Page 48 of Wedlock

“That’s why I stay away from them,” he smirks, “mostly.”

I laugh, because we both know that’s bullshit.

My laughter comes to an abrupt halt at the sharp, familiar rap on the door.

“Enter.”

Mother swans in, resplendent in all her court regalia, her expression worried, and I roll my eyes.

“Now what?”

“Viper’s body can be found on the Dartlore Estate.”

“Spider’s estate? You’re sure?”

“Yes,” she nods. “My Court informant is certain that’s where he was last.”

“Doing what?”

“I have no idea,” she says, turning away from me. “Although,” she adds in a casual tone, “if he was in league with Spider, as Angie asserts, this would make sense.”

I frown at her manner; clearly shedoesknow more than she’s saying, but if her source doesn’t want her to reveal anything else, then so be it. She and I both know that information coming from the palace could only be coming from one vampire, and neither of us can afford to compromise my half-sister at this stage, especially given the new information Revna had passed on about the Queen’s interference in my affairs. The more inside information we’re privy to, the better.

“Or he could have been a prisoner again,” I scowl. “If he’s there this changes everything.”

I shake my head and begin a text.

“How so?” Mother asks.

I don’t look up from my phone as I answer.

“IfSpiderkilled Viper it means Jaguar is telling the truth, in this regard at least, and I no longer need to seek him out and claim vengeance in my brother’s name.”

‘But it also means Angie is wrong. Viper was never aligned with Spider. God, I hope she’s wrong. But if this is so, why did he place her in a thrall? Was he acting alone to undermine me? Was it just another of his foul little games? Questions upon questions…and no best friend to bounce my ideas off and help me gain perspective. Only Mother, who has her own agenda, and Wolf, who’s hardly known for his wise counsel.’

Mother interrupts my texting.

“Pardon? I seem to be missing something. You’ve heard from Jag?”

I look up at the hopeful and pleased tone in her voice.

“If by ‘heard’ you mean had messages passed on by Wolf, then yes,” I mutter.

“Wolf?” Mother turns to him where he lounges by the bar in the corner of my library.

He shrugs as he pours himself another drink.

“Jag said he didn’t kill Viper. He learned about his death after you did. I passed that onto Falcon, but he didn’t believe it.”

“Until now,” I shrug.

“There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to visit Spider’s estate and see if Viper’s body is there,” Wolf says dryly.

“Send your men, darling,” Mother says quietly. “There’s no need for you to go all that way yourself.”

“No,” I shake my head as I finish the text to my driver, ordering him to bring my car around. “I’ll go alone and on the quiet. No one need know I was there. If Viper’s there, I’ll find him. If not, then the truth will out.”

“I’ll come too,” Wolf offers.