Page 54 of Wedlock (Vampire Bachelor Games #3)

“You can’t be serious,” I snap at Wolf as he repeats his assertion.

“I am,” he growls in response. “Say you’ll marry the Danish piece of skirt and be done with it.”

“And give up my title? Allow her to kill my wife and son?”

“They won’t be dead,” he throws his hands into the air and rolls his eyes, “that’s what I’m trying to tell you, we’ll work something out. Jag and I have committed to helping her in any way we can.”

“Of course you have,” I shake my head at him, “she has something about her that makes everyone want to aid her.”

“I’ll admit, for a human, she’s above average,” Wolf smirks. “I can see why you married her. She’s got spunk and brains. Speaking of, here,” he grunts and hands over a vibrating phone.

“The guards?”

“Didn’t bother searching me. Keep it hidden. I’ll be back for it tomorrow night. Think over what I’ve told you. Perhaps this call will help you make the right decision.”

I raise an eyebrow as he turns to leave, and answer the phone. In the background I can hear light planes landing and taking off, and birdsong.

“Falcon?”

“Angie?”

“It worked! Wolf is amazing.”

“Where are you?”

“Look, we don’t have time. I’m so sorry I came to Court.

I thought I was helping you, but I didn’t; I made things worse.

Your mother warned me against it and I was too stubborn to listen, but anyhow, I’m calling to tell you that Attracta knows all your mother’s secrets, and then some.

Since you won’t listen to your mother, listen to her .

You have to listen, you can’t marry the Princess. ”

“Angie,” I sigh heavily, “I don’t want to marry the Princess, but according to Wolf I have little choice at this point. I don’t feel anything for her. If you’re worried about your safety, I’ll ensure…”

“It’s not me you have to worry about, it’s you! You’re going to become a template if you marry her.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“A template. Your mother told me all about it. She said The Families jump from body to body. Only the kings and queens. They use their royal children and their partners as templates. She said the rulers in each country were the same vampires since time began; they just look different every couple of centuries or so, maybe more, I don’t know.

When they begin to look old, they switch. ”

“Angie, you’re not making any sense.”

“I know,” she sighs. “Falcon, trust me on this, your mother can tell you all about it. So can the twins, they know too. Get Attracta to tell you what it is, what it means. Basically, you’re a walking body bag once Revna takes the crown.

I have to go now, I just wanted you to know this before… well, I just wanted you to know.”

She hangs up, and I stare at the phone, frowning.

‘A template? What fresh hell is this?’

Sitting down I try and make sense of what my wife has said but come up blank.

I would have thanked her for visiting the Court if I’d had time.

I would have said a great deal if I’d been given the opportunity.

I don’t know why she hung up so soon. The only thing I do know is that, once again, she was saying goodbye.

I know her well enough to know when she’s going to run.

Unless I’m mistaken, she’s already far, far away from the castle and possibly even out of the country.

I didn’t recognise the sound of any of those birds.

‘Probably a good thing. I just hope to God she’s not running away with Jag.

Would she? At least he could protect her from the Princess.

NO! Yes. What fucking good am I to her rotting in jail?

And if Wolf’s right and my only option is to marry the Princess, and if Angie’s right and I’m going to die or disappear or some goddamned thing if I do, then better she be happy with someone else. ’

Even as I think this, I scowl. I don’t want her with someone else, and I don’t want to marry the fucking Princess, whether I stay as myself or some body bag template as Angie claims.

“Jesus fucking Christ.”