Page 58 of Wedlock (Vampire Bachelor Games #3)

“Falco, please,” Revna snaps her fingers impatiently, “you’re not making the best choice. If this goes to The Families’ Full Court they’ll make an example of you — you’ll be destroyed.”

“The court needs to witness my absolution and rule my innocence once and for all, Revna. I’ve considered your proposal very seriously, and the offer of True Punishment, but I can’t accept either.

I’m innocent. I’m confident The Families will determine that when all the evidence is laid out before them. ”

“They won’t,” she shakes her head, her voice mournful.

“They missed out on justice after your father’s blood rampage.

They wanted to make an example of him and he thwarted their plans by dying before they could.

They won’t make the same mistake again. Why else would they fast-track the trial?

It should have been ten years, twenty, before you stood on the dock. Instead, it’s today.”

I shake my head as her tears start. Real or mock, I never know with Revna.

I can’t give her any comfort by letting her know about Asumpta’s potential testimony.

As my key witness, Jag, Wolf and I have agreed there are too many cogs in motion to allow anyone to know about her until the trial this afternoon.

And she’s not the only ace up my sleeve.

Although all three of us think it’s bullshit, Attracta will give her evidence that my father was drunk, or poisoned, on fairy blood when he went on his rampage and then died. Her testimony will show his illness is not hereditary, and that I’m no threat to mankind or the rule of law.

‘If that’s what she’s going to testify. I trust her as far as I could spit her now.’

Revna had backed up some things Attracta had said, though.

My bastard half-sister had told Wolf that The Families were appalled by my father’s actions in murdering the former Countess.

Not just because of her social status, but because she had such rare blood — blood that allowed her children to fly.

Father had been marked for a very bloody and painful execution for this transgression, and by dying he’d taken that retribution from them.

Many hoped the blood price for his wrongdoing would now be paid by me.

The only things standing between me and that end were my key witnesses, neither of whom had yet to be marked down to give evidence. They’d be called at the last minute.

“I don’t understand it,” Revna sniffs, her tears over very quickly and her tone bitter, “what do you have to go home to, even if you clear your name all by yourself? Your wife has run again. She’s left the baby and run.

You declare you still love this human , yet she doesn’t have any of the qualities you once claimed you sought in a wife if she cares so little about you and the child you share. ”

I try not to reveal my surprise at this news.

‘Angie’s gone? She’s run again? I knew it!

I felt her goodbye the last time we spoke.

But to leave the baby? That doesn’t fit with anything I know about her.

She’s a goddamned home economics teacher for Christ’s sake.

Her world is kitchens and babies and sewing and making a house a home…

No. She’d never leave her child. I saw how much she loved him.

She would have died for him if need be; she made that clear the day she returned to the castle, when she begged me not to harm him.

Revna is deluded. And clearly has a spy in my household, fuck her! ’

“You’re misinformed,” I eventually drawl, “my wife is in the castle, as is my heir. As for being by myself in Court, I won’t be. I have my friends. It’s true one is estranged, but he’s still prepared to give evidence.”

“And what kind of evidence will he give when he’s in love with your wife and will benefit from your execution?”

“Revna, you overstep the mark!” I snap.

“Your friends!” She goes on. “It’s no secret that one cuckolded you, and one is delusional. You say you trust them, but how can you do so when they hide from you that your wife has left?”

“If my wife is not home, she’s doubtless away on business.

She has a great many responsibilities as the lady of my castle,” I shrug, wishing to end this conversation.

“You’re becoming tiresome, Princess, and I have a lot to think about before court this afternoon.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone. ”

Her expression hardens at my dismissal.

“I’ll leave you alone, Falco,” she whispers.

“All alone. Remember this conversation if you do clear your name and return to your deserted castle. You’ve banished your mother and your best friend, and your only other confidante spends his days travelling the globe on a lost cause.

You’ll be alone with an infant and your regrets. And I will be chief among them.”

As she sweeps imperiously from the dungeons, I silently watch her leave.

‘Did the Princess visit to try and rattle me from my defense with this story of doom and loss? Or did she hope to have me succumb to her proposal out of desperation? Either way, I can’t worry about Angie, or my heir, or the future queen of Denmark right now.’

I have a court case to attend.