Page 62 of Hupotasso
Sighing, he takes my hands from my face and I lean across and rest my head against his chest.
“Can’t deny what?” He murmurs, his arms enclosing me naturally, as I knew they would. As Viper knew they would.
I raise my tear-stained face to his.
“That I love you. I loveyou, Jag.”
He looks down into my eyes, his own full of surprise and pain, and shakes his head.
“This is wrong,” he whispers. “You can’t, we can’t…”
“I know,” I groan, clinging tightly to him. “I’m married to your best friend. But he hates me, Jag, and these past few months I’ve come to realise that you and I, we have a bond. We share something, something special…”
“No,” he groans as I lean up and press my lips to his.
“You’re the only one who believes in me, who’salwaysbelieved in me,” I whisper against his lips, “the only one I trust. You’re the only one, Jag,”
“God forgive me,” he murmurs as I pull him on top of me. “I love you too, Angie.”
46
I shake my head at Attracta and keep walking. I don’t know how she learned I was here, but I don’t have time to deal with her questions right now. I’ll see her later and confirm my suspicions about her recent actions. But right now, I have a meeting with the Queen.
“She’s always late,” she murmurs as she keeps up with me, “she’ll keep you waiting just to keep you in your place. Slow down and talk to me, Falcon.”
I stop and spin to face her.
“What do you wish to know?”
She rolls her eyes.
“Obviously I want to know how Eleanor is. Asumpta filled me in on what happened, but I can’t get any word out of the hospital.”
“I don’t know what to tell you. We don’t know if she’s going to pull through. She’s still in intensive care.”
She groans and shakes her head.
“And the security?”
“Second to one,” I growl. “Do you think I’d leave her unguarded after Spider’s assassination attempt?”
“I know you come seeking some retribution from the queen,” she whispers urgently as I begin to walk again, “but you won’t find a friendly ear in the court at this time.”
“Why is that?” I stop and scowl at her. “Why would she support Spider? A noble who tries to murder another noble?”
“Since you kidnapped his pregnantwife,” she hisses. “Don’t be stupid, Falcon. He’s been weaving his webs in the halls of power for centuries, while you, Wolf, and Jag were on the ground fighting.”
“Fighting the queen’s fucking wars!” I snarl.
“It doesn’t matter,” she frowns, “he was here while you were there. You should have taken more time to immerse yourself in the politics of running a royal household. Instead you always considered that beneath you. You acted as though nothing you did could have any consequence. Now you’re paying the price.”
“What price?” I hiss. “Is my mother’s life the price for me not attending court and playing the dandy? For not flattering the queen and bolstering the egos of cunts?”
“Your mother tried to tell you,” she snaps. “She tried to tell you to attend court, to find a bride, to take your place amongst your peers. You wouldn’t listen.”
“But you did, didn’t you?” I snarl. “My bastard half-sister. You made your way here, ingratiated yourself and became the chief procurer for the queen herself. And how’s that going for you, Attracta? Is your life all you’d hoped it would be?”
“Your arrogance will be the end of you, Falcon,” she murmurs. “You drive away anyone who might be on your side.”
