Page 72 of Wedlock (Vampire Bachelor Games #3)

“I know that, Wolf,” I frown as I pour us both a drink from the bar in his dark, den-like library, “but technically I’m not breaking my oath with my suggestion.”

I turn and take my familiar seat, just as I had every night for the past two weeks as I’d enjoyed his hospitality and taken a welcome break from my own castle, now that my son is out of the woods.

“Falcon, friend ,” Wolf shakes his head, “you swore you wouldn’t try to return her to your castle or mess with her baby.”

“Exactly!” I smirk, “and phoning her does neither of those things.”

I don’t bother adding that I’d actually known where she was ever since I’d sent Jag to deliver my message to her.

I hadn’t broken my word, I had no intention of doing so, but I’d needed to know for myself that she was well hidden and comfortable.

My intelligence was that she was both, although I’d like for her to have had more security in place than a couple of dogs.

Still, she’d lived there apparently two times now without detection from my kind, so she was obviously safe.

‘And if my plan comes to fruition she’ll be even safer inside my castle walls and with me before the year is out.’

I study Wolf as he tries to figure out the rationale for my latest decision.

“Falcon, be real, man. You see her a fortnight ago, after three years apart, and now you decide you can’t live without her?”

“Yes.”

“If it’s her body you want, surely you can find another who looks like her? Humans are a dime a dozen, even redheads, if you know where to look.”

“It’s not her body,” I shake my head. “It’s all of her.”

“Haven’t you got enough to worry about with tracking down the ones who tried to off your heir?”

“That’s in hand,” I nod, suddenly serious. “You and I both know that whichever queen was behind it wanted the same reward — my marriage to the Princess.”

“Perhaps. That’s yet to be determined. Either way, you still believe you’ve dodged that bullet?”

“I’m fast,” I grin.

“What’s really behind this, Falcon? Why the rush?”

How can I tell him that seeing Tiger on death’s door had made me realise the precious time I’d lost with him?

That I know now that I do want to be part of his life.

Moreover, I want to be part of both my son’s lives.

And I want my wife back in my life and in my bed.

Wolf’s not wrong. I do want her body, I want to fuck her from sunset to sunup for the rest of my life.

But more than that, I want her by my side, tempering me, challenging me, making me laugh, making me want to be better.

“Angie knows that I’m aware she had twins,” I shrug and meet Wolf’s concerned stare. “She can’t expect me not to want to at least see my son.”

“You told her that? Do you so wholeheartedly want to cut ties with Jag that you’d double-cross him this way? Truly, Falcon, I’m surprised you did this.”

I shrug.

“It’s not a bad thing that she knows she can’t trust Viscount Speardon as much as she thinks she can.”

Wolf gives me a disappointed look.

“All’s fair in love and war, Wolf.”

“Jag will rip your throat out for revealing that,” he snorts, “and for wanting to reignite your relationship with her.”

“He’s nowhere to be found,” I shrug, “you said it yourself, he’s disappeared again, just as he did after his last broken heart. It could be centuries before we see him again.”

I don’t add ‘good’ because I know Wolf doesn’t understand the depth of my feelings against Jag since his betrayal.

Wolf snorts.

“I know how to reach him, as you’re well aware. You can choose to pretend he’s disappeared off the face of the earth, but it doesn’t make it true.”

“He’s gone as far as I’m concerned. The Jag I knew left the day he fucked my wife.”

“Your wife,” Wolf sighs as he sits down, signalling for me to do the same. “I just don’t understand you. What on earth do you hope to gain by phoning her?”

“I want her back,” I meet his eyes over the rim of my glass. “I plan to woo her.”

“Woo her?” Wolf roars in laughter. “Woo the woman who’s run from you three times? Get the message, man, she’s just not that into you!”

I can’t help but grin at his booming laughter.

“Oh, ye of little faith. I’ve never met a woman who could resist my charms, when applied diligently, Count Mandraken.”

“I think you might have,” Wolf grins. “And I’m prepared to wager a hefty sum on that.”

“Right or wrong,” I shake my head, my thoughts and expression now serious, “I have to try. I love this woman, Wolf. I can’t fucking deny it any longer.

She’s the only one who’s ever really challenged me, the only one I can see as truly an equal.

The only one who makes me want to be better than I am.

I want her back in my home, in my bed, and in my life. ”

‘I need her back.’

“And how do you propose to get her number?” He sighs. “Since the only one who knows how to reach her is the vampire you claim has disappeared? And before you ask, there’s no fucking chance I’m asking him for it.”

“I already have it. I’ve known how to contact her for some time, I just haven’t acted on it.”

“Then why the charade of having Jag deliver messages for you?” Wolf scowls.

‘Because I didn’t know where she was, and I wanted to see if they were together,” I shrug, “and give them the opportunity to be so, without interference, if that’s what she wanted. I know now that Jag isn’t who she wants.”

“She sure as shit doesn’t want you either,” Wolf chortles.

I raise my glass to him.

“Not yet.”