Page 133 of Unmasked

“What you speak of will get you killed, no one else.”

“Me? Why? He is no one.”

“He is the true king.”

My teeth peeled back.

“I am king! Me!”

Silence.

Again, I looked at the woman.

“Penelope has until tonight to call me.”

“Or what?”

At me not answering, he cleared his throat.

“I’m going to lay it out to you in very clear terms, Your Highness. Take my words to heart because I will not repeat them again. Your days of chasing Penelope Taylor are over. The night of the ball, you will honor your guest and welcome Vaughn Masterson back into society. Then, you will leave them alone and find your own queen.” He paused. “You have already gone too far. I barely saved you after you killed their heir. I won’t make myself look like a fool and do it again. If you chase after her or send someone to their residences, The Council will convene and no doubt pass harsh judgment. Most don’t like you. Right now, I’m finding it hard to as well.”

“Hate me. I don’t care. Penelope is mine, and if I have to go to The Order⁠—”

“The Order?” Laughter burst from him. “The moment you show up, Vaughn Masterson has full permission from this Council to kill you, and he knows it. You’d be the biggest fool to face him. He’d destroy you.”

“Is that right?”

More silence. Rage built. Hate peaked. I walked over, opening my drawer of torture tools and grabbing a knife.

“I guess we’ll see. You will have her call me right now or I get her myself.”

I hung up, meeting the woman’s eyes. My hand reared back, and I plunged the blade into her chest. Once. Twice. I left it there, spinning for my door. Penelope would call, or I’d take matters into my own hands.

She would call.

Or he would pay.

CHAPTER 43

Vaughn

“You’re looking so much better.” Penelope grabbed Theodore’s hand from across our table at the Great Hall. “You have your color back. You’re smiling. You look back to normal.”

“I feel better. I actually went to the office earlier. With an escort,” he rushed out. “But it was good to be back out and moving around again. I missed the sun. What little of it we had anyway.”

Penelope smiled, still holding to his hand.

“I’m glad you came back for dinner.”

“I can’t stay out there.” His eyes dropped. “Not yet.”

“Soon,” I assured. “We’re getting close to finding out who did this.”

Theodore nodded, and Penelope drew back her hand, using her other to tap against my thigh. I looked over at her, following her stare as she took in Mr. Prescott coming through the entrance.

“Well, this can’t be good,” I mumbled.

“I’m joining. After tomorrow, I might possibly be running this place. It’s time he and I meet.”