Page 101 of Wedlock (Vampire Bachelor Games #3)

I sit beside the lake and draw shapes in the sand with my toes, hoping to instill some of Yin’s zen, but failing miserably.

Last night I’d come the closest I ever had to revealing my daughter, and I’d scared the absolute living shit out of myself.

After I’d whispered that I feared his mother, Falcon had stepped back, holding me at arm’s length, his expression more frightening than I’d seen in a long, long time.

But I was not going to be the one to reveal his mother’s true nature.

I know him well enough to know he jumps to conclusions and acts on impulse.

I also know he won’t believe it unless he hears it from the horse’s mouth.

My refusal to add more to my declaration had enraged him. He’d shaken me and demanded answers. For a moment, I was petrified, but I regained my strength to stand up to him, snarling that scaring me was not doing his cause any favours.

His contrition was real as he’d stepped back from me, his eyes haunted.

He’d bowed and left me standing, stunned. Bowed to me!

I thought he was going back to his castle, but he returned an hour or so later, having gone for a long walk.

By that time, we were both calmer and I’d ordered my thoughts.

I would make no unsubstantiated claims against his mother and say nothing that might indicate I had a daughter, but I would tell him some of what I knew and feared, and allow him to fill in the blanks.

When he’d left for his home we’d exchanged promises. He would ask his mother what her true reason was for choosing me as his bride, her association with The Free Men, and her knowledge of templates.

And I would not run until he returned.

My hope is that she tells him about his sister and he realises she will stop at nothing to get her revenge, including sacrificing me or mine.

And maybe, just maybe, he’ll accept then that we can’t be together.