Page 144 of Uncrowned

“And she’ll pay for that. But you have to know the truth. What she told you isn’t it. I never killed girls just to kill them. I didn’t date. Yes, I had… affairs. They’d last a few weeks, and I’d lose interest and never see them again. No, I did not date. I didn’t have girlfriends. I was never serious with anyone. You’re the one for me. The one I choose. I want you to choose me too. … But only inside this room.”

Penelope reached up, gripping to the finger I was using to trace along her jawline.

“I don’t understand.”

“Outside of this door, you have to pretend to hate me. Fear me. We already made the mistake of showing The Order our love. We can’t do that again. It makes us weak. Vulnerable. I can’t lose you like my father lost my mother. God, I can’t do it, Penelope.” I kissed her finger. “Love me fiercely but hate me publicly. It is the only way we survive this. I want us to survive. That crown is mine, and we’re going to take it back. Together.”

CHAPTER 49

Penelope

Together.

We’d take back the Crown… together.

“The trials⁠—”

Vaughn’s finger fitted against my lips.

“I don’t want to talk about that tonight.”

“But…”

“No, love. You will pass the trials. You are strong enough.”

Doubt flooded me. Vaughn shook his head, waiting until I took a deep breath and nodded.

“You will pass, and we will marry. I want to marry you so badly, Penelope. I don’t want to wait another minute.”

“How long before I face the trials?”

Silence filled the room. “How ever long it takes until we’re positive you’re ready. I’m not taking any risks, and I won’t know until I see what you’ve learned since you’ve been gone.” His lips pursed, and I saw the beginnings of a smile.

“You kept up with the training, even though you hated me.”

“Hated you?” My head shook. “I never hated you. I could never. … I love you. That’s why the lies hurt me so much.”

“And you love me still?”

His hand cupped my face again, and I couldn’t stop from leaning my cheek into his palm as I repeated his words.

“More than the sun, and the moon, and all the air in the world.”

A big smile flashed, and I met his lips as they lowered to mine. Fire flared on my chest as I pulled him towards me, but I didn’t care. Vaughn didn’t fight. He met my need with an intensity that left us holding to each other with everything we had. His tongue thrust into my mouth, and I moaned, turning to wrap my leg over his hip. For minutes we kissed, until I was sure I’d go crazy.

“Vaughn.” I fisted the opening of his button-up shirt, pulling and feeling the buttons give way. “Please. Don’t stop this time.”

“Penelope—”

“It’s been so long. I don’t want to wait anymore. I can’t.”

He moaned back, kissing me deeper before breaking away.

“No more waiting.”

I had imagined this moment a thousand times while I hated him. None of those fantasies had come close to feeling the satisfaction at his words.

Reaching up, he pulled and tore the shirt open. I pushed it back from his chest, meeting his mouth again as he took it off and tossed it to the side. The clinking of his belt sounded, and I gasped as he moved in to suck and nibble against the side of my neck.