Page 99 of Wedlock

“I know you had something to do with poisoning my son, Revna. I’m going to get to the bottom of it, and when I do, your crown won’t protect you.”

“La!” She snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Why would I need to poison your heir? Don’t be ridiculous. I know youwanted him so your title was secure. It suits me to have him around, as plain as he is.”

I frown and consider her carefully. She’s a duplicitous slut, no doubt about it, but what she’s said does have the ring of truth about it.

‘But if she wasn’t responsible, who was? Who else would stand to gain if my son died?’

“I see you doubt my word,” she sniffs, “but on my mother’s life I promise you, Falco, I did not, and will not, ever raise a finger against your heir. If you like, I can make some enquiries into who might be responsible?”

“I have that in hand,” I snap. “What are you doing here, Revna?”

“What a thing to ask of your intended?” she pouts.

Shaking my head I walk to the door and signal for her to leave.

“You are not my intended, Princess. I told you when I was in prison, I won’t marry you.”

“Because of your imagined feelings for this ordinaryhuman,” she spits.

“Yes.”

“But she’s gone!” She wails, trying a new tack. “The human has left. Your queen knows the truth, but to all others, to the whole world, she’s committed suicide. You have your plain little heir. There’s nothing standing between us now.”

“So you’ve kept the fact that my wife is alive and on the run from your own mother, Princess?”

“No,” she shrugs, “but she agrees that while there can be noknownimpediment to our union, The Families have many closets, and many skeletons. It can be our little secret that she’s living out her human life somewhere.”

‘Like you or your mother would ever allow that.’

“It’s a moot point,” I shrug. “I’m going to get her back.”

“Falco,” she lets her fangs run all the way out, “push my hand in this matter and you won’t like the results. It’s fated we will be together.”

I run my fangs out too and stride the two steps towards her, gripping her by the forearms as she screams in indignation, and hurling her towards the door.

“Don’t darken my door again, woman, or it’s not I who will be unhappy with the results,” I growl as she rights herself and spins back to face me.

Her laughter rings out.

“Oh, darling, Falco,” she steps towards me and runs a hand down my cheek as I pull away angrily, “you challenge me as no other has, or ever will. And I dosolove a challenge.”

Spinning on her heel she strides imperiously out the door.

Snarling, I follow her out and down towards the kitchens to see my procurer.

Danes are back on the menu.

77

I’m not even surprised when he calls on my new number the following week. Part of me expected it, dreaded it, part of me anticipated talking to him again.

Yin had, predictably, gone ballistic when she heard he knew our number and likely where we were. She advocated running immediately, just as she had after Jag’s visit. But I know there’s no point.

“If he wants to find me, he will. Jag may be the best tracker, but he told me Falcon was pretty good at it too, when he was focused. And heisfocused.”

“Focused on fucking you up permanently,” she’d growled.

I’d agreed that the next time he phoned, if he did, I’d ensure it would be the last.