Page 44 of Wedlock

I clear my throat and look away from her beautiful, intense gaze.

“Angelina.”

“Falcon.”

She nods her head, her eyes drifting to the couch before the fire, and I indicate with my hand for her to sit, my throat thick at the sight of her, the smell of her. It’s been so long since we were alone together in a confined space, just being in her presence is unnerving — there’s so much to say, so much to know.

‘Where to even begin? Why has she come so soon? I need time. Time to process, time to investigate, time to think.’

But she gives me none of that.

“I came to ask you to forgive Jag.”

Snorting, I turn back to the fireplace, my anger so raw, rage so close to the surface, that I fear the outcome if I look at her. She’s not here for me; she’s here for him.

“Of course you did.”

“It’s not like that,” she says quietly. “If he’s the one who killed Viper I owe him my life, and you owe him your title.”

“Iowehim?” I turn back to her, my lip curled in derision at the very thought. “Owe him for what? For cuckolding me and killing my brother? Do you think me so blind,Wife? For once, just tell the truth. You came to ask clemency for his crime because you love him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snaps. “It’s not because I love him, or want him, or ever wanted him. I was under a thrall and forced to sleep with him, Falcon. I want forgiveness for him because it’s the least I can do to make up for what I did to him. I seduced himand made him believe I loved him when all along I knew it was a lie.”

‘So many lies. But where do they begin? Where do they end?’

I grit my teeth. It’s too soon. I can’t have this conversation yet. I’ll kill her.

“You need to leave. Now is not the time,” I spit through gritted teeth.

“Now is the perfect time, before you do something stupid…”

“Stupid?” I shake my head, the words shooting from my lips like venom. “Stupid like marry a human on a game show? Or stupid like trusting my best friend with my wife? Or perhaps stupid like ever listening to my mother when she suggested vampires could have feelings for humans? Which variance of stupid do you think I might like to try next, Angelina? Is there any left you believe me incapable of?”

“Falcon, please. I know you’re probably reeling from…”

“Probably?” I snarl, hurling my glass at the door and shattering the vessel into a million crystal pieces.

She flinches and pales, but stands her ground.

“Definitely then,” she shakes her head. “It’s a lot to take in, I know. But I need your assurance…”

“You’ll get nothing from me.”

“Well that will be a turn-up for the books,” she retorts.

I narrow my eyes at her and turn to pour myself a new drink to try and control myself, my hands shaking in rage.

For a long minute there’s silence, only the drumming of her heart filling the room.

“Is that all you have to say to me?” She eventually whispers. “After everything I’ve suffered? Everything I’ve endured thesepast years? Can’t you even believe for a second that I was under your brother’s thrall?”

I close my eyes, but keep my back to her.

“I accept what you say as truth in this regard. Mother says it’s so. Wolf pointed me in the direction of a note that also corroborates this.”

‘And makes it clear you want to play no part in my life.’

“Then you can’t blame Jag for killing Viper,” she rushes on, “he did it to free you too, Falcon.”