Page 44 of Unmasked

He pushed the chicken back before me. “I’m calling Theodore. Eat. At least try to,” he encouraged.

I reached forward, grabbing the drink from the table again. Vaughn was deeper in the Great Hall, pacing while he spoke on the phone. I brought the plate back to me, picking at the food as my stomach continued to roll. When he headed back over, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him so happy.

“Theodore is on his way. I called Lord Oxley as well. He’s at home. I told him not to bother coming tonight but he insisted.” He paused, and the smile melted. “Penelope, about Scotland.”

My hand shot up. “I have to go.”

“I don’t think I can let you.”

“Neither of us have a choice. It’s only four days. Think about it this way.” I turned more in his direction. “This gives me time to steer him far, far away from me. When he sees I’m clearly not interested, he’ll start looking elsewhere. We need that, Vaughn. Otherwise, his invitations are not going to stop.”

“But if we were married⁠—”

“Which can’t happen until after the trials…”

He stopped, closing his eyes.

“I’m going to take them when I get back. I’m out of time. I don’t have a choice.”

“I’ll talk to The Magister again.”

“Again?”

Vaughn jerked out his chair, sitting. “If we were married, you could tell King Lawrence⁠—”

“You didn’t. Vaughn. Tell me you didn’t beg The Magister to pardon me from The Trials. Because of Scotland?”

“You don’t know what I do,” he growled. “King Lawrence isn’t who you think he is, Penelope. He’s manipulative and evil. He’s going to twist your mind and…”

“And what? Make me not love you anymore? Force me to marry him instead?” My head cocked to the side at his hard look. “You have me. I belong to you. Especially, maybe now.”

His face softened.

“Vaughn, I love you. You’re going to see that this fear you have over Scotland is nothing. The days are going to fly by, and before you know it, I’ll be back here and we’ll be moving into our new house together. Aboveground this time. Into a bedroom. With a real kitchen where I can learn to cook. And maybe a nursery,” I whispered, grabbing his hand. “It’s going to be fine.”

He cupped the side of my neck, leading me in so he could hug around me.

“If anything happens to you⁠—”

“It won’t.”

“If—”

“Stop. It won’t.”

“But if it did⁠—”

“Vaughn.” I lifted my head. “It’s going to be fine.”

He stayed quiet, pulling back and tapping my plate. I tried my best to eat. Time passed. I managed to make a small dent into it when Theodore entered the Great Hall. He was wearing a pair of plaid pajama pants and a black t-shirt. His usually styled hair was a mess. He lifted his arm, displaying the bag hanging from his grip.

“I’m here.”

“You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”

“Sweets.”

Vaughn laughed. “I’ll never give you a hard time again.”