Hupotasso (Vampire Bachelor Games #2)

12

12

“Of course she’s still here. She’s my wife,” I snap as I turn away from Sophie’s calculating stare to pour myself a drink. “Don’t think to try and control me, Sophie. That was never our way and it’s not about to start now.”

“I’m not trying to control you, Fal-honey,” she murmurs, “I’m simply trying to determine where everyone is situated in your game of chess.”

“It’s hardly chess,” I scowl, running my hands through my hair in agitation.

Her terms of endearment, once tolerated, don’t sit well with me any longer. I don’t need that from her, not that I ever did. But now I don’t want it from her either. Her confidence and familiarity with me, although natural given our history, rankles me, although I can’t say why.

Yes, I’ll marry her. Yes, she’ll be the perfect royal wife on paper and in the eyes of the public, just as I’d once thought. She’ll belong to me again and Spider will be ended. But other than helping me kill him and giving me heirs, I don’t need anything else from her. I’ve had enough of human women, of their lies and deceit, their sighs and endearments.

“It may not be a game of chess to you,” she says quietly, interrupting my thoughts. “But when you’re a pawn at the whim and mercy of others, it is. I’m terrified, Falcon. Terrified of Spider. I’m frightened that he’ll find out about your plan and kill me before you can bring it to fruition. I’m just so scared to return to him that I can barely think straight.”

She places her hands over her bulging stomach and looks at me with big, wide eyes.

“Let me remind you,” I mutter, unmoved by her wiles, “that you went to him. You married him even though I told you to wait. I’m simply trying to offer a solution that benefits us all.”

“I know,” she lets out a small sob and wraps her arms around my neck, the swell of her stomach keeping us slightly apart. “But you’re asking me to return to the man who beat me daily and controlled everything I said and did. You’re asking me to allow him to do that all over again. I just…I just don’t think I can.”

I put one hand around her waist, the other still holding my whisky as I sip and reply to her.

“You’re under my protection, I told you that.”

“But I won’t be in a matter of months, when the baby’s born.”

“If our plan works it won’t be long after that the quickening will occur with our child, and you’ll be free again. That’s when I’ll strike.”

“Two babies so close together,” she whispers, “one wanted, one hated.”

“If you truly hate Spider’s child after its weaning you won’t have to see it. I confess I don’t know how I’ll feel about it either. We’ll have nannies, companions, and private schools. It won’t inconvenience us in the slightest. If you change your mind the child will be reared under this roof and take its rightful place in royal circles.”

“With your wife’s child,” she murmurs.

I frown.

“What does that matter? I told you our children will take priority.”

“Yes, but history shows that children can be rivals. Wars have been fought over inheritances…I just don’t think I can go through with this plan without knowing for sure, for definite…”

“Sophie, what are you asking? What do you need for me to assure you I’ll look after you and yours once Spider’s dead?”

“I need the only children we have under our roof to have come from my womb,” she whispers. “I need your wife to die in childbirth and the child to die with her.”

I still, listening to her racing heart as she presses her head into my neck, her expression hidden.

She’s ruthless, as the wife of a royal vampire needs to be. It was why Giselle had reminded me so much of her. Ruthless and shallow and prepared to do anything she needs to do to maintain title and position.

It’s what I always wanted. What I need.

I take a deep breath as I consider her request. Once, I enjoyed nestling my face in her hair, I enjoyed her body as much as her easy conversation. Now as she presses into me I’m comparing the softness of her hair with the molten curls of my wife who, although a spy, had proven time and again she wasn’t capable of killing anyone, let alone a baby.

Thinking of her and my plan to make her pregnant as soon as possible makes my pulse quicken, and I pull away from Sophie and pace towards the fireplace to stare into the flames.

When she follows and places a hand on my forearm, I flinch.

“Fal?”

“I’ll think about it,” I growl, slamming my glass down onto the fireplace mantle and turning to leave.

“Where are you going?” She asks as I reach the door.

“Dinner. I find my appetite has suddenly returned.”

Procurement has been busy since I’d returned, working hard to provide enough humans for myself, Viper, Jag, Wolf, and now Caroline. Usually, I couldn’t really care less who I drank, provided they were not children or the elderly. Fortunately, there was a dearth of illegal immigrants in the country at the moment, and no one missed the odd shipping container or boatload full. But I’ve asked for a change in the menu. A special delivery designed to sublimate a desire, a need, I’ve been fighting ever since the final ceremony in The Games.

I want redheads.