Page 45 of Hupotasso

“Oh, spare me,” Angie rolls her eyes.

Moving to the wall I ring the bell for the staff before carrying Sophie to the bed.

“Get out,” I flick my head at Angie, indicating the door.

“Get fucked,” she snarls, turning on her heel.

‘Still full of fire.’

Sophie begins to cry and screech, and I make a hasty retreat as the medical staff run in, the doctor at the helm.

Following my nose, I stalk the hallways after Angelina. I’d dearly like to thrash her for her insubordination, but I know where that will lead, and I’m not going there tonight. I don’t know how she got keys to this wing, but she’s obviously been exploring. Her scent is all over the place.

Eventually I find her in the library.

“Does she know?” She chokes when I walk in, closing the door firmly behind me so that I don’t have to hear Sophie’s screams.

“Of what?”

“Of all the others.”

“Others?”

I know who she’s referring to, but I choose to pretend ignorance to see how this plays out. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was jealous. But I know that can’t be the case. Her professed feelings for me were never honest.

“Don’t play stupid with me, Falcon. I knocked on two other doors and each was opened by a different woman. Does Sophie, your futurewife,know about all your other women?”

“Of course,” I snort.

“And she doesn’t mind?”

“Why would she mind?”

“Oh my fucking god,” she groans, rubbing her hands over her face and turning away from me. “This world, your world…”

“A world you fought hard to become a part of,” I snigger.

“This world,” she spins back to me. “I won’t allow a child of mine to be raised in it.”

“It won’t be,” I snap.

Her face pales.

“What?”

I turn on my heel to leave. I’ve said too much.

“You can spend time here in this room if you choose,” I add over my shoulder. “Explore the castle if you must. But apart from the library, stay out of the North Wing.”

“I’ll go wherever I can, whenever I can,” she hisses.

I turn back to face her. She’s backlit by the fire; her hair awry in a halo of curls making her appear as some kind of fire sprite emerged from the flames. I can’t help but admire her, standing so angry and defiant and radiating indignant wrath.

“Angelina, I know you spend time in the kitchens. I haven’t done anything to stop that, but push me, and I will.”

“How do you know that?”

“I was informed you raid Jag’s sweets cupboard.”