Page 11 of Wedlock

“Then,” I sigh, frowning as I try to think through my options. “I’d like you to pass a message on to him.”

“What message?” She asks quietly, her eyes flashing a warning and reminding me that I need to be very careful what I say next.

“I want him to visit my brother,” I whisper as my hand flies to my throat and I gasp for breath.

“Are you unwell?” She frowns, placing the baby to her shoulder and standing.

“No,” I squeak, “just, ah,” I smile weakly, “perhaps I need to lie down.”

“Perhaps you do,” she says, her expression puzzled as she studies my eyes. “I’ll carry Tiger.”

I nod and rise, my breath now coming easily as the forbidden topic is abandoned.

When I’m settled on the bed Eleanor hands me the baby and stares down at us.

“You want Jaguar to visit your brother?”

I nod, not daring to try to speak.

“Why?”

“I just,” I lie quickly, “want my family to know that everything is OK. They have no links to the Court or the paparazzi, they’ll never let anyone know I’m here — please?”

Her expression hardens, and I knowI need to work another angle.

“I accept that you don’t want anything done that might jeopardise Falcon’s plans for the future. I’m not asking you to tell them specifics. I just need them to know that they shouldn’t worry.”

“I can send a message to your family,” she says as she turns to leave.

“No!”

She spins back and stares at me.

“Uh, they won’t believe anyone but Jag. My brother liked him when he met him here during The Games. He trusts him. Please, if you can get a message to Jag, it’s a small ask.”

I can see she’s not convinced by my argument, but whatever she’s going to say, she changes her mind.

“I’ll consider it,” she murmurs as she makes for the door.

“Eleanor,” I call as she walks away. She pauses but doesn’t turn back, and I rush on. “I know Jag feels terrible about what happened. He told me so on the way to the castle. He delivered me personally to Falcon, even though he didn’t have to, because he recognised Falcon’s feelings for me and didn’t want to come between us. I know he’ll want to make up for what happened inany way he can. He’ll do whatever you ask — deliver any message you ask.”

She nods briskly and keeps walking.

When she’s gone I turn to my baby and run my hands through his dark hair, so like his father’s.

“If Uncle Adam can pass my message onto Jag we might just get out of here alive, my boy,” I whisper. “And if not, Plan B.”

I don’t bother trying to enunciate Plan B to my infant because I’m still working on it. Viper’s control means I can’t attempt escape, but that doesn’t mean I can’t think about it. I’ve come up with numerous scenarios, too many to count, but the one common denominator in all of them requires the help of a vampire.

The only thing is, there’s only one vampire in this castle who I know — and she spends her time in the kitchens.

10

Wolf clears his throat as he plots his travel plans on his map, just as he has for the past several days, and looks up at me where I loll, half pissed on his couch, still hiding from my responsibilities and nursing something I never thought I’d ever have — a broken heart.

“You know, Falcon, maybe you should go visit Princess Revna. It’s been, what, two centuries? I hear she’s still single, still waiting for you. Why not give her another whirl? Perhaps your old love will help assuage the pain of your new — and if not offer a solution, at the very least offer a distraction.”

“You really do hate me, don’t you?” I snort, shaking my head at the notion I would visit my first love, the vampire princess, Revna — someone I’d parted with centuries ago and hadn’t thought of in decades.