Chapter 185 - Leave

As soon as the doors were closed Captain Black finally released Delaney and she rushed to Vincent. He was still hunched over but was easing upright again. His scars were deep red and when Delaney took his face in her hands she immediately let go again, shocked by how hot they were.

"Don't... Don't touch my skin," he said quietly, working to sit up.

Delaney realized his hands were still tied together and so was Ian. She got back to her feet and hurried to the Captain, grabbing his dagger sheathed to his thigh and pulling it out without asking. She dropped to the ground behind Vincent first and very carefully cut the ropes binding him. As soon as she did he took his hands and carefully pressed them to his cheek, hissing against the pain.

Scooting over to Ian, Delaney was quick to cut the rope binding his wrists. He pulled off the gag himself while she cut the ropes around his ankles. He fell over when they were released but quickly righted himself and moved farther back from the King who had had him ripped from his bed and brought here.

Moving back beside Daniel in front of Vincent, Delaney reached for her husband again but paused and pulled her hands back, not wanting to make things worse.

"Why are you so hot?" she asked him nervously, "You're even hotter than you normally are."

"It's... It's the poison in the marks," he answered quietly but she could hear the anger in his voice, "I don't know what happens but when I get hit they... they just get so hot."

"Vince I'm sorry," Daniel whispered with a hoarse voice, "I was just so furious I didn't want to believe Mace would leave. You're both right though. He left and it's my fault. I never should have tried to make him marry someone like her. She's so cruel and..."

"Can we leave now?" Delaney asked coldly, cutting him off.

"I... Well yes... Of course."

Delaney didn't reply but hesitantly touched her husband's hand to make sure it wasn't too hot before she took it in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Let's go home," she whispered to him.

"I can send doctors to the house to look at him," Daniel offered hopefully, "They can..."

"No," Delaney snapped, not looking away from her husband, "We are going home. All the way home. To Edgewood. It's horrible here and we're not staying any longer."

"Are you sure you should travel with him like this?"

"He is like this because of you!" she shouted, turning to the man with an icy gaze.

"Delaney," Vincent said softly but sternly, "He is the King."

He was sitting up again now although his scars were still terribly red. He looked angry but tired green eyes met her gaze and she had to take a deep breath to keep from saying anything else. She clenched her fists and looked away.

Ian stepped up beside where Delaney was kneeling, careful to keep her between himself and the King, and held his hand out to the Duke. Vincent didn't meet the other man's eye but reached out and let Ian pull him up. His wife knew he hated needing help and feeling weak. Once he was standing, Ian helped Delaney to her feet as well.

The Duchess threw her arms around Ian for a moment, hugging him tightly as it finally sank in that he was safe. He was taken by surprise but gently hugged her back.

Turning to her husband, she saw his gaze was cold as he stood with his back to the King and Queen, staring at the door. Vincent's scars still radiated heat but she stepped to him and lightly kissed his unmarked cheek. A small smile curved his lips as he looked at her and they started for the doors.

"Vince wait," Daniel tried again, reaching out and grabbing his cousin's arm.

In one swift movement Vincent jerked his arm free and spun to face the King. His green eyes growing dark with his anger.

"You will not touch me again your majesty," he said coldly, "I have had more than enough hands on me today by your orders."

Daniel looked surprised and hurt, "Vince please. I'm sorry for thinking such things about you but..."

"Thinking things about me?" Vincent laughed loudly, "You are sorry for the things you thought about me? And what of everything else?"

The King opened and closed his mouth, stammering as he tried to come up with a response.

"Mason, Miles, and I have been loyal to you every day of our god damn lives Daniel! From when we were young and you were the crown prince to when you were made king! We have always had your back and done everything you've asked of us without question. We went to war on a colony of dragons unlike anything anyone has ever seen! I led men to their deaths! And look at what I have to show for it!"

Vincent's hands shot up to gesture at his face and the other man dropped his gaze.

"We did that for you because you asked it of us," he continued quieter now but with a voice like venom, "And you repay us by trying to force Mace into a marriage with a horrible woman you yourself can't stand! Then you won't listen to him or anyone else so you drive him to flee and give himself up to a marriage to a princess in another land even though that means he'll likely never see any of us again."

"And then there's me," his voice grew colder and quieter still, "You send your men to pull me from my bed, terrify my wife, and land blows on the wounds I recieved fighting your war until I'm submissive enough they could drag me here before you, every other noble and member of the royal court."

"I-I didn't think about the others being here," Daniel tried, "And besides, now they've seen that you're innocent as you said you were all along. If anything I look like the fool.

Vincent looked at him in disbelief.

"Danny they saw me," he shook his head, "You know they like to laugh and gossip about how ugly I am having only seen my face. Now they've seen it all. They saw the extent of how disfigued and appaling my body is because your men tore my shirt open and presented me to them. I will be the fuel of their laughter and gossip for ages to come. Because of that and the way you accused me today I've lost all respect forever."

The King was quiet and met his cousin's gaze with his own and Delaney was surprised to see his eyes were bright with tears. No one in the room moved or made a sound.

"Tell me how to fix it," Daniel pleaded softly, "Tell me how to make it right Vince and I will."

Vincent looked at him and sadly shook his head.

"You can't your majesty. The damage is done. It's too late."

Daniel inhaled sharply but didn't reply. There was nothing left to say.

Delaney reached out and lightly touched her husband's hand. He held the King's gaze a moment longer before turning to her and holding out his arm. She took it and together they turned for the door. All around them the pirates moved to leave as well. Ian took up a place on the other side of Vincent and his father remained at Delaney's side.

Captain Black's men pushed the doors open and the nobles that had been hovering outside trying to eavesdrop scrambled out of the way. Delaney glanced up at her husband and saw he held his head high, eyes straight ahead so she did the same. Even as the whispers picked up around them, neither moved to give them any attention and neither did the pirates.

They walked through the hall with both Ian and Vincent wearing only breaches and Vincent's shirt hanging off him in tatters. His scars were there for everyone to see. Delaney knew he must be miserable.

Outside the pirate king's carriage was still waiting where they had left it. One of his men opened the door for them and Vincent helped her inside before climbing inside himself. Ian and his father climbed in and the door was closed behind them. A moment later they started off for the city house, leaving the castle behind.

Delaney reached over and took her husband's hand, giving it a gentle queeze. He turned and his eyes floated over her face, studying her. She let herself look over his face too, following the lines of his scars. She was struck again with the feeling that the had grown longer but knew better than to mention it.

They arrived outside the city house and the door was opened.

"I will have a word with my son before I send him in," the captain informed them and Delaney and Vincent nodded.

"Thank you for what you've done today," Vincent said, "I don't know what would have happened if you and your men hadn't escorted Delaney to court."

The Captain chuckled, "Knowing your wife I'm sure she would have gone on her own."

Vincent smiled, "You are probably right."

They both turned to Delaney but she didn't respond, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of being right.

Vincent climbed out of the carriage and helped his wife down. Together they walked into the city house where they found half their servants gathered and anxiously waiting for their return. When they stepped inside there were sighs of relief and words of thanks to God for returning them safely.

The Duke turned away, quickly trying to pull his shirt together to cover his scars. Delaney caught one of his hands and gave him an encouraging smile. Vincent stared at her and she could tell he was mentally fighting his urge to run from their sight. At last though he sighed and turned back to face them again.

"Are you alright my Lord?" a maid asked anxiously.

Vincent gave her a small smile, "I am sore but otherwise fine."

"That must have been awful," another man said, "Is there anything we can do?"

"Yes," the Duke nodded, "Prepare everything to leave within the hour."

The servants gasped, looking at him in surprise. Vincent stared back at his people.

"We are going home."