Page 37 of Wedlock

But it’s not Eleanor who glides quietly into my room, her expression imperious and nose turned up in a delicate sneer as I sit up.

“Yes, more than time,” she hisses, “and exactly where you should be.”

My face flushes at her reference to me being on my knees before her in this garishly decorated boudoir. Even if I hadn’t known she was a future queen and sleeping with my husband, it’s not lost on me that I’m at a distinct disadvantage right now, sprawled on the floor wearing a milk-stained t-shirt and sweatpants and, given what had just happened, probably looking like I’ve just been tumble-dried.

I’d only seen her at a distance and in the dark, but she’s even more gorgeous up close.

Still, I’m me again now, not some tongue-tied robo-woman, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let any vampire treat me like shit.

Those days are over.

“The desperate bitch chasing my husband, I presume,” I drawl, rising to my feet and walking towards her. “I would have thought you’d beveryfamiliar with being on your knees.”

A hiss escapes her lips as she narrows her eyes at me, her hands curling into claws.

I don’t know why she’s in my room, or if Falcon knows she’s here, but somehow I doubt that. All I know is that I need to bluff my way out of this confrontation because everything about this woman screams ‘danger, danger, Will Robinson.’

“He’s not going to like it that you’re here, you know,” I shrug as I turn from her, hoping I appear unafraid, although my heart’s racing at the thought that she might very well have permission to be here to suck me dry.

‘And of course, she can hear that.’

“Oh, I don’t think he’ll mind,” she snarls, one hand snaking out to my shoulder and spinning me back to face her.

I stiffen at her assault, but continue my bluff. The only other vampire lady I’d met this close up had been Caroline, and Falcon definitely hadn’t allowed her to touch or threaten me. I feel confident, suddenly, that this woman was somewhere she had no right to be, doing something she was going to get into deep shit for, and she knew it.

“If you know Falcon at all, you’ll know he doesn’t take kindly to anyone manhandling what’s his. And Iamhis.”

“Oh, I know him better than you couldeverpresume to,human. And you won’t be his for long,” she hisses, yanking me close with otherworldly strength, her face inches from my own.

I inadvertently squeak in surprise, much to my own disgust, and she snorts in derision.

“Fuck you,” I snarl, pulling back to stare up into her eyes.

Her laughter rings out across the room, but her grip doesn’t loosen.

“Perhaps in another time, another place,” her mouth quirks into the semblance of a sinister smile as she appears to be actually considering what I’d said.

“Not likely,” I splutter.

Shrugging, she jerks my face to the side and sinks her fangs into my neck.

I struggle, but her bite is so shocking in its intensity, so painful, and her draw on my blood is so strong, that I know I can’t last long. However, at the thought that she’s also likely to do this to my son, I renew my efforts and scream at the top of my lungs. Only, my scream isn’t that loud, definitely not as loud as I’d hoped, and I know these castle walls are thick. I’ve barely taken a breath ready to scream a second time when she gasps and steps away from me, her hand flying to her mouth, her features distorted with a disgusted grimace.

“Ugh!”

Swaying, I reel back from her, but she bounds forward once more, gripping my shoulders, her sharp fingernails digging into my skin as she stares into my eyes as though she’s searching for something.

“This cannot be,” she murmurs.

I gasp and my eyes bulge as her hands suddenly flick from my shoulders to my throat, her long fingers encircling and squeezing.

“Princess!”

The voice cuts across the room like a knife, and the vampire shoves me away as we both spin to face the doorway.

I’ve never been so happy to see Eleanor in my life as she walks to where we stand, her hand extended graciously, her face not showing any recognition of what she’d just witnessed.

“My dear Revna. How wonderful to see you after all this time. I didn’t know you were visiting.”