Page 148 of Unmasked

Penelope reached down, gripping to the sides of her pants.

“It was given back to my family. It is mine by law.”

He nodded.

“But not by honor.”

The Magister stood, descending the stairs to stand before Penelope.

“Trial four is not about what you would choose. It is about what you will sacrifice.” His arms lifted the smallest amount. “If you are to stand beside the Masterson line, you cannot do so while carrying the reward of its destruction. You cannot be both. You have to choose, Intended. Will you remain the Duchess… or become our Queen?”

CHAPTER 47

Penelope

Functioning was almost impossible. My thoughts were scrambled. Clarity was skewed. The floor kept feeling as though it were moving beneath my feet. Yet… I knew exactly what was being asked of me as I stared into the darkness of the veil covering The Magister’s face.

“Choose.” He got louder. “Duchess? Or Queen?”

All the pain of my childhood came rolling back. All the lessons. The beatings. The verbal abuse. Hour after hour of studying. Of getting scolded and told I was stupid for not remembering what my father thought I should already know.

Blood.

Betrayal.

The Taylor name. Everything it stood for.

Or …

Vaughn.

The Crown.

The life I had already chosen.

“There is no choice, Magister.” I kept my voice steady. “I made it the moment I chose Vaughn and The Order. The title means nothing.” I let out a shaky breath. “I relinquish it, effective immediately.”

The Magister turned to The Judic. He gave a hard nod and they stood, heading down. They lined up in front of me, almost circling me in. My breath caught as one by one, they lowered.

The guards followed, as did Lord Oxley, but Vaughn didn’t lower. His expression hardened. But there was something else… something deeper. Reverence…

“It is done.” The Magister took out a dagger and the Judic mirrored him. They dragged the blade across their palms, letting the blood pool.

“By blood we remember… What was taken is restored. We recognize you. You belong to the Crown now. We are yours, Queen of The Order. Long may you reign.”

Their hands lowered, turning over as they pushed their palms down, imprinting their vow into stone. Slowly, they rose, bowing their heads to Vaughn before making their way to the side door. He didn’t waste any time heading for me.

“Penelope—” His voice was deep and choked with emotion. “I’m sorry. What happened wasn’t your fault.”

“I chose, and I chose right. I’m not sorry.”

Lips crushed into mine. I went to put my arms around his neck, crying out from the pain that flared from the stitches.

“Let’s get you cleaned up and taken care of before the celebration.” He turned to Lord Oxley. “Have the good stuff ready for when she’s finished.”

“Already done, Unavowed.”

Vaughn led me to the doors. The moment they opened, the guards outside lowered to one knee. Although walking was a chore, I managed to get to our chamber without having Vaughn carry me. I hurt everywhere. I was mentally shot and exhausted. He led me to the shower, gently washing me as he continued stealing kisses. I could sense his emotions were high. Higher than they’d ever been. It was in the way he kept longingly looking at me. In the tears that would come, only to disappear as he fought them. In the constant little touches. It was in the care in how he bathed me.