Page 38 of Wedlock

The royal before me has the grace to blush as she flicks a quick look at me before taking Eleanor’s hand in her own and pressing it gently.

“My dear Lady Dragonspur,” she murmurs, “I only arrived an hour ago. I do apologise for not seeking you out; it’s unpardonable.”

Leaning down, my hands on my knees, I fill my lungs with air as I try to catch my breath — she’d squeezed my throat so hard it was almost as if I could still feel her long, cold fingers upon me. I imagine it wouldn’t have taken her another second and she would have snapped my neck. Right now, though, I’m the last thing on her mind as she and Eleanor ignore me and continue their verbal dance.

I know Eleanor disapproves of this woman, and it seems the Princess is well aware of this, but as per usual with these royals, everything is artifice and politeness on the surface, while underneath they scratch each other’s eyes out.

‘I’d like to put a stake between those eyes.’

“Not at all, Princess,” Eleanor croons, “it appears you’ve met thenewLady Dragonspur, although I’m sure you were unaware she’s meant to be resting with the baby right now.”

“Yes, of course, I apologised most profusely. I was dying to meet her and expected she kept our hours.”

“Childbirth is quite taxing,” Eleanor smiles, her voice dripping with fake warmth, “and babies keep odd hours the first few months. Something I’m sure you’ll understand one day. But, how remiss of me to keep you standing here when you’ve just travelled such a distance. You must be famished. Dinner will beserved shortly. I’m sure you’d like to freshen up before joining me.”

The subtext here is clear: get out, meet me for dinner whether you like it or not. But the Princess, caught trespassing and on the verge of eating another royal, albeit a human one who’s in the way of her plans, can hardly do otherwise.

She nods and gives a strained smile to Eleanor before heading for the door.

When she’s gone I let out a huge breath of relief and turn wide eyes to Eleanor.

“Fuck me,” I breathe, “that was close.”

“Is the baby unharmed?”

She runs to the bed and picks up my son.

I stand, pale, my hand to my neck where blood is beginning to trickle from the Princess’ bite, my heart still beating in overdrive at how close I’d come to death.

“You’ve been gone six days,” I spit as I stare at her back. “And I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

She turns and shakes her head.

“I can see you’re fine, and you’re welcome.”

Holding the baby up to her face and kissing his cheeks and forehead, she closes her eyes briefly before looking back at me.

“Angelina, I’m sorry. I should have visited sooner. I’ve been tied up trying to mitigate, ah, something.

“Too little, too late,” I snap. “And I know what you’re trying tomitigate.”

“You do?”

Her eyes search mine, and I can’t help but growl as I stride over and take my boy from her. She obviously doesn’t know what todo about the situation her family is in, but I want to toy with her a little bit before I put her out of her misery. She could have come to me at any time during the past six days and told me what she knew. She could have, at the very least, comforted me and told me what she was doing to confirm the rumour of Viper’s bite and how she would free me if it were true.

But she hadn’t.

Instead she’d left me here in this hellish room suffering under the thrall of a monster, alone. I have no idea if she plans to cover up the whole thing or actually do something to help me. With each passing day, I think the former. But now, the tables have turned and I know something she doesn’t. I could soothe all her worries right now and tell her what’s happened. I could…

‘I owe this bitch nothing.’

“I saw the Princess arrive and I figured she’s trying to get Falcon to kill me and the baby so she can marry him. Thisiswhat you’re trying tomitigate,isn’t it?”

Her shoulders slump and she looks away from me again, back to the sleeping child in my arms.

“Yes, this is what I mean,” she sighs. “Although I had no idea she’d overstep the mark so far and move to destroy you herself. When Falcon hears of this his view of her might change.”

I can’t help but notice she seems pleased about this.