Page 23 of Wedlock
But it felt good.
Pulling out my phone, I dial the Danish royal palace.
19
I try to act nonchalant as Eleanor pours the tea, but inside I’m hopping up and down waiting for her verdict.
It’s been days since I’ve asked, and I haven’t wanted to seem too keen, but there’s been a strange pall over the castle with people coming and going, and strained looks between the staff I’d glimpsed from my window as they’d hurried through the grounds.
In my desperation to try and figure out what the issue is I hopped into Viper’s head again last night. He’s still far away, but he seemed disgruntled and I got the impression he had plans to return. I sure as hell don’t want to be here when that happens.And after seeing Falcon so nonchalantly killing a woman right after he’d fucked her literally across the hall from where he’d installed me, I’m even more eager to leave. He’s clearly getting over me far quicker than Eleanor suggested, and I don’t want to hang around to see how that plays out.
‘Or to see him sleep with anyone else.’
“Eleanor, have you decided whether I can walk in the gardens?
“Mmmm?” She looks up, her expression distracted.
“The gardens. Can I walk with Asumpta in the gardens?”
She shakes her head.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to ask Falcon yet.”
“Could you ask him tonight?”
“Unlikely,” she murmurs.
I notice her expression is pained as she says this.
“Is something wrong?”
“Wrong?”
She frowns and looks at me as though I’m an imbecile.
“Angelina, believe it or not, I am not your errand girl and you are not staying in a five-star hotel. This is my son’s castle, and you are my son’s prisoner.”
“No shit,” I snort. You’d think I would have figured that out, given my door is always locked!”
She sighs heavily.
“I’ve already told you your fate. Falcon said no one can know you’re here, and anyone who does thinks you’re suffering severe depression so terrifying that you have to be curtailed lest you take your own life. Do you understand the ramifications if word got out to The Families that this is not the case?”
“Ramifications for who?” I spit. “Because as far as I can see I’m royally fucked whether I play nice or cut your throat this instant.”
Eleanor leans back and meets my eyes. Mine are hard, hers, speculative.
“Don’t panic,” I snort, pulling aside my shirt and offering the fussing baby a breast. “I couldn’t kill anyone in The Games, and I certainly can’t in real life. But my point is, I haven’t done anything irrational, but that’s not to say I won’t. What I’ve asked for is just to walk in the gardens. I’m going stir-crazy in here. At least let me get a little fresh air.”
“If you’re seen by anyone their life is forfeit,” she says, her eyes meeting mine. “Is that a burden you’re prepared to accept?”
I frown. After causing the mistress to be murdered I sincerely have no intention of being seen by anyone other than a certain cutthroat procurement officer with a penchant for death threats and a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a risk I was prepared to take. People are going to die whether I’m seen or not — and I don’t want those people to be me or my baby. So, yeah, if someone sees me and forfeits their life, so be it.
“Yes.”
“You’ve changed,” she murmurs, rising and turning to leave. “You won’t be leaving these rooms, Angelina. As for your threats to cut my throat…should you do so you’ll lose the only ally you have in this castle.”
She shuts the door firmly behind her before I can reply.
