Page 31 of Wedlock
“What do you really want, Angelina?”
“I want to know why vampire lore maintains that women have to breastfeed their baby vampires for three years. I also want to know if that is null and void if Falcon marries the Princess. I’mguessing I’ll be excess to requirements and the title will be given to Viper?”
‘And how far-reaching are Viper and Spider’s goals? Was this planned all along? Shit, could he have known Falcon would go back to the Princess? No. Oh, God! Maybe. Tell me I haven’t been a pawn in such a long game that it’s been planned for centuries.’
Asumpta snorts.
“There’s so much you don’t know, you stupid human. But yes, if Falcon marries, then he and the Princess will have pure vampire babies. The Families don’t need humans to breed. If you kill yourself, and your baby, that neatly ties up a little mess Falcon wished he hadn’t stepped in, clearing the way for him to wed into the old bloodlines and for Viper to take the Dragonspur seat.”
“Right,” I nod slowly, my mind racing.
‘Except I don’t think he’ll pass the seat onto Viper, princess or no princess. It’s just a feeling, but he’s always been clear that he wants his title and seat to be secure, and he knows Viper will gamble away the lot…Then again, what do I really know? Nothing. Asumpta’s right, I literally reel from one disclosure to the next with these bloody vampires.’
So far, though, she hadn’t told me anything I didn’t know, although I’d forgotten that The Families, Kings and Queens, could have babies without humans. At the back of my mind this rings a bell as being particularly important, but I can’t think why just now, I’m too focused on my escape plans.
“So then,” I shrug, “if we assume you’re right and Viper inherits the title, it wouldn’t matter if I left the castle. If the world thought I was dead I could disappear with my baby and that would pave the way for everyone to live happily ever after.”
“You and your Jaguar?” She sniggers.
“No,” I shake my head, “I think you know,” I place my hand to my throat as the thrall kicks in, “I didn’t want that.”
My eyes widen as I gulp for air, and I sway from lack of oxygen as the last words leave my mouth.
“You’ve said enough,” she snorts. “Either way, you aren’t fit to sully the bottom of his boots. Even if you could escape, I wouldn’t help you.”
As she says this I suddenly get a revelation. There’s a reason she was always in the kitchen when he was here, always hanging around when we were cooking, always watching.
“You love him!” I gasp. “You’re in love with Jag.”
I squeak and stagger as she bounds over in one big leap and puts her sword to my throat.
I hadn’t even seen her coming; she wasthatfast.
“You shut your mouth,” she snarls, her face so close to mine her nose is almost touching my own.
“That’s why,” I go on, swallowing hard as the edge of the blade stings a line across my larynx, “that’s why you went against Viper and revealed he was the one who invited Tatyana here. You were pissed because he was going to make me…make Jag…”
“I said,” she hisses, “shut your fucking mouth.”
Staring into her eyes I can see I’ve gone too far, and I nod my capitulation.
Pulling away, she stalks to the other side of the room, sheathing her swords. I imagine she’s trying to stop herself from doing something out of control, like cutting my throat. I remind myself that her half-brother also has an anger problem, and I should ease up a bit. But I don’t have the luxury of time, and she should know that I don’t do what I’m told ninety per cent of the time. IfI’d followed her original orders I’d never have come back to the kitchens after my first visit.
‘So, she knew I was under a thrall and she supported what Viper was doing, but she didn’t know everything Viper planned…’
“I’ll bet you didn’t know about his plans for Eleanor,” I murmur. “You wouldn’t have thought he’d allow an assassin to kill her, and you couldn’t condone that. Still, you were in too deep.”
I don’t add that if she’s in league with Viper she must surely also be in league with Spider. This was something Yin and I had already deduced, but just how deep her connection was withthatroyal house is anyone’s guess.
“I’ll bet you don’t trust him now, whatever he’s promised,” I add, “you’d be a fool to do so.”
“Why is your mouth still opening and closing?” She whispers, her tone murderous.
“I have one more question.”
“Ask what you want to know and leave before I kill you,” she hisses.
I nod. I know well enough when I’ve pushed a Dragonspur too far, even a bastard Dragonspur.
