Page 14 of Wedlock (Vampire Bachelor Games #3)

I knew I shouldn’t have entered her room, but my feet had led me there against my will, and my eyes craved the sight of her, no matter that seeing her grieves my soul.

And so, I’d gone.

Mother is right, of course, something is wrong with the woman I’d married. I’d expected to find her crowing from the rooftops at her revenge upon my house, or begging for her life, especially since I know Mother told her what I plan to do with her and her son.

Instead, she’d done neither, merely hiding her tear-stained face in the water, despondent and listless.

In all the time I’ve kept her here, mistreated her, abused her, spanked her. No matter what I’d done, I’d always seen the fire beneath. I’d never seen her truly broken.

Tonight, she was like a stranger.

Either her personality; light-hearted, determined, irreverent, had been completely an act in The Games, or something more was afoot than just infidelity.

‘Just infidelity? What more could there be? She fucked my best friend and cuckolded me under my own roof. She presented another man’s spawn as my heir.’

Even as I think this I can’t help but recall the nights of endless passion we’d shared. Ostensibly, she was there to do her duty, as was I, but I’d looked forward to my evenings with her. No woman has ever given me such pleasure.

Was it all an act?

No, she wasn’t faking her ecstasy; she enjoyed the sex as much as I did. But that’s all it must have been to her, just duty. Because on the side she was sleeping with someone else.

Could her despondency now be because she’s so in love with Jag that she’s feeling the same heartbreak I feel, but over him? Or is she just starting to understand the ramifications of her deplorable actions, and regretting her mistakes?

No, it must be that she loves him. She and Jag had clicked from the very first day they’d met.

They’d laughed as I’d rarely seen him laugh, and she’d later joked with me about running off with him, adding that he was ‘super-hot.’ I’d never for a moment thought she meant it.

Hadn’t she once even told me she’d ‘married the wrong vampire.’ Yes, she’d said that.

How stupid I was. It was never a joke to her.

‘She said she’d never loved me.’

“If she’s heartbroken she deserves it. And if she isn’t regretting her actions, she soon will,” I growl as I stalk towards the kitchens to get my meal, a brunette.

I can’t stomach redheads any longer.