Page 67 of Uncrowned

The large, dark-skinned man held me against his chest, withdrawing a large knife. The man with the weathered skin brought his out almost just as fast. Both pointed them towards Gordon and the man with pitted skin, Daryl.

“To Redmond’s. Both of you. We’ll clear this up now. If she’s not important, they won’t care if you continue. But if⁠—”

“Vaughn!” Harder, I cried.

Warmth continued to run down my legs, and arms swooped down, scooping me up as he took off at a steady stride. Pain left me jerking and crying hard, and I was on the verge of being sick. The man reached up, hitting the radio at his neck.

“Code black. We have a situation. Keith Nelson requesting The Reeve and Redmond.”

A beep sounded and a low voice went through the man’s earpiece, so low I barely heard it.

“Reeve, here. What sort of situation, Keith? We’re in a situation of our own.”

“A slave. She’s been raped. She’s crying out for Vaughn or Redmond.”

Seconds passed as the sickness churned.

What had I been thinking? That I could escape a place that was locked down just as much as a prison? That I could succeed where probably no one else could?

The slave tried to warn me.

Vaughn tried to warn me.

He’d tried to prepare me… and I hadn’t listened to either of them.

CHAPTER 22

Vaughn

If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. Chaos. Betrayal. Drama. There was always some sort of catastrophe gripping The Order. Where one person was having the worst or best day of their lives, I got to evaluate it. There was little that happened at The Order that I didn’t know, and the moment Redmond walked into my meeting, I wasn’t surprised. Not because I was facing a member of the Collective High Council, but because I never made it through much of anything without some sort of interruption.

And Redmond had given it with bursting through my door, begging to speak with me. I wasn’t having it. Not today.

“He hasn’t moved in an hour. Is he so worried about death that he’s decided to wait out the verdict?”

I didn’t look towards Redmond. I wanted this meeting over with so I could get back to Penelope. I’d be damned if I delayed it by finding out the next big travesty that awaited. If anything, the damn captains at port had refused our sum and decided to delay shipment. They’d done it before, and that could wait.

“Let’s continue, Mr. Prescott.”

“I’m not sure I can with him shifting so impatiently. He can’t be still. Is he trying not to piss his pants? He looks awfully jittery. Does your man have issues?”

I let out a deep breath, turning my glare to Redmond.

“If The Order isn’t being taken over, I don’t want to hear it.”

“Sire, a word privately, please.”

“Redmond.”

My tone was deep but the look on his face had me slowly coming to my feet. My High Master wasn’t one to show emotion. Not in front of someone as powerful as the man before us. The Collective High Council was in control of every underground trafficking city, and Redmond knew how important this meeting was. He was facing my wrath—possible death—to talk to me.

“A moment, Mr. Prescott.”

I didn’t even look at him as I headed for Redmond.

“So help me this better be good. I’m half tempted to kill you right now.”

“You may after this, Sire. Fuck.”