Page 197 of Unmasked

My gaze lowered, and with reality setting in, the tears came. I held them in as I nodded and swallowed back the pain in my heart and body that was immediate.

“Elec. That’s right.” I paused, pushing back our talk and what I had to do. “Where is he? Lawrence, I mean.”

Vaughn’s face hardened the smallest amount.

“The Place of No Return.”

“How long were you there?”

Hesitation had him sitting more up in the bed to lie against the headboard. He twisted his mouth, only to let out a deep breath. “Four.”

“In the morning? Of course, in the morning,” I said lowly. “Is he alive?”

“He’ll make it to trial and to the sacrifice.”

Nodding, I pushed to sit. I didn’t want to think of Lawrence a moment more. Yet, he was all that consumed me as I glanced to the tray, sitting on the table next to Vaughn.

“Is that my breakfast?”

“Yes.” He reached over, picking it up and placing it on the bed before me. I went to remove one of the lids, but he reached, holding to my hand. “How are you? And don’t say okay. Talk to me. How are you, really?”

The tears burned my eyes, but I held them in.

“I’m managing. I’m angry.” I gripped tighter to his hand. “More than angry. I know I shouldn’t be. I have no doubts you made him pay. And he’ll more than likely be sentenced to death by The Judic⁠—”

“He will.”

I nodded. “That doesn’t change how I’m feeling. I’ll move past this. It’ll take time, it’s just… the last two years have been a constant rollercoaster. My mind.” I stopped, lowering my gaze as my bottom lip trembled. “I’m tired. It’s been a lot.”

“I know, and I’m sorry for that, but it’s almost over. At least the hard parts.”

Answering was impossible. I let go of his hand, removing the lid to the tray. I had no appetite as I looked down at the multiple options.

“You have to try.”

Vaughn’s voice was low. I reached forward, grabbing a piece of toast. I could barely chew as I took small bites and sipped my tea. I felt nauseous, and my stomach felt slightly crampy but queasy.

“I can’t.” I put half the toast down, slipping off the opposite side of the bed. I barely got the bathroom door shut behind me as the tears slipped down my face. The internal screams had me wanting to join them. To mimic my true emotions and go crazy from all this injustice.

“Penelope? Are you okay?”

I wiped the wetness. “I’m just going to go to the restroom and start getting ready. Why don’t you take my tray back to the kitchen. I’m not hungry.”

A few seconds passed. “How about this, love. I’m going to take the tray and get rid of the guards. Do what you need to. Cry. Scream. Destroy the room. Burn it to the ground. Whatever you need. You have ten minutes.”

Clanking had me looking towards the barrier. As if something deep within me came to life, my body began to shake.

Ten minutes.

The door open and shut in the distance, and my mind spun. It slowed.

Ten minutes.

No one could see me. No one would know. A queen would have more self-control, but right now, I didn’t have to be her. I could be Penelope. Just a young woman who had been abducted numerous times, raped, lost possibly two children, beaten… and a woman who had more responsibilities than most of the world. And that was okay… but it didn’t have to be right now. I could take this moment for myself. I deserved a fucking moment…

A moment to break.

To rage.