Page 76 of Wedlock (Vampire Bachelor Games #3)

I’m determined to leave it a few days before I call again, but I’m an impatient man.

When her phone number doesn’t work I know I need to get my men to track down her new number, if she has one.

“If she doesn’t, she’s in for a surprise visit. Bloody annoying woman,” I growl to my empty study.

“Who’s the lucky lady?” A familiar voice asks from the doorway.

Turning slowly from where I’d been staring into my fireplace, I narrow my eyes as the Princess glides towards me and kisses me on the lips.

“I do hope it’s me,” she adds as she pulls back. “I’ve been waiting for a visit since your release from the dungeons.”

I study her carefully, her perfect hair and make-up, black pillbox hat, short black dress and matching stilettos.

She looks more like a spider to me now than ever before, and I wonder what I ever saw in her.

Comparing her to Angie was like comparing night to day.

Even though I’m a creature of the night, I’d choose day every time if I had to pick between these two women.

And I have.

“Falco, my love,” Revna croons, unaware that if she weren’t a princess I’d already have ripped her heart out and hurled it into the flames, “I’m so glad to see you free and learn that your heir is recovering from his illness.”

“Yes,” I cock my head and narrow my eyes as I meet hers. “His illness.”

“I just saw him,” she goes on, turning to mix herself a martini, “he’s positively adorable. No special qualities, but a strong heir if ever I saw one.”

“What special qualities might a three-year-old display?” I snort.

“With a father like you,” she murmurs, “he’s bound to have many, but perhaps he takes after his mother. Our babies will be vastly superior.”

Reaching over I take the glass from her fingers and fling it into the fire.

“I know you had something to do with poisoning my son, Revna. I’m going to get to the bottom of it, and when I do, your crown won’t protect you.”

“La!” She snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Why would I need to poison your heir? Don’t be ridiculous. I know you wanted him so your title was secure. It suits me to have him around, as plain as he is.”

I frown and consider her carefully. She’s a duplicitous slut, no doubt about it, but what she’s said does have the ring of truth about it.

‘But if she wasn’t responsible, who was? Who else would stand to gain if my son died?’

“I see you doubt my word,” she sniffs, “but on my mother’s life I promise you, Falco, I did not, and will not, ever raise a finger against your heir. If you like, I can make some enquiries into who might be responsible?”

“I have that in hand,” I snap. “What are you doing here, Revna?”

“What a thing to ask of your intended?” she pouts.

Shaking my head I walk to the door and signal for her to leave.

“You are not my intended, Princess. I told you when I was in prison, I won’t marry you.”

“Because of your imagined feelings for this ordinary human ,” she spits.

“Yes.”

“But she’s gone!” She wails, trying a new tack. “The human has left. Your queen knows the truth, but to all others, to the whole world, she’s committed suicide. You have your plain little heir. There’s nothing standing between us now.”

“So you’ve kept the fact that my wife is alive and on the run from your own mother, Princess?”

“No,” she shrugs, “but she agrees that while there can be no known impediment to our union, The Families have many closets, and many skeletons. It can be our little secret that she’s living out her human life somewhere.”

‘Like you or your mother would ever allow that.’

“It’s a moot point,” I shrug. “I’m going to get her back.”

“Falco,” she lets her fangs run all the way out, “push my hand in this matter and you won’t like the results. It’s fated we will be together.”

I run my fangs out too and stride the two steps towards her, gripping her by the forearms as she screams in indignation, and hurling her towards the door.

“Don’t darken my door again, woman, or it’s not I who will be unhappy with the results,” I growl as she rights herself and spins back to face me.

Her laughter rings out.

“Oh, darling, Falco,” she steps towards me and runs a hand down my cheek as I pull away angrily, “you challenge me as no other has, or ever will. And I do so love a challenge.”

Spinning on her heel she strides imperiously out the door.

Snarling, I follow her out and down towards the kitchens to see my procurer.

Danes are back on the menu.