Page 138 of Unmasked

He laughed, low, full of darkness.

“You think I’d let her marry you? Penelope, a duchess of my making?”

“She will marry me. Duchess or not makes no difference.”

“She’s not marrying you. She’s marrying me.”

I let my stare go to Penelope’s. She was worried. Her eyes were round, and her hands were clasped before her. She didn’t need this stress right before the trials. She needed to relax. To have her mind clear from worry.

“King Lawrence.” I closed my eyes, reaching to the bed’s canopy to hold and squeeze against. The words tasted like venom on my tongue, but I forced them from me. “I do not wish to fight with you over Penelope. You realize her danger and yet you add to it. We both are, and it needs to stop. Do you not think she’s afraid? That I, myself, have not tried to deter her from these trials? I want her in the best headspace for when the time comes. She says that’s tomorrow, and I can’t stop her. I won’t. You attacking her… you must know this isn’t good for her. Penelope has only ever talked good about you. She said the two of you were close friends.”

“…She said that?”

“More than once.”

Silence.

Penelope reached forward, grabbing my hand and bringing it to her mouth to kiss. I curled my top lip back to show her I couldn’t stand what I was saying.

“She… is my friend.”

“And as her friend, she needs your support in whatever decision she makes. She could very well fail one of the first two trials tomorrow and never make it to the fighting section. If she does that, she might need your support. After all, you’re both working together at Rosemoor now.”

“…Yes. We are.” He got quiet again, and I knew his mind was weaving through manipulations. “What happens if she fails one of the first two?”

“We can’t marry, and she has to attempt it again at a later date.”

More silence.

My heart pounded. Fury festered. I hated him. I hated talking about The Order with him. I hated that I was having to pamper and try to calm this grown man like a child. I wanted to smash his face in and have him choke on his own blood. But Penelope… I couldn’t risk her life.

“I see. It’s history stuff, right? Like politics and scenarios?”

The white-hot rage had the wooden beam cracking under my hold.

“That’s right. It won’t be easy.”

Slight hesitation. “I want to talk to her.”

“She’s not here. That’s why I’m answering her phone. She’s training.”

“When she’s done, then. I have to talk to her. I must apologize.”

“I will let her know, but she was pretty upset. I make no promises she’ll return your call. I will tell her what you said though.”

“Great.” His voice turned firm. “I’ll be waiting for her call.”

“Don’t. Penelope doesn’t forgive easily, and you truly upset her. If you push, she might pull back even more. You can see her at the ball. Perhaps you both can patch things up then.”

“…Right. The ball… Try to get her to call before that.”

“Goodbye, King Lawrence.”

I didn’t wait for a response. I hung up, wanting to physically harm someone. To release this pressure that left me wanting to explode.

“Thank you. Thank you. I know you didn’t want to do that.”

“I feel dirty.”