Page 16 of Unmasked

I glanced at Able but went back to Theodore.

“She’s determined to do something. I don’t think she’d go as far as she did before with locking me down in another location, but I can’t be sure. Maybe it’s just a quick scare or torture session so she can regain the power. She lost control when Marian took me to Miami. She’s angry, and I’m sure she got in trouble for that. I’m afraid she might somehow think to take that anger out on you. Or maybe she’ll take the risk because she feels she can get answers from you about Vaughn. It’s not safe being in her crosshairs.

Seconds passed as Theodore studied my face.

“And here I thought you were the bait. Is it me? Am I the bait? Dammit.” The humor was pushed back as he turned serious. “I’m not afraid of the SLB. This may be the most important mission we’ll ever be on. I’ll take my chances.”

“Same, so don’t be mad at me for asking this of you. I wouldn’t ask anything I wouldn’t do myself.”

I felt the men’s full attention come to me as they all waited.

“What would you like me to do?”

“Sit with me.” I paused. “And help me hunt her.”

At his confusion, I turned to Able. “The press got what they wanted, a headline. I want to turn the tables. I say we go for a drive. I’m done reacting. If she’s watching… I want her to follow.”

The SUV was quiet, and in the silence, I only heard one voice in my head. An angry one. One filled with pain. I heard Vaughn.

The orders had come too easily… Perhaps I should have included him. He knew what to do better than I did. And he had mentioned wanting to be involved in my progression. He was even upset that he wasn’t allowed to.

Empathy. Emotion.

The Magister would want me to push away my feelings—to ignore Vaughn’s. Independence was important if I was going to be a good queen.

All I heard was Vaughn’s anger. It was in the way his tone changed. In the way I could see his jaw tighten in my head as I heard him speak over the phone. I didn’t have to be there to know how Vaughn looked when he was upset. And the anger made me think of my father. It wasn’t the same. I knew it wasn’t, but my body didn’t care about logic. It never had.

Mixed in with all of the negative was love. It was respect. I trusted Vaughn to know the right thing to do, and this decision was too big for me to not bring him into it. I would just have to take the punishment from The Magister if he found out.

“Actually… I should call Vaughn.”

Still, no one spoke. I pulled out my phone, dialing Vaughn’s number. He answered after the first ring.

“Penelope?”

“Vaughn.”

“Are you okay? I thought you were on your date?”

I glanced over to Theodore, jerking my gaze to Able’s before I softened my tone.

“I am. We’re driving to the restaurant. I… I had an idea but before I—Vaughn, … I want your help.”

“I’m here for you, love. You know that. Tell me your plan.”

The tension eased from my body at his coaxing tone. This was the Vaughn I wanted. This is the one I loved more than anything. Not the angry High Master who looked at me like a stranger because of how The Magister wanted me to behave. How did I become queen if neither of us even knew who I was?

“I want to skip dinner and drive around so we can see if Katia is following. I made the order, and then I took it back. I want to know what you would do.”

A long moment passed and his voice was relieved…smooth.

“Your instincts are good, but you don’t want to force her hand too quickly. You’ll want a strategy that won’t fail. When we set the trap, you want to be able to close it. Feed my poor friend before he starves to death, and you and I will come up with a plan on Holy Night. We may only get one chance. Let’s make sure it counts.”

CHAPTER 5

Vaughn

The days were long without Penelope. Longer now that my worry for her was fading.