Page 124 of Wedlock

Watch this space, Dear Spider Mother.

97

Yin kneels on the helipad before me, her head bowed. The rotors, although some distance away, swirl and whip our hair around our faces, stinging our eyes and making it impossible to know if the tears are real or a result of the pain.

For me, they’re real, but her leaving with the twins right now is the best solution I can come up with.

“Yin, stand up. You know this isn’t a punishment. I just can’t see any other way forward at this point.”

She stays down, but I can hear what she’s saying.

“We love who we love,” she says quietly, “you with your vampire, and me with Phil. I wish it were otherwise.”

“The difference is,” I sigh, leaning down and pulling her to her feet, “that you won’t be with Phil for what he did to you in the past, but I’m weak. I want to be with Falcon, even though it can never be.”

“You’re not weak. You know what you have to do, and I believe in you. I should never have agreed to Phil’s plan. Sneaking behind your back to try and assassinate Falcon was the most desperate and terrible thing I’ve ever done. Perhaps when we see each other next, you’ll be able to forgive me.”

“I already forgive you, but like I said, I need to work this out for myself. You just look after the twins and be there for Phil.”

“The doctors aren’t confident they can save him.”

I say nothing. In my heart, I hope he dies. For Yin’s sake I hope he doesn’t. I guess this is exactly how she feels about Falcon.

“Either way,” she sighs, “we both have decisions before us...”

“Because you don’t trust that Falcon won’t just kidnap Talon, or me, or both of us,” I finish for her.

“Yes,” she looks me in the eye, her own now determined. “I don’t trust that he won’t do that when his mother,ifhis mother, tells him why it’s important he has flying kids. If you can find that information out from him before you dump his ass, that will be helpful. I also don’t trust that the Princess won’t try to end you again. I don’t, for one minute, think she’ll reveal your heritage to The Families. That would put an end to her plan to marry Falcon for good. She’ll stop at nothing to finish you.”

“And I don’t trust thatyouwon’t take matters into your own hands again and try to finish Falcon.”

“You’ve lost all faith in me,” she moans.

“No, but love makes us do crazy shit,” I laugh gently, “and you love the children.”

“As I love you,” she says gently.

“I know,” I sigh. “that’s why you need to trust me. Concentrate on your own needs for once, be there for Phil.”

“I’ll stay by his side until the end. As he was airlifted out he whispered to me that he had to tell me something. Hopefully he’s cognizant enough to follow through on that promise. I’ll find out what I can; you do the same.”

“I will, then I’ll end things withhimtonight, Yin.”

“When that’s happened, whether tonight, tomorrow night, a month from now,” she squeezes my hands between her own, “then you know where to find us.”

Turning, she makes for the chopper and I watch as they take off.

I’ve already said my long, sad goodbyes to the children. I told them I wouldn’t be far behind them and I intend to keep my promise.

As for Yin’s strength in being able to accept that she can never be with the man she loves, I only hope that one day I might be as strong. Now she’s gone I can’t lean on her resolve to bolster my own; I have to rely on myself.

As their chopper recedes into the distance, another appears on the horizon, and I take a deep breath.

As it lands and he steps out I can’t help admiring him. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, and it breaks my heart that we can’t be together.

“Angie.”

“Falcon.”