking her time looking through the windows. Again, she scanned, finally straightening. “The chair.” Her head tilted, moving as she took a few steps closer. “The chair is angled. And… between those two hedges. Was it always hollower there?”

My brow creased. “I’m not sure. The chair does seem to be slightly tilted out.” I walked around her, signaling for her to move closer to the wall. As I headed to the window, I let my senses take over. I checked the locks, taking in every detail of the back yard.

“I have the alarm set if someone tries to get in, but I don’t like this at all. With King Lawrence’s unstable behavior, we’ll ramp up security. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“I agree.”

I walked back over to Penelope, leading her into the home office and through the secret entrance that led down to the room I once kept her in. As we headed through the door that led to The Order, we were met with Penelope’s four guards. They bowed their heads in acknowledgement, getting onto their cart as we climbed into ours. The drive was short, and I used the time to call the kitchen to have our food ready. We parked just outside of the main hall, away from the familiar traffic of the Masters.

The Reeve was posted outside the study door with our food cart, meeting us as we walked up. “Unavowed. Queen.” He smiled, opening his mouth to speak to me, but quickly turning his attention to Penelope as we headed inside. My lips tightened, and I grabbed our trays, carrying them inside. As I walked around, I placed my tray at the desk, pausing.

She would sit here now. My desk… would become hers.

I glanced around the room, taking in the chairs on the other side of the desk, and the one in the far corner by the books.

“Reeve, increase patrol around mine and Vaughn’s home. Something felt off this morning. A chair near the garden seemed messed with. Have them pay attention to the back. There are two hedges that someone might have been slipping through. It’s noticeable enough for them not to be able to miss it. I’m not sure if it was like that before but have them keep an eye on things.”

“I’ll call it in now, Your Maj⁠—”

“No.” Penelope’s voice cut him off. “I’m sorry.” She turned to me as I put her tray behind the desk and swapped them out. “That reminds me of King Lawrence. I don’t want to be called that. What else can he call me?”

My mouth opened but closed. “Penelope, it’s who you are now. I suppose if it bothers you so much… My Queen or High Mistress might work.”

“My Queen is fine, I guess.”

“My Queen is great,” Able confirmed.

She shifted, clearly uncomfortable as I gestured for her to sit at the desk.

“Tell me about the captain we have detained.”

She walked around, sinking into the large chair, watching me as I headed to the other side to take my seat before her. I took in the clutter on the desk, not able to really scoot anything around so my tray would fit.

“The captain’s name is Desmond Harvel. He runs mostly out of Red Island. He’s one of the younger captains we deal with.”

I made a soft rumbling sound. It had Penelope’s attention coming back to me.

“Red Island. Isn’t that the location responsible for Redmond’s death?”

I nodded at her question. “Yeah. Although, Gavin Draper doesn’t run the island anymore. The Council released him of his duties. His brother runs it now. I believe his name is Luke.”

“Luke.” Penelope nodded. “And what all did this captain say?”

I balanced the tray on my lap, eating my food as The Reeve read notes from his phone.