Page 50 of Unmasked

A deep breath left me, and I saw his fear as I thought back. I saw his uncertainty. He was willing to die for my queen. It had been written with every devotional line on his worried face.

“Yes, he is good,” I barely managed. “He most definitely is…”

CHAPTER 14

Penelope

Had the morning started out well?

It hadn’t lasted…

Vaughn wasn’t okay.

He barked orders. He jumped on anyone who got too close. He refused to allow me to finish my revenge on Katia. Even Theodore kept quiet through lunch. By the time I was leaving, he was a walking threat. I wasn’t sure he was going to allow me to go, but he had. He didn’t have a choice if we wanted to keep the upper hand on King Lawrence, and we both knew it.

“Remember,” The Reeve said, “if you need us, dust across your shoulder like so. Mark or I will come forward and speak with you privately and we will escort you out. For the first hunt tomorrow, we will not be able to attend, but we will be waiting for you to return. King Lawrence’s guard will be a heavy presence in the background, so if you need us, send one of them our way and we will not hesitate.”

“Alright. I will.” I looked across the seat and then glanced in the back to Mark before I went back to The Reeve. “Can I call you Rowan all the time?”

His lips parted, and his hard features softened just the smallest amount. “Here, you may call me Rowan. At The Order… I am The Reeve.”

“That’s what Vaughn said.” I let a smile pull back one side of my lips. “I do like the name Rowan.” I let a second go by before I lowered my voice even more. “What if I were to say it in private, when no one was listening?”

The Reeve glanced back to Mark but nodded.

I went to say thank you but was unable as we began to approach the large airliner. My hand pressed into my stomach, and I swallowed through the slight nausea that rolled through in waves. The Reeve handed over a bag, and my lids narrowed as I read it.

“Ginger chews?”

“I had our men run out and get them this morning. They’re good for nausea.”

“Oh.” I smiled. “Thank you.”

He gave a nod.

As we pulled up, I opened the package, popping one into my mouth and putting the bag in my purse. My door was opened by a uniformed attendant, and I got out, watching as more uniformed men brought Rowan and Mark around, inspecting them. Our bags were taken out of the back, and as I was led towards the stairs, I caught a glimpse of King Lawrence speaking with an aide. The sight had me pausing to look back at my men. My pulse spiked, and I turned in time to see the king quickly disappearing.

“This way, Ms. Taylor.”

A steward guided me up the steps, but I couldn’t stop shaking. This wasn’t my world… it was King Lawrence’s, and as they led me into a spacious cabin, it was obvious.

I took in the plush leather seating, the flatscreen television, and the bar in the distance.

I was directed to a seat at the center of the lounge while Rowan and Mark were pointed to seats along the windows. Further back, I could see another cabin with more people buzzing around.

“King Lawrence welcomes you aboard, Ms. Taylor. May I get you a drink prepared for after takeoff?”

“Just water, please.”

The uniformed steward nodded before turning her attention to Rowan and Mark. I glanced to the back again more nervous than I wanted to admit. I hated having to be here. I wanted to keep Vaughn and The Order safe, but it was also society’s rules that forced me into this situation. How many times had I rejected the king’s invitations? Yet here I was, on his plane, headed to a hunt that I had no interest in being a part of. I knew the elite connections were what was key, but I didn’t like that I was being forced into this.

Minutes passed, and I let myself focus on my plans as the door shut and we eventually taxied down the runway. Take off went smoothly. I kept my thoughts on each guest and what I planned to talk to them about. And the king… I had questions for him as well. I just had to word it in a way that didn’t bring suspicion.

This wasn’t just a game of chess—this was life and death—the Crown… or treason.

Unbuckling, I leaned my head back, closing my eyes. My stomach rolled, but I pushed the feeling away, seeing Vaughn in the darkness.

He wasn’t taking this well, and I hated that he was so upset. Four days was going to feel like a lifetime to him. Perhaps if I called every night and reassured him I was okay, maybe he’d feel better.