Page 39 of Unmasked

Silence.

I walked deeper into the room, taking my place behind Penelope. My hands lowered to rest on her shoulders. Neither of us spoke as Katia fought against the cuffs to move forward.

“They’re going to come for me. You know that, right? They’re going to come, and when they do, they’re going to kill you all. They’ll kill you!”

“We track our men with chips as well. Which is why down here, the signal is jammed. No one will find you. Not that it matters if they did. The Order is untouchable. The Collective High Council stands with me. When they see the video of what you’ve done, they will wash their hands of you.”

“I am a Marchase. My family⁠—”

“Are nothing. Not a Whitlock. Not a Pennington. You are a peasant, barely worthy to grace us with your presence. Me… I am a king. The Council is going to back that, too.”

I wrapped my hand around Penelope’s throat, sliding it up to angle her face to me. I lowered, pressing my lips to hers.

“You have two days. Where do you want to begin?”

“I need a prod. I have questions.”

Katia’s face hardened, but she didn’t look afraid.

Nodding, I headed for the door, opening it to see The Reeve talking to the guards not far away. “Prod.”

“Right away, Sire.”

The room was quiet as I headed back in. Penelope didn’t move. She stared ahead at Katia as the agent continued to pull against the chains.

“You’re wasting your time.” Her eyes stayed on Penelope. “I’m not telling you anything.”

Penelope continued to watch her. Study her. She followed the woman’s movements. Watched every pull of her arms. Every attempted step to the side.

“You forget I’ve monitored you for over a year. This isn’t who you are. You don’t have it in you to torture me.”

The door opened, and The Reeve entered. Penelope’s hand came out, but her face did not turn from Katia. The Reeve looked at me, and I nodded.

Katia watched our interaction, pulling even more as he handed the prod to Penelope.

Slowly, Penelope stood. She stepped in, inches from Katia’s face, but just out of her reach.

“Do you understand where you are?”

Katia’s lids narrowed, flickering as she tried to stare down Penelope.

“You’re too weak.”

Penelope’s head tilted. From stoic to amused, I watched as her face transitioned.

Click.

The sound was soft, but Katia’s reaction wasn’t. Her body jerked, her breath catching in her throat as the electrical current locked her limbs. It wasn’t long, but long enough to have Katia gasping and crying out as Penelope released the trigger.

“You will answer.”

Weak laughter left Katia.

“Or what?”

Penelope didn’t respond. Her arm drew back, and the hit was solid. Blood sprayed from Katia’s mouth as her head snapped to the side at the wand connecting to her cheek. Penelope pulled the trigger, thrusting the prod so that the current connected against her ribs.

Katia’s body stiffened, and she fell to her knees shaking through the zap. Releasing the trigger, Penelope crouched back to face Katia.