Page 57 of Uncrowned

“You killed a Main Master’s wife and children and have possibly put a target on my back.”

Whack!

Whack!

“You know better. You know what’s at risk.”

“Forgive m-me.”

Whack!

“Forgive you? Do you know the cost of my forgiveness?”

Whack!

Whack!

Flashes flickered with their bleeding colors. Red. Blood. So much blood. It was covering my mother—my sister—Redmond. He fell to his knees but kept pressing to the wall. I saw Penelope. My sweet Penelope who didn’t want to hurt anyone. I’d lose her if she didn’t see. If she didn’t fight for this. For us. I’d lose her, and I’d only just found her.

Had I lost her already?

Whack!

Whack!

She didn’t ask for this. She’d said that.

Whack!

Whack!

Whack!

Whack!

“Vaughn. Stop. Vaughn!”

Hands grabbed at my bicep, pulling against me as sound wavered in and out. My eyes were wide, and I couldn’t blink back all the blood. Sweat was starting to cover me.

I wouldn’t lose her too.

I couldn’t lose her.

“Vaughn?”

Blinking hard, I pulled her into my arms. Redmond fell to the ground, but I couldn’t let go of Penelope. My hold was crushing. It was just as desperate as I felt.

“This isn’t good. I’ve heard of Main Master Draper. He’ll come. He’s going to come, and he’ll bring his fire with him.”

“Fire?”

I swallowed hard, pushing back the pictures of people burning alive—his specialty. I knew almost everything on the other Main Masters around the world. Where some stayed to themselves like Master Draper, others couldn’t help but play their stupid political games. This time, those games involved The Order, and that meant it involved me.

“We’ll talk about it later. I brought in supplies. Go prepare everything.”

Penelope looked up at me and nodded, running towards the table. I dropped the flogger, shaking as I headed over and helped to lift Redmond. He was barely conscious but managed to stand as I helped him up.

“T-Thank you… I—You should have⁠—”