Page 84 of Wedlock
“Your word? What the hell is that worth?”
“Falcon,” Wolf shakes his head, “that isn’t helpful.”
“Helpful?” I snarl. “The whole point of his coming here today was to tell me where my wife is. That would be fuckinghelpful.”
“No,” Jag shakes his head. “The point was to tell you she’s safe and doesn’t want to be found.”
“By me?”
“By any vampire.”
“Fuck you, Jag. Areyouseeing her? Is that what this is about?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he sighs, “and take your finger out of my face before I fucking snap it off.”
We stand face to face for a long minute before Wolf interjects.
“Either kiss and get it over with or kill one another,” he drawls, “but stop your bullshit, please.”
I step back, sneering at my former best friend as he shakes his head at me.
“I’ve told you she doesn’t have feelings for me. I’ve told you sleeping with her was a mistake, and I’ve apologised countless times for what I did. I came to you today to set your mind at ease over her safety, nothing more.”
“Sure,” I snarl, “and I’m to believe your word.”
He snorts.
“As I’m to believe yours that if you knew where she was you wouldn’t hunt her?”
“When has my word, my honour, ever been in question?” I hiss.
He has the grace, at least, to look abashed.
“I apologise,” he sighs, “you have never disgraced your name or honour.”
“That’s right,” I snarl.
“But if you don’t want her back, Falcon, why do you want to know where she is?” Wolf shrugs. “What’s the point?”
“He wants to know because he still loves her,” Jag murmurs, “obviously.”
I shake my head. It’s true I yearn for her still, but as Wolf previously pointed out, I’m yearning for an illusion. I didn’t really know her at all.
“I thought I did,” I shrug, turning for the bar. “But the wife I sought was to be a good mother. I didn’t care if she was ruthless in any other regard, or had no feelings for me, but she sure as shit needed to be protective of our future children. I thought I’d found that…”
“I can’t tell you where she is,” Jag says quietly. “But on that score, I can ease your heart.”
“How so?” Wolf chortles, “and if so, please do, I’m sick to death of his depressing monologues on this matter.”
“Perhaps you wouldn’t be sick of it if you absented yourself for a while,” I snap, “in case you haven’t noticed, my heir is sickening day by day and is bereft of the care and love of the woman who birthed him. I’m sorry if my lamenting of this fact is boring you, Count Mandraken.”
“Settle down,” Wolf frowns, “you know that’s not what I meant. Tell him what you know, Jag, and be done with it.”
“Do I have your solemn oath you won’t try to bring her back here, or molest her and hers in any way, no matter what I tell you?” Jag’s expression is dark as he barks his question.
“You do.”
“Swear it. Before a witness.”
