Page 202 of Unmasked

Blood remembers what was lost,

Blood repays the kingdom’s cost.

Blood of many, blood of one.

We’ve cleared the path—the Crown is won.”

Vaughn lowered, meeting my eyes as he leveled the tip of the blade at my wrist. I bit my bottom lip, tensing and pulling back as much as I could on the cuff. Excruciating pain exploded as he dragged the knife down to my elbow. Panic set in, and I sucked in so much air I almost choked. Sounds came, but not the horror-filled screams that wanted to come as I watched blood leave me to race to the shallow, indented crest.

Vaughn stepped over me, moving to my other arm. The men surrounding us were suddenly slicing their own palms and letting their blood drip and pour down to the crest as well. The carved channels darkened in color and again the pain came as Vaughn cut from my wrist, up past my elbow.

“God! Please!” Yells did leave me then. My eyes were so wide. I was trying to grasp some form of control, but I was starting to jerk and go wild against the metal that kept me trapped. “Please stop! Please!”

I met hazel eyes as Vaughn stepped down between my legs. He bent forward, stabbing into my inner thigh, slowly dragging the knife towards my ankle. My screams went from desperate to hopelessly horrified. They were deafening as they echoed against stone. My body was shaking. Jerking. Thrashing nowhere. My head went back and forth.

Masters were constantly shifting around us, adding their contribution to the shallow pool of blood that was beginning to collect. I could feel myself getting weak and lightheaded as I continued to fight. My eyes lifted, and I found Penelope watching me. Glaring down at me.

“Maybe I’ll die, but you’ll see I was right. You love me. You love me!”

Blinding pain ripped its way down my thigh, towards my other ankle, and a growl left Vaughn. He headed towards the top of the crest, lowering over my head to face me. He wrapped his hand around the blade, jerking it over his palm. Warmth splashed against my chest, and he held out his hand over the upside-down crown.

“Royal blood now seals the claim.”

The men shouted out. “Crown and kingdom, true to name.”

“By my blood, the line is restored.”

“Rise again, forgotten lord.” They rang out.

“Old blood honored, new blood sworn.”

“Now the rightful crown’s reborn.”

He handed the dagger to Penelope, and I watched as she cut her palm, letting the blood fall over the crest.

“The old blood is honored,” Vaughn yelled out. “The Order fills the Crown, and the blood of the rightful line is awakened forever.”

“The true kings are honored.

The brotherhood is bound.

The royal blood has returned.”

He nodded at their chant.

“Only by blood we remember.” He lifted both of his hands. “And this we will never forget.” He opened his suit, grabbing another long, jagged knife. The blade leveled at my throat and his lids turned to slits as his lips peeled back. Hate. It came out in a thick cloud as he leaned in closer to me. “She loves me. Me. That’s forever.” He sliced hard and fast. My mouth shot open, and the ceiling blurred. The chanting faded. For the first time… I was powerless. Truly… alone. Fading.

“It is done.”

Epilogue

VAUGHN

ABOUT A YEAR LATER…

Silence had always held weight. Whether it was good or bad, I always knew the truth could be found where words didn’t exist. I had learned the importance early. Maybe too early.

Now, silence felt different. It filled the halls of our new home. In the halls of a kingdom that had been burnt and rebuilt thanks to me. It was in the soft rhythm of breath that filled the space beside me, here and safe.