Page 86 of Unmasked

Everything came at a price. That price was life.

Vaughn was right.

He knew.

And I was the fool who thought herself smarter than a sadistic king.

I headed into the large garage, taking in two vehicles. The first was an SUV, and the second was a small car. I opened the door of the first, jumping at the voice that sounded behind me.

“Your Grace⁠—”

I spun, feeling my hands come to my mouth as sobs escaped. It was a boy. Young. Barely eighteen, if that. He was a stable boy I recognized from when I was preparing for the hunt.

A ragged breath left me, and his hands came up, slowly.

“Your Grace… Are you okay?”

“N-No,” I sobbed, trying to calm the nerves. This wasn’t King Lawrence. I was okay. I had to focus. “Please. Help me.”

The boy walked up, slowing as he took in the brand on my chest.

“You’re injured.”

“Do you have a phone?”

“No, My Lady. There is a phone in the house.”

“I can’t go back in there. I have to leave. Can you take me to the airport? Can you drive me? I am not well. I am sick and… in pain. Please.”

He gave a nod, hesitantly reaching for me as he helped me in the back seat. As he got in the driver’s side and began to pull out, I could feel the fog of shock setting in. The drugs in my system rolled through again, and I tried my hardest not to be sick. As I gave the boy the location of the smaller airport, I prayed Vaughn’s plane was still there.

What if the king had seized it? What if Rowan and Mark were still inside… dead? Hadn’t he said they had been killed?

More sobs.

More tears.

The boy kept looking back at me. He was afraid. The unease was written all over his face as he kept stealing peeks at the brand on my chest.

This wasn’t happening.

This couldn’t be real.

Even as it continued to loop, I knew it was. Even if I didn’t understand what was going on, this was no nightmare. Not one I could wake up from. I was in trouble. Maybe even Vaughn was in trouble.

It was all I could think about as a small sound left me at seeing the plane.

“I’m afraid I can’t walk very well. You have to help me find the pilots. They have to be close by. Can you search for them for me? I promise I will pay you well. I just need… I need to go home.”

I sniffled, wiping the tears as he nodded.

The boy pulled up next to a large hanger that was connected to a smaller building and an even smaller cluster of what looked like rooms.

He jumped from the SUV, racing toward the hanger first. As he disappeared inside, I felt my face bury in my hands.

I would not be sick.

I would not be weak.