Page 11 of Hupotasso
‘My duty?’
I remembered then what he’d said at the altar. That I’d produce an heir before he dispensed with me.
‘Oh God.’
“Falcon!” I’d shouted as he left, shutting the door firmly behind him. “You can’t mean that. FALCON!”
For a long time after he’d left I remained on the floor crying, the hurt from his words and the remembrance of his cold gaze making me cower as no strike ever could. But when I’d risen from the floor, a rage had settled on my heart. A fury I haven’t felt in a very, very long time.
Now, I frown as his mother steps into my room, her eyes darting almost fearfully as she takes in the torn gown on the floor, the sparse furnishings and the dead fire.
She’s wearing a cream woollen suit, and pearls. She looks like the quintessential perfectly groomed royal, except she’s clearly very uncomfortable being here. The juxtaposition of her perfect coiffure, clothes and makeup, and me wrapped in a sheet, hair wild, eyes swollen and face red from crying, still smelling of sex andhim, couldn’t be more obvious.
“It’s freezing in here,” she gasps, hastening towards me and picking up my hands where they lie folded in my lap. “Why didn’t you call the maid to light the fire?”
She studies my face as I stare impassively at her.
“Are you unwell, Angelina?”
I clear my throat and shake my head as she sits beside me and rubs my hands. Her own are toasty warm, as are her eyes. Her concern brings a lump to my throat again, and I pull my hands from hers and cover my face. The shame and hurt from last night still raw.
“My dear, what is it?”
I shake my head. I couldn’t talk now even if I wanted to. I have no idea where to even start. Everything is shit. Everything.
“There, there,” she places her arm around my shoulders. “Let it out. I dare say this whole whirlwind has been quite shocking for you, but you’ll soon come to grips with it.”
Sniffing, I pull away from her.
‘Whirlwind? Either she’s completely unaware of what’s going on because Falcon hasn’t filled her in on his belief that I’m a spy, or she wants to pretend everything is normal.’
But pretence is not something I’ve ever had a tolerance for.
And it sure as hell isn’t going to fly after yesterday.
“I’m Falcon’s prisoner,” I snap, rising and roughly wiping my eyes on my arm. “Or did the fact you had to unlock my door from the outside escape your attention?”
She shakes her head sadly as I go on, all my anger at Falcon now directed at the woman before me — the woman who raised him.
“I’m sure there’s just been some kind of misunderstanding…” she starts.
“He’s a fucking monster,” I snarl, turning to walk towards the small window to stare out so I don’t have to look at her. “He doesn’t care for me. The whole game was obviously an onerous charade that he pushed through so he didn’t lose his title.”
“That may have been the case at first,” she sighs. “But he does care for you, Angelina. He just hasn’t recognised his feelings yet. You must understand…”
“No! You must understand!” I shout, spinning to point my finger at her. “He told me at the wedding that he plans to get me pregnant, then kill me. He doesn’t care one iota for me, and if he did he certainly wouldn’t lock me in this hellhole, fuck me, and leave me crying on the floor.”
Her gasp and shocked expression stall me momentarily.
“Why so surprised? You must have seen far worse over the years. A leopard doesn’t change its spots. He’s his father’s son through and through.”
“This isn’t Falcon,” she murmurs, her eyes sad. “This isn’t my boy.”
“He’s not a boy,” I snap. “He’s a fucking grown-assvampire.”
“Yes,” she sighs, rising. “He’s a vampire. And I can see you’d prefer to be alone at the moment. But I want you to know that I want to be your friend, Angelina, that I’m here for you…”
“Really?” I cut her off. “So you’ll help me escape?”
