Page 129 of Wedlock

“It won’t make a difference,” I groan.

“I need to know.”

“Yes,” I shake my head, tears now running unchecked as I reach forward and place my hands on either side of his earnest face. “I do love you, Falcon. But I can never,never, be your wife again.”

“You still fear me,” he groans, “after all I’ve said and done, you still fear I’ll bite you and put you under a thrall. You fear I’ll be a bad influence on our boys, that I’ll become my father.”

“It’s not that,” I whisper.

He rises to his feet and stares down at me, his eyes full of sorrow.

“And perhaps you’re right to fear. Perhaps I am he, title or no. I still have his blood coursing through my veins.”

“No,” I shake my head, sniffing back more tears, and rising to stand before him, taking both his hands in mine, lending strength to both of us. “You’ll never be that, Falcon.”

“Then what? If you don’t fear me, if you accept I love you. Why?”

I whisper the words, my heart breaking as he crushes me to his chest, where I wish I could stay forever.

“I fear your mother.”

100

All the way back to my castle I rehearse what I’m going to say to the woman who birthed me, the woman who claims she loves me more than anything on earth, yet is somehow responsible for placing such fear into the heart of my wife that she has vowed never to return to me.

After Angie’s admission I’d held her closely, waiting for her body to stop trembling, my fangs descending of their own accord at the thought that anyone, anywhere, could make the woman I love fear as she does. I’d demanded she give me answers, threatened, cajoled and even resorted to shaking her until her teeth rattled.

Finally, I’d had to walk away, lest I give in to my base desire to spank the information out of her and fuck her into submission.

When I’d returned, I’d apologised and left, but not before securing her promise to give me time to consider her offer regarding my boy, and to talk to Mother. Of course, I use the term ‘talk’ loosely; we’ve talked enough, and every word has obviously been a lie. I trust Angie’s feelings for me now; I trust her fear must have some real basis, and I aim to get to the bottom of it once and for all. Tonight, if I can’t trick the information out of Mother, I’ll force it out, one bloody drop at a time.

Now, entering her room without knocking, I find her where I usually do, sitting in her study, sipping tea.

“Falcon, darling,” she places her teacup down carefully, her face serene.

I can hear her heartbeat; she’s not as calm as she’s acting.

“Mother, I came to tell you what I’ve decided to do about Angie and Revna.”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to do what my father could not. I’m not going to imprison Angie here again. I’m going to sacrifice myself to the Princess so my wife and children can be free, finally, and no longer live in fear. I’ll dissolve my title and send Tiger to live with his mother and twin.”

“Oh, Dear God,” she whispers. “This? This is your solution?”

“I accept the fact I’ll be a template or whatever the fuck it is you called it. I no longer care. If I can’t have the woman I love, then I don’t want to wander this earth with a broken heart for all eternity. Better I forget all I am, and once was, for good.”

“You can’t be serious,” she whispers.

“I’ve never been more so.”

“Falcon, you can’t. Please, you can’t do this.”

“I can, Mother, and I will. It seems I can’t trust anyone. I’ve lost all faith in my own kind and in humankind. What do I have to live for?”

“You can trust me. You can trustme, darling.”

“No,” I sigh. “I don’t believe I can, Mother. You see, I know there are still secrets you’re keeping from me, and I’m absolutely fucking over reeling from one to the next. You said there were no more, but there’s something you’re holding back, many things you’re holding back.