Page 121 of Unmasked

“I thought it was going to work because you weren’t going to leave me a choice?”

“For fuck’s sake, Penelope. I’m trying here.”

“You’re going to have a lot of apologizing to do. I hope you’re ready for it. Lately, I’m not satisfied very easily. The more you push me, the more I’m going to make you work for it.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I suppose it is best if I stay close.”

“It is. Are you ready for me to take you home? To our home?”

“Are you staying there with me?”

Vaughn’s body softened as he reached for my hand and began leading me to the door. “I can’t leave you there alone the first night. That’s not a memory I want to have.”

“Well, I don’t want a memory of being alone the second night either. I guess you’re going to have to stay for that one, too.”

His lips pulled back at the smile he tried to hide.

“I guess it’s settled then.”

“Home,” I said, squeezing his hand.

“Yes… home.”

CHAPTER 39

King Lawrence

“Even death…”

The words had been repeating for days.

Their meaning was nothing new and yet… the context changed everything.

Even. Death.

I’d killed women. Men. I’d done it during spirals of needing control, and I’d done it just to watch the life leave their eyes.

Killing wasn’t a big deal to me. I didn’t have to do it. The spark in Penelope’s eyes when she asked it, now that intrigued me. That… fed my adrenaline. My cravings. It led me to walk the razor’s edge of my sadism.

Why kill anyone when I could watch them suffer? But maybe I wouldn’t mind watching her kill. Did she like the thought of that? Had she asked me because she secretly needed it? She had been groomed for life in The Order. Maybe there were things about her I didn’t know. Had they already made her kill? She pretended innocence concerning that place, but I wasn’t quick to believe her. She knew more, and I wanted to find out exactly what that was.

“Ahhh! Please!”

I sent the cane whistling to connect against pale skin again. Dark hair swayed as the stranger screamed out, choking on her sob.

I was fascinated with the trails of blood. With the swollen welts. Even more compelled to trace my finger along the split skin that oozed crimson down the woman’s back. Skin… so close to the shade of Penelope’s.

Whack!

Whack!

“Your Majesty.”

“Shut up.” This woman’s voice wasn’t the same. Penelope’s was soft with a throaty deepness. Velvet. Yes, Penelope’s voice was like velvet. It was a stupid comparison, even generic and cliché, but it felt right. Real.

“Even death…”

The words left me. I stepped in, fisting the woman’s long dark hair, exposing her back even more. She tried to turn to face me, but I gave a hard jerk, forcing her forward as I trailed the tip of the cane down her spine.

“Even. Death.”