Page 82 of Wedlock

“Come now,” Wolf shakes his head. “I thought having your mother home would have helped assuage this melancholy. It’s been months.”

Taking my hands from my face, I sigh.

“Yes, her return is most welcome. She’s concerned about the child, though, claims he’s changed or some such thing and looks unwell.”

“Of course it’s changed, they grow like weeds. And there’s always something to worry about with children,” Wolf shrugs, “or so I hear. Your mother raised you, Viper, and the twins, I’m sure she can cope with one little boy. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s justtrying to get you to take more of an interest in it. Women are sneaky like that. But that isn’t what’s got you down, is it?

‘How can I tell him that no, that isn’t what has me down. It’s been months since Mother’s return, and the house is now full of flowers and bustling with staff as never before, but it still feels empty. It feels empty without HER.’

“Wolf,” I sigh, “I don’t need a counsellor, I just told you my bloody mother has returned. She asks enough questions for a dozen psychologists and regularly gets inside my head. Why are you here?”

“Why do you think?You’ve hardly left the castle since the trial. Nobody’s seen or heard from you, and you don’t answer your texts, you fucker.”

I snort and half return his grin, shaking my head.

“I figured perhaps you needed a little helping hand,” he adds, his tone serious.

“A hand with what?”

“Extending the olive branch to Jag.”

“Don’t go there, Wolf.”

“I know you may never forgive him,” he shrugs, “but he’s always been by your side, and he knows a thing or two about lost love. Both of you are like orphan lambs without one another.”

“I’m not a cunting lamb.”

“You know what I mean,” he chuckles. “He practically lived here for centuries. Your mother misses him. I miss our brotherhood, our camaraderie. I know you do too. Can’t you at least try to regain a semblance of friendship?”

“I’m sure he’s happy where he is,” I snarl, “those without honour or ambition often are.”

“What does he have to do to get back into your good books?” Wolf sighs. “I know he’d do anything to be brought back into the fold.”

The words come out before I can stop them.

“He can find my wife.”

Wolf rocks back on his heels and narrows his eyes.

“Is that what you really want? You want him to track her down?”

“Yes,” I murmur, “perhaps a time of quiet just doesn’t sit well with me, given that the past few years have been nothing but a violent round of broken hearts and necks. Perhaps that’s what I need to feel really alive.”

“Do you plan to drag her back and lock her up again?”

“No.”

I shake my head at his disbelieving raised eyebrow.

“I just want to know where she is, what she’s doing. That’s all.”

‘And if they’re together.’

Wolf sighs.

“I’ll pass on the message, for all the good it will do you. But, you know, I don’t think the human is the remedy. I think you just don’t know how to relax or be by yourself. You’ve only just escaped the clutches of the Queen, a princess, True Punishment, and your life-long enemy.”

“He’s banished,” I nod, but not forgotten. If I know Spider, and I do, he won’t give up on his vendetta against me.”