Page 85 of Wedlock
I snort.
“Swear it.”
Wolf walks to stand beside Jag’s side as I glare at both of them.
“Ridiculous,” I mutter. “Very well. I solemnly swear on my name, my house, my titles, that I will not try to bring my wife home against her will or molest her or hers in any way.”
Wolf shrugs and picks up his drink.
“Good enough. Consider it witnessed.”
Jag nods, his eyes not leaving mine.
“She had twins. She left you one, your heir, and she’s living, happily, I believe, with the other.”
I freeze, my drink halfway to my mouth, and stare at him.
Wolf bursts out laughing.
67
I stand in front of her where she sits sipping her green tea near the picture window, watching the valley below, as she customarily has every morning these past three years, and reiterate my extraordinary claim.
“I mean it, Yin. If I lie, I’ll swallow a thousand needles.”
She shakes her head, still disbelieving, and offers her pinky.
“Where did you hear that saying?”
I extend my finger and shake hers, laughing.
“Suzume. She said it when she was trying to convince Talon she wouldn’t eat his birthday cake if he left the room.”
“That little minx,” she laughs, “she knows a pinky promise is binding. She should only make a promise for something really important, not cake.”
“I know,” I laugh, “but to a three-year-old cake is averyimportant thing. Anyhow, the point is, I’m absolutely serious when I tell you that this evening I saw her and Talon flying.”
“I have to see it to believe it,” she rolls her eyes.
“C’mon, then.”
Taking her by the hand I lead her to their bedroom where they lie, their hands entwined, as usual. Only today they’re not stretched out like little starfish in their cot, they’re sound asleep and hovering slightly above the mattress.
Yin gasps.
“I told you I thought I saw Suzume do this when she was just a couple of months old. I convinced myself I was imagining it.”
“I know,” I breathe, “they’re the most amazing little supernatural creatures. Nothing really surprises me anymore. I didn’t think so, anyway, until I saw this.”
“And they can actually fly around?”
“It was clumsy, but they definitely can levitate to reach things, and hover for a while. Suzume’s a little better at it than Talon.
“It’s remarkable,” Yin says, her voice full of wonder. “Why just start doing this now, though?”
I slap my forehead and stare at her.
“Three years!”
