Page 81 of Wedlock (Vampire Bachelor Games #3)

It’s been two days since Falcon’s visit, two days since I shot my first people and Falcon intimated his heart was still broken, and Yin and I are still waxing and waning over what to do.

Partly it’s because I can’t think straight.

I’ve had terrible nightmares since I did what I did, and partly it’s because we can’t agree on the way forward.

Yin thinks if Jag found us, and Falcon found us, then we should pack up and flee, but just where to go and if it’s the right thing to do is what we’re debating.

“Yin,” I yawn, “would it be such a bad thing for Falcon to put security around us?”

She sighs heavily.

“Security hired by a vampire?”

“Need I remind you our children are vampires?”

“This is what I’m telling you,” she says patiently, “it’s imperative the twins don’t get discovered by other vampires, and there’s far more chance of that happening if any of Falcon’s guards talk of who they’re guarding, and my name comes up.

I’m still on the run from The Families. No contestant who ever found the Life Token lived more than a year outside The Games.

We’re double the target, which is why I’ve been so careful in choosing our hiding places, and why we can’t be mixed up with that world in any way. ”

“Yin,” I shake my head, “at some point, our children will be mixed up in that world.”

“When we’re resting with our ancestors,” she nods.

“Until then we guard them ourselves, and as far as they’re concerned their social circle is us, period.

If my father could do it with me, then we can do it with our kids.

This mountain is no longer safe. We have to leave and find somewhere more isolated. ”

I don’t bother telling her that it sounds cruel, unnatural, not to mention nigh on impossible to enforce their containment as they get older. Also, it was something she had resented her father doing to her. Instead, I nod and bite my lip.

“OK, no guards. But running again…”

“What choice do we have, given Falcon’s revelation? Revna obviously expected Tiger to be able to fly. Her comment that he had no special qualities indicated this. There’s no doubt she poisoned Tiger.”

“Yeah,” I nod my agreement, “it makes sense that she wanted to kill him before his third birthday. And she must have had a suspicion that the baby would be special because of the day she bit me. She must have recognised my blood as being part Fae.”

“She’s so old, and as a royal from The Families, she’d be privy to information others might not,” Yin muses. “The Princess may have even tasted someone like you before.”

“And the texts you smuggled under your robes from the Vatican? Do they shed any further light?”

“Yes, three things; One, a bolt-hole for the fae from the old world to the new had been Pennsylvania, which probably explains how Eleanor narrowed down her search to find someone like you. Secondly, fae blood tastes strange to vampires.”

“Well, this fits with Falcon’s reluctance to bite me, and my theory about Revna.”

“It does,” Yin nods, “and thirdly, we were right about there being lore surrounding those with your special blood. A vampire can’t discard or kill a wife with fae blood.

It’s considered so rare, so special, that women like you are highly sought after, and when found, wrapped in cotton wool and treated like fragile wonders to be bred as often as possible. ”

“Great,” I snort, “I’m a fragile wonder now.”

“I always thought you were,” Yin smirks.

I shake my head and consider the ramifications of all this information.

“So, basically, if Falcon discovers what Talon and Suzume can do, he’d be bound to return us to the castle?”

“Yes,” she nods. “And if Revna confirms her suspicions, she’ll murder you to prevent that from happening.”

“Mmm, so the question, really, is why does Falcon think she’s a threat to me now, given that Tiger has no ‘special’ qualities? Why not just leave me be, accept the story that I committed suicide and that I’m out of the picture?”

“I don’t know,” Yin sighs.

‘Is it because he’s still keeping me in the picture? And if so, why?’

“You know, Yin, Falcon said Revna sees it as a challenge that he won’t marry her. Maybe that’s how he sees me, just as a challenge and nothing more. These vampires are not used to being denied anything they want. Both he and Revna are being denied something.”

“You’re going to have to tackle him in a different way, then,” she frowns. “Or let me kill him.”

I ignore her half-hearted suggestion that she should murder him; we’ve been over this.

It was only when I suggested I shoot Phil that she finally took a step back and realised that destroying Falcon was not something I could accept.

We both still have mixed feelings for men who had treated us abominably — there was no denying it.

“How do you think I should tackle him?”

“I have no idea. But, whether we stay or go, we have to stop him from coming here. You’re right that he’s used to getting his own way. Our wishes mean nothing to him.”

The sound of a helicopter causes us both to look up.

“Don’t shoot him again, Yin.”

“That bastard! See what I mean? It’s barely been two days. You need to sort this out, Angie.”

She stalks from the room, her eyes flint, as I sit back and wait for him. I know he’s going to come inside and make himself comfortable just as he did last time, no matter what either of us says.

‘Sort it out? How? This bloody vampire is determined to win me back, and every time I see him or talk to him his task gets a little easier. Could it be as simple as reverse psychology? If I stop being a challenge, will he leave me be? And is that something I can even do?’

I hear Yin open the door and snarl, and his low, polite response.

I don’t rise when he walks into the room, and his lip quirks into a tiny smile as he sits down opposite me.

“Hello, Angie.”

“Falcon, you can’t come here.”

“I wanted to see you.”

“Why?” I shake my head.

“You know why.”

“That’s just it. I don’t know why.”

“I told you, I want to date you. If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, then the mountain must come to Mohammed.”

“Is it because I’m a challenge to you? Is that it? Have you really stopped to think about why you want to get to know me? And don’t say it’s for Tiger’s benefit, I don’t believe that.”

“It’s not about a challenge, Angie. You know how I feel.”

“Falcon, aren’t you doing exactly what Revna’s doing to you?”

He scowls.

“No. It’s not the same.”

“You had a relationship once, and she wants you back. She won’t accept no for an answer. How is this not the same?”

“Revna wants what she can’t have,” he sighs, “it’s true. But she wants an elusive memory. She doesn’t want me for who I am.”

“How can you say you want me for who I am, when you don’t know me?” I roll my eyes.

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you,” he snaps. “I want to get to know you.”

Sighing, I consider how to word what I need to say. He isn’t listening to Yin’s threats; he’s ignored us both telling him he isn’t welcome. I obviously need to approach this in a different way.

“Falcon,” I clear my throat. “When Yin and I say we don’t want you to visit us any longer, it’s not because I’m trying to punish you for the past or increase your desire by playing hard to get.

I get that you say you want to know me, but we’re telling you, I’m telling you, that I don’t want to get to know you . It’s over between us.”

He leans back into the seat and crosses his legs, his eyes not leaving mine. I can see the pain in them, but I steel myself to go on. I need to wipe out our past, and if that means being cruel, if that means lying to him about ever having feelings for him, then that’s where I’m going to go.

I take a deep breath, but I’m interrupted by a whoop and a screech as two small children run into the room, pursued by an appalled Yin.