Page 67 of Wedlock

“You’re dismissed.”

50

“She completely threw you under the bus, darling,” Revna bemoans as she studies her nails before looking up and staring mournfully at me through the bars. “I’m afraid your little human wife has sealed your fate.”

I remain seated on my rock bed as I study her, knowing that it annoys her that I’m not obsequiously fawning over her and thanking her for bestowing a visit upon me in the dungeons. She and I both know she’s here for a reason, and today that reason is that she’s hoping to secure my engagement and turn me against Angie in order to get the go-ahead to murder my wife.

“And you know,” she murmurs, “strictly speaking, the Queen should have had her executed, or at the very least jailed.”

“How so?” I drawl.

“Well, her royal missive to you the last time you broke into Spider’s castle said that you’d lose your title and head, as would your family, if any violence fell upon the Count’s household. Technically, by extension, that means your wife and children.”

“I have not been proven guilty of any violence against Spider’s house,” I glare at her.

“Not yet,” she says, shaking her head in mock sadness.

I snigger at her expression. She was never a very good actress, but her visit assures me of one thing; at the very least I can rest easy for the moment knowing she won’t overstep and attack my wife without my consent. Dumping her over her last attempt must have made an impact. The Queen choosing not to act against Angie also stills Revna’s hand for the time being. And if Revna thinks telling me that my wife has been to Court will make me angry enough to agree to her removal, she’s entirely wrong. For Angie to have visited and pleaded my case means she still cares for me. If she didn’t she wouldn’t have bothered. It’s the first sign I’ve had since The Games that she might not hate me, and it gives me hope.

“Revna,” I sigh, “if Angie visited the Court to see the Queen I would very much like to know, without your commentary, what was said. If you can’t do me that courtesy, run along.”

“La,” she wrinkles her nose, “you anger me so, Falco.”

“The feeling is mutual, Princess.”

“Very well,” she snaps. “The little redhead beast you married said you were in love with Spider’s wife, that the Countess was carrying your baby and you planned to kill your Games bride at your earliest convenience and remarry, claiming Sophie’s child as your heir.”

I shake my head slowly as I consider her words.

Everything Angie had recounted was as she would have understood it. No doubt she’d thought to convince the Queen I cared for Sophie and therefore wouldn’t have murdered her.

“Naturally,” Revna goes on, “I know this can’t be true, because you were betrothed to me, but this prompted my aunt to reach the conclusion that you are following in your father’s footsteps.”

“How so?” I frown, ignoring her suggestion that she and I were engaged.

“Your father was in love with the former Count’s wife, and he killed her. You were in love with the current Count’s wife, and you killed her.”

‘Jesus fucking Christ.’

“Did you do this for me, Falco?” She simpers. “Did you destroy this human because you had feelings for her?”

“Revna,” I scowl, looking back up at her. “Why the fuck would I do that? Make some sense for Christ’s sake.”

“Isn’t it obvious? You were clearing the path to marry me, ensuring there were no bastards and no scandal following you for when you become my king consort.”

“Revna,” I sigh. “I never loved Sophie, and I sure as shit have never given a fuck about scandal. So, no, you’re totally off the mark there.”

“I choose to believe you did it for me,” she sniffs.

“Revna, I didn’tdoit. And in case you’ve forgotten, the last time we spoke I told you I can’t marry you. As for scandal, if that concerns you then surely the fact I’m in the royal dungeons is disgrace enough for you to run to the hills? I could be here for decades until the case is built well enough for a trial.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” she smiles sweetly, “because, you know, I can make all of this go away.”

I look up at her sharply and realise, once again, that I’ve underestimated the lengths she’ll go to in order to get what she wants.

‘Did she engineer this whole arrest?’

“Revna,” I growl, “if I find you’re behind any of this…”