Page 88 of Unmasked

Had an hour ever been so long?

I didn’t think so, but I soon found out just how wrong I’d been. The ride from the airport to The Order was much longer.

Each second drug out in panic.

Each minute, questions plagued me on why Vaughn wasn’t answering his phone.

The SUV the pilots had driven me in was barely to a stop in the parking garage when I climbed out. I pushed through the first door, only to watch the guards at the second door freeze in shock at my appearance. Both crashed to their knee, bowing their head.

“Where is The Unavowed?”

“Intended… We will call The Reeve.”

“The Reeve?” My hand V’d at one guard’s chin as I squeezed. “The Reeve has been murdered by King Lawrence. The Reeve and Mark are dead.”

His eyes widened, shooting to the guard next to him, and I let go.

“But you call your Reeve and you tell him to meet me in the Great Hall. Call The Magister and The Unavowed, too. You tell them I’m on my way. I demand answers, and they’re going to give them to me.”

Each step was torture.

Pain zinged.

Cramping twisted. Whether it was from the miscarriage or the poison I suspected, I didn’t know. The guard spoke quickly into his radio, but I didn’t wait.

My hand stayed pressed to my stomach, hating that the pressure eased the pain. I once had cradled the flatness. I dreamed of the day when it would start rounding. I’d even done this as a sign of protection.

All my hand symbolized now was a physical and emotional band aid. The truth only fed the anger that was building with every step.

With every guard I passed.

With every look they cast.

I hated what they saw.

More, I hated what I’d become⁠—

Boots pounded in the distance. A group of guards jolted to a stop as I cut them off at an intersecting hall. They were gathering at the news, and they were going to need to, because I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I wasn’t going to let it stand.

If something happened to Vaughn, I should have been retrieved. I should have been found. Notified. And if he was here… No. He would have come if he could.

I broke into the Great Hall seeing The Magister and The Judic first. The Magister had his hands clasped under his long black robe, and he stood in the middle. Able raced in the room, looking between us. When his gaze jerked back to me, I headed forward.

“Where is The Unavowed?”

I grabbed a knife off the table as I approached, pointing it at the Magister as I walked up.

“Where is my king? Where is The Unavowed?”

Silence.

Able headed closer. His brow drew in as his gaze scanned over my chest and face.

“Penelope—”

“Where is he?”

My voice barely sounded human as I cut off The Magister.