Page 31 of Wedlock (Vampire Bachelor Games #3)

The fact that my door is unlocked speaks volumes for Eleanor believing me when I said I was under Viper’s thrall.

She told me before she left to see Falcon that she believed me, that she’d trusted me in her heart all along, and that she was appalled at herself for continuing the legacy of keeping a Dragonspur lady imprisoned in her castle. She’d added that she would do everything in her power to make it right.

I suspect much of her newfound contrition stemmed from my telling her that the baby was indeed Falcon’s and that I’d only slept with Jag after I was pregnant.

But trust works both ways, and she’s a fool if she thinks I’m going to trust her after everything she’s said and done.

I have no intention of doing as she hopes, of reuniting with Falcon and declaring my love, of trying to convince him the baby is his and seeking his forgiveness for everything that’s happened.

Quite the opposite. I fully intend to leave this hell-hole.

He can have his vicious, bloodthirsty blonde princess.

My neck still smarts from her bite, the slut.

As to why she’d hated the taste of my blood, I don’t know, but Falcon never liked it either, so who knows?

Maybe I just take like crap. Bonus. I’ll take any advantage I can get over vampires, because I’m going to need all the help I can get if I ever want to see my friends and family again and regain my freedom.

And it’s not just for me. I want my babies to grow up together, and I want to be there every step of the way, guiding them to become good vampires, if there can ever be such a thing.

If I’m to do all this, I know the only answer is to, once again, run.

But not before I do everything in my power to ensure the other victim of Viper’s monstrosity doesn’t suffer any further for what he did to free me from the thrall.

I’ll do whatever I can to save Jag from my husband’s wrath. It’s the least I can do.

With that in mind, I turn when I reach the end of the hall and head for Falcon’s study, my heart hammering at the thought of having to face him.

Out of nowhere the VBG contestant mantra pops into my head, and I say it out loud.

“I’m beautiful. I’m confident. I’m strong.”

“What the actual fuck?” I whisper, shaking my head as I stride. “Where the hell did that come from?”

The last two words of the mantra still come through, though, making me want to slap myself for even remembering them, let alone thinking them.

“For Falcon.”