Page 29 of Wedlock

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t she let you know when she was pregnant and no longer held under thrall?”

“I don’t know,” I mutter, “but this is just another reason why it makes no sense.”

I don’t add that she was on the run from me while she was pregnant because I’d tried to bite her and put her undermythrall, and then moved to kill her. Or that if what Wolf believes is true and Viper was undermining my house for years in league with Spider, that this is exactly the kind of vengeance she probably believed I deserved for the way I’d treated her since the day we married. What’s the point? That’s all water under the bridge.

“You said Wolf was on his way?”

“He is. Although I must warn you, he believes Jaguar.”

“It will be good for you to have him here,” she murmurs, her expression distracted. “I hope you find your brother soon. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that Jaguar is the best tracker in history.”

“I’m aware of that,” I snap. “And where are you going?”

“I need to see Angelina. I expect you’ll want to question her too.”

“No point,” I shrug. “If she were under a thrall you know as well as I do that she couldn’t admit it.”

She frowns and nods, but keeps walking.

“Mother,” I call as she reaches the door, “don’t leave the castle, please.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, darling.”

I scowl and down my drink.

The way she’d said that was not at all convincing.

25

I make my way quickly and stealthily along the castle corridors towards the kitchens.

It’s a long way, deep beneath the West Wing where I’d first been confined after my marriage, but I roughly know how to get there from the North Wing, having studied the layout of this castle in several books when I had access to the library before Viper bit me. The only thing is that I don’t know what lies between me and my goal. For all I know, there could be a ballroom or a bear pit. The old castle plans I’d seen were drawn in the 1200’s. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed that there are the usual long hallways and closed doors, and that the staff are too busy to be just roaming around. I’ve already had to dodge a couple of maids, which had caused me to become lost and wander downlong corridors that ended in dead ends or rarely used rooms. This place is vast. As I finally see some familiar art I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m almost there. If I’m right, the giant double doors I’m hoping to see should be just around the corner.

I speed on, but gasp and quickly duck behind one of the many suits of armour on display in this hall as Eleanor rounds the corner from the opposite direction.

‘Oh fuck!’

Heart in mouth, I wait to see if she’d noticed me, but apparently she’s so distracted and hell-bent on quick-marching to the kitchens that I’ve managed to remain undetected.

‘What could she possibly be doing down here? And why’s she in such a rush?’

Even as I ask myself this I know it’s a silly question. The bastard twins, Attracta and Asumpta, had been installed down here as babies after she’d saved their lives. She most probably visited often. Still, if she’s down here now to see Asumpta, I’d love to be a fly on the wall. With all the commotion in the castle, Eleanor’s distracted looks, and Falcon walking around in daylight, it’s obvious that something is definitely wrong. Like me, perhaps Eleanor believes Asumpta might have some answers.

Biting my lip, my legs trembling, I look both ways along the hall before creeping out from my hiding place and heading towards the kitchen doors. They’re thick and huge, but I know one is usually left open to allow the staff to walk through carrying food and plates with ease. As I get closer I grimace as I see this is not the case today, they’re both closed, but one is slightly, ever so slightly, ajar.

Pressing my ear to the door, I put one hand over my mouth and pray Asumpta’s vampire ears don’t pick up on my racing heartand hitched breaths, as I strain to hear her murmured response to something Eleanor must have said before I reached the doors.

“And you know this, how?”

“Falcon just told me,” Eleanor says quietly. “Jag has been informed that Viper bit Angelina and has held her under a thrall. He’s vowed to hunt down and kill Viper.”

I almost do a little dance on the spot.

‘Thank fuck!The truth is finally coming out.’

“If Jag’s chasing him, he’ll find him,” Asumpta says in a bored tone.