Page 116 of Unmasked

“Fuck,” I winced going right into a growl. “You didn’t think to do that to him when he had his hands all over you?”

“And miss out on his secrets? You let jealousy turn you into a fool, Unavowed. You were so focused on his hands, you missed what was coming out of his mouth.” She stepped in, her lids narrowing even more. “You’re a king. You need to act like it. He’s focused on The Order, and he knows too much. Someone here is feeding him information. On our rituals. On our auctions. If he were anyone else, I would have slit his throat. He is king. I cannot. What I can do is use him, which I have every intention of doing. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Our faces were inches from each other.

“Over my dead fucking body.”

“It will be if we don’t beat him at his own game. There is something dark inside that man. Something twisted and… of The Order. He is not to be trusted. But right now, I’m not so sure you are either. I’m going to my room. If you grab me again, especially as hard as you just did, you will not like what I do.”

“Penelope—”

“Goodnight, Vaughn.”

She only made it a few more steps before I rushed up, throwing her over my shoulder.

“You’re not dismissing me. I don’t care how mad you are.”

“Let me down.”

She wiggled, but that only had my hand coming down on her ass.

Whack!

“Flirting with him. Leading him on.”

Whack!

“Dammit, Vaughn!”

Tighter, I held the back of her legs.

“Leading. Him. On. And then you think you can tell me that you’re going to keep using him. You’re going to continue playing games with him?”

Whack!

“Let me down. This is your last chance. I am not playing with you. You crossed the line with your lies.”

“Love, I haven’t crossed the line yet, but I’m about to.”

Penelope stiffened in my hold.

“What do you mean?”

I left the large training room, heading down the hall.

“I asked you a question. Vaughn.”

The guards ahead lowered their eyes as we approached. I turned to the right, making it to my hall. Harder, Penelope wiggled under my hold, and harder I spanked her as she tried to break free. A sob left her, but I didn’t soften.

“Absolutely not. You take me to my room. Vaughn⁠—”

I opened my door, kicking it closed as I headed for my bed. I had Penelope on her back so fast, she couldn’t stop me from covering her body with mine.

“I’m mad at you.”

“And I’m in love with you.”

“You were spying on me. You lied and hid it. You used me to make a point to King Lawrence.”