Hupotasso (Vampire Bachelor Games #2)

34

34

Comforting Sophie is starting to become a full-time job, and a trial. I dread having to enter her apartments and have the same conversation over again, especially since she’s become so fucking manipulative.

When I chastise her she cries and apologises, passing it off as being emotional due to her physical state. But she’s not the woman I courted before I entered The Games, unless she was like this all along and I hadn’t noticed. If I’m honest, along with her conversation, I also dread seeing her swollen stomach, knowing my enemy’s spawn rests inside. Any reminder of Spider sets my teeth on edge. But still, I comfort myself in knowing she’ll give birth soon.

I stand beside her now as she rests her head on my shoulder and croons over the necklace I’ve just given her. She’s easily mollified with jewels and presents. That, at least, hasn’t changed.

Her rooms are the best in this wing and are serviced by a dedicated team of staff. They know not to bother her when I’m visiting. So it’s doubly surprising when the door swings open tonight to reveal Angelina.

She’s wearing the soft powder-blue tracksuit she’d worn the night we had sex in the ballroom, and my body involuntarily stirs at the memory of that night.

“What are you doing in this wing?” I snap.

“So, it is her. I guessed as much,” she says as she moves into the room.

“I thought you said she was contained ,” Sophie shrieks.

Angie’s face reddens as she takes in Sophie standing beside me, one hand on my arm, one holding the black velvet box with the diamond necklace sparkling under the lights.

When she speaks her words are clipped, overly calm, and controlled.

“Contained? Is that what he told you while you were seducing him and bullshitting that you had feelings for him? When you were telling my husband that you wanted to marry him, even after you gave him up and married his enemy?”

Sophie turns wide, incredulous eyes to me.

“Are you going to allow this?”

Deep down, I can’t fault Angie’s logic. I’d thought the same myself many a time. Still, I can’t allow this disrespect from her, especially given she’s equally as guilty. And I don’t want to have to deal with any more of Sophie’s whining.

“That’s enough,” I growl, shaking my head at Angie.

“No, it’s far from enough,” she spits. “You hate my guts because you think I’m a spy. Yet you plan to marry someone you KNOW is a spy. You literally KNOW she let him bite her so she could gain immortality. You have no proof of my guilt, but she’s as guilty as sin, and you don’t care.”

I open my mouth to respond when Sophie gasps and doubles over, clutching her stomach.

“Oh, spare me,” Angie rolls her eyes.

Moving to the wall I ring the bell for the staff before carrying Sophie to the bed.

“Get out,” I flick my head at Angie, indicating the door.

“Get fucked,” she snarls, turning on her heel.

‘Still full of fire.’

Sophie begins to cry and screech, and I make a hasty retreat as the medical staff run in, the doctor at the helm.

Following my nose, I stalk the hallways after Angelina. I’d dearly like to thrash her for her insubordination, but I know where that will lead, and I’m not going there tonight. I don’t know how she got keys to this wing, but she’s obviously been exploring. Her scent is all over the place.

Eventually I find her in the library.

“Does she know?” She chokes when I walk in, closing the door firmly behind me so that I don’t have to hear Sophie’s screams.

“Of what?”

“Of all the others.”

“Others?”

I know who she’s referring to, but I choose to pretend ignorance to see how this plays out. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was jealous. But I know that can’t be the case. Her professed feelings for me were never honest.

“Don’t play stupid with me, Falcon. I knocked on two other doors and each was opened by a different woman. Does Sophie, your future wife, know about all your other women?”

“Of course,” I snort.

“And she doesn’t mind?”

“Why would she mind?”

“Oh my fucking god,” she groans, rubbing her hands over her face and turning away from me. “This world, your world…”

“A world you fought hard to become a part of,” I snigger.

“This world,” she spins back to me. “I won’t allow a child of mine to be raised in it.”

“It won’t be,” I snap.

Her face pales.

“What?”

I turn on my heel to leave. I’ve said too much.

“You can spend time here in this room if you choose,” I add over my shoulder. “Explore the castle if you must. But apart from the library, stay out of the North Wing.”

“I’ll go wherever I can, whenever I can,” she hisses.

I turn back to face her. She’s backlit by the fire; her hair awry in a halo of curls making her appear as some kind of fire sprite emerged from the flames. I can’t help but admire her, standing so angry and defiant and radiating indignant wrath.

“Angelina, I know you spend time in the kitchens. I haven’t done anything to stop that, but push me, and I will.”

“How do you know that?”

“I was informed you raid Jag’s sweets cupboard.”

“Jag’s sweets cupboard?”

I sigh and wave my hand at her, signifying this is of little importance, but answer her all the same, hoping it will distract her from my comment about the baby.

“He established it centuries ago and ensures it’s always stocked. He haunts the kitchens, fancying himselfa chef. He has a notoriously sweet tooth and a penchant for cooking disgustingly decadent desserts.”

“I married the wrong vampire,” she snorts.

I grit my teeth at the sudden jealousy that flares at her words. It’s as ridiculous as it is short-lived, but my fangs descend all the same.

“Like I said,” I snap. “I’ll allow you more freedom. Kitchens, library, dining room. But don’t venture back near Sophie.”

I don’t know why I offer this. It makes no sense to have her roaming the castle. But I know how much she loves to read, and it just slipped out as a feeling hit me. One I’m not familiar with.

‘Guilt’

“Falcon!” She shouts after me as I leave, “What did you mean before? What did you mean about our child?”

I shake my head. Of course I hadn’t distracted her.

Her words ring in my ears as I stalk towards my study.

‘O ur child. ’

Yes, it would be. Half hers, half mine. Would it look at me with her eyes or mine? And either way, could I truly kill it at birth? Would I kill a baby? And if I’m honest, could I kill Angelina?

I shake my head.

‘She’s just a woman, a human woman, and I’ve lost count of how many I’ve killed over the centuries. She’s no different to my daily meals.’

But the sting of Jag’s words ring in my ears.

“Your father would be proud.”