Page 7 of Hupotasso
“How far along is Sophie?” He sighs now. “Because your window of opportunity to use her against him lasts only as long as the hupotasso is dormant.”
“She’s four months. And no, before you ask, she doesn’t know anything yet. I haven’t mentioned my plan to her. I wanted to pass it by you before I broach the subject with her.”
“I imagine she’ll do anything to be free of him now she’s had a taste of the monster.”
“Yes.”
“But to really secure her loyalty you’ll have to promise her his castle and title and figure out a way to ensure that happens…and she’ll have to have a boy.”
“I know.”
“It’s the only way The Familiesmight, and it’s a big might, leave well enough alone — if the count has a serendipitous accident, but he has a direct heir to take on the title.”
“I know, Jag, you don’t have to explain royal politics to me. I’ve lived it as long as you have.”
“It’s risky, though, Falcon,” Wolf chimes in. “We want to make sure you’re seeing this from all angles. Your families have been feuding for centuries. Suspicion will automatically fall on you. And the worst-case scenario? Have you sorted that out? What will you do if youarelinked to his death, or if this Sophie-woman betrays you?”
“She won’t.”
“Falcon, she’s done it before,” Jag interjects. “If she squeals after she’s had a girl and realises how the royals operate — if she tells The Families you were involved, if…”
“She won’t, Jag, because by then she’ll be carryingmychild.”
He splutters on his drink.
“WHAT?”
Wolf laughs.
“Full of surprises tonight, isn’t he?”
Jag turns disbelieving eyes to me as I shrug.
“I intend to impregnate her the moment she gives birth. She’ll go back to Spider for a short time; he’ll think she’s still under his control, and she’ll help me kill him. I’ll marry her as soon as I’ve dispensed with Angelina.”
“But…”
He frowns, but I hold up my hand to forestall his questions.
“I know there’ll be questions if Angelina doesn’t at least last long enough to produce an heir. Consequently, I’ll knock her up too, forthwith. But once the child is born and Spider’s dead I’m going to marry Sophie as I’d planned to do all along. Her child will be brought up a Dragonspur. If it’s a boy, he’ll inherit the Count’s lands and title on his majority. If a girl, she’ll remain under my care.”
“And your own child? The one you plan to have with Angelina?”
“My first son with Sophie will become my heir. Any child with Angelina will be passed over.”
“You’ve thought this through,” he murmurs.
“But you’ll marry one who betrayed you?” Wolf clarifies. “Seems like you’ve already done that. Why bother swapping? They sound as bad as each other.”
“Sophie wanted immortality,” I shrug, “and I was marrying someone else. We’ve discussed it and I’m reconciled to her actions. Her thinking was that she could still be around me and that we might still have the opportunity to be together if she was a royal too. She had no idea about the loyalty bite and was unaware that Spider was my enemy — I’d shielded her from any of that, and that’s on me. Had I told her, perhaps things would have played out differently.”
“Perhaps not,” Jag snorts.
“Either way, she’s been open in what she did, and why. She’s a self-centred and ambitious woman, but I know where I stand with her. She has nothing to hide.” I don’t add ‘unlike Angelina.’ “Sophie’s made mistakes, but so have I, and she’s the one I intend to keep by my side when all of this is said and done.”
Jag studies me quietly before clearing his throat. I can sense he disapproves.
“I’m glad I didn’t end Angelina after the wedding. I might have messed up all your schemes,” he says quietly.
