Page 114 of Wedlock

“You were in a deep fugue for years, let all your responsibilities slip, wouldn’t have anything to do with your dying son. Then you see Angie and tell her you know about the twins — thanks for that by the way — and subsequently break your oath and selfishly pursue her instead of taking on the duty of ensuring the bitch who poisoned your son and wants your wife dead is destroyed. Have I missed anything?”

I stare at him, breathing hard and trying to control my urge to punch him in the face.

But I was never very good at controlling my urges.

91

“I do,” I bow my head at my shameful answer to my mom’s question. “I’ve tried not to, God knows I have enough reasons not to, but I do still love him, Mom.”

“Not Jag? You’re sure? Because darling, he’s head over heels for you.”

“I know,” I sigh heavily, “but it’s not Jag.”

“Falcon, despite it all?” She shakes her head. “Oh, honey.”

“Yes, despite it all. He’s changed, though, Mom. He’s not the vampire he was, the one portrayed on television, the one I married. Or maybe, I don’t know, maybe the qualities that Ioriginally saw in him are more out in the open now. But we can’t ever be together,” I whisper. “You know why.”

“You say he’s changed?” She frowns. “How do you know he won’t understand if you tell him the truth?”

I shake my head and continue staring down at my hands.

“He’s still a vampire, Mom, still bound by their laws and lore. Even if I could trust him to know the truth about his children, there are powers beyond him that would take over. His mother made it clear that if Tiger had died, Talon and I would have been dragged back.”

“His mother?” She murmurs.

“Yes. And she’s not the only one. I’m sure Jag told you there’s a princess who wants to marry Falcon, and someone who poisoned Tiger…”

“It sounds to me,” she sighs, “like that’s part and parcel of the world you entered when you went onto that terrible show, love.”

“Yes, but who would have known that the royals are so corrupt and disgusting, that there’s so much evil in their world. How could I ever bring up my babies in such an environment?”

“Honey,” Mom places both hands on my cheeks and raises my tear-stained face to hers. “Your babies are vampires. They belong in that world. And as much as I hate to say it, you do too now.”

I shake my head.

“They have each other,” I sniff, smiling hopefully at Mom.

“That won’t always be enough,” she says sadly. “As you know only too well.”

I look into her sorrowful eyes. She’s right, deep down, I’ve always known this. My twin and I led our own lives, even though I tried to keep him away from the life that eventually killedhim: the drugs, the criminals he associated with. We were very different to one another, just as Talon and Suzume are different. My brother and I needed more than each other, and one day, my children will need more, too.”

“I know you’re right, Mom. Yin and I have gone round in circles about how best to protect the children from other vampires. Yet the reality is that my kids are immortal, and I’m not. However much I might hope for it, my world isn’t theirs. I keep thinking that if I want to remain in their lives, I might have to step back intotheirworld.”

“I wish I could give you advice, darling, but only you can decide on your future, and theirs.”

“I don’t know what to do,” I whisper.

“You’ll do the right thing,” Mom smiles gently and pulls me into a hug. “You always do. You’ve changed, you’re not the girl you were before, you’reLadyDragonspurnow. Surely, if you’ve learned anything from all this, it’s that you can’t run from your problems?”

“Yeah,” I laugh, “I’ve sure as shit learnt that. Talk about frying pan to fire.”

‘After all, I’d run from a bad teaching job into the world of the supernatural. What an idiot!’

“Yes,” she smiles, “but out of that came your babies.”

“I wouldn’t trade them for anything,” I nod.

“And if you truly do love that vampire of yours, then like any marriage, you’re going to have to face all your demons together. Love usually finds a way.”