Page 165 of Unmasked

Tears burned my eyes at the pain in my back, but I pushed it away as I faced the man who had his eyes right on mine. “I believe you’re here for me.”

I could barely hear myself speak.

“If you let him leave this room to wait in my study, I will go with you, and I will not fight.” I paused, narrowing my eyes at George. “But if you hurt him, I will kill you before we make it aboveground. I think somewhere deep inside you, you know I’m telling the truth.” I turned to Theodore. “You will wait in the study.”

“Like hell⁠—”

“You will wait in the study. As your queen I demand it.”

My tone was so deep and thick, it had Theodore’s jaw flexing repeatedly. He shook his head. “I can’t⁠—”

The gun shifted in my hand, and I brought the butt down hard against Theodore’s head. He collapsed to the ground, and sickness swarmed within me.

“Now he’s not a threat. Shall we be on our way?”

George took my gun, throwing it as he latched to my injured bicep, pulling me toward the main entrance. The men surrounding us were firing… and dropping. More of my guards were arriving, but George was pulling me so fast we were practically running. I looked behind, counting the guards remaining. We turned down a hall. Another.

If a few more died… I could try and finish them myself. I was injured, but I could still fight. I had to try.

Seven.

Another hall.

Four.

A turn.

My men were catching up. They were coming out of side halls.

Three.

I jerked from George’s hold, feeling arms from one of the guards behind me wrap around my chest. Pain had me screaming. He tried pulling me forward, but I twisted, slipping out of his grasp and kicking him square in the stomach as he threw himself right at me. Orders echoed from George as he yelled out.

Turning to the next guard, I lunged. New pain flared before I could reach him, stabbing into my shoulder. I only saw the wires for a moment before my body locked up, crumbling as it convulsed through the surge of electricity. I tried to scream, thrashing through the jolts. A pinch from a syringe registered in my arm and colors blurred. The taser stopped and reality faded as I was scooped up. We were running. I knew that. But every second I was getting further away. And every shot didn’t bring my new captor down. It was just me and him… and he was fast. Too fast as we slipped further away from The Order.

CHAPTER 54

King Lawrence

George: We’re in.

Me: Message when you have her secured and are out of there. Don’t forget to delete this.

I followed my own order, erasing the message and putting my phone back in my pocket. Happiness elevated. I laughed at a story Lord Neverly told. Although I kept my attention on those surrounding me, my stare was never far from Vaughn and his crowd.

The two that seemed closest to him were the cousins. One was in The Council, Bram Whitlock. The other, Elec Wexler. I wasn’t sure how I’d met the man. I knew I had but… I couldn’t remember why… or even when. It was his voice. He was alright, wasn’t he? I felt as though we could be friends. Really good friends… but…

Just thinking about the man made my head fuzzy. I brought my attention back to Vaughn nearly snarling as he laughed, nodding in agreement with whatever the hell the men were talking about. They were engrossed in conversation. I couldn’t stand how they looked like the fucking three musketeers ready for war… against me. All matching. All similar in appearance one way or another.

It was the Council member, Mr. Prescott, that had my smile coming back. He was on the phone, appearing confused. When his eyes grew round and his head jerked to Vaughn, I moved in closer to the men around me. Still stealing looks but keeping up with my act as if I were listening to their stories.

“Have you ever heard anything so hilarious, Your Majesty? To think the man didn’t know how to ride a horse.”

I let my stare go to Lord Neverly.

“Truly baffling.” I laughed, seeing Mr. Prescott lean closer to Vaughn.

I stood straight, soaking in the way Vaughn’s smile fell as his head whipped to his handler. His lips parted, and as if Vaughn felt me, his stare cut straight to mine. Shock melted, morphing to an expression of pure murderous rage. Elec’s hand gripped to his shoulder, and Bram quickly followed, holding to his armor. It did nothing as Vaughn surged forward pulling them as he came right for me. I stiffened, watching as Mr. Prescott dove right for his chest to try to push him back.