Hupotasso (Vampire Bachelor Games #2)

36

36

Jag’s return is more welcome than I can say, and I embrace him warmly despite our disagreements over the past weeks and months, and our cold parting.

We’d spoken several times over the phone since then, but today he’s returned to live under my roof. My castle has always been a place he’d called his second home, and it hadn’t felt the same without his laughter and ridiculous attempts at cooking.

Without his friendship.

My recognition of why he’s invested so heavily in proving Angie’s innocence has helped me understand not just his motivation, but his deep need to be proven right. I feel only sorrow for him that it isn’t going to come to fruition. But I want him to know that I’m steadfastly as loyal to him as he is to me. Regardless of the fact I hold to the truth that vampires can never truly love humans, there should be no doubt between us that I do love him as my brother in arms.

Stepping back from my embrace he walks to the sideboard to pour himself a drink.

“The staff look unfamiliar,” he turns, giving me a penetrating stare.

“I dispensed with them all. And before you ask why, don’t play coy,” I chuckle. “I imagine you learned of it the day I did it.”

“I did,” he nods. “Wolf told me. But the reason was lost on me, unless your paranoia has grown so great that you believe everyone around you to be Spider’s minions.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I sigh. “I’m not paranoid. Rumours were being spread among the staff. Rumours that reached the North Wing and made my life difficult.”

“These rumours wouldn’t happen to be that Angie is unable to become pregnant, would they?”

I shake my head at his knowing expression. He’s always one step ahead, damn him.

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how important it is I prove my ability to father a child, Jag.”

He nods.

We both know that to cement my inheritance to my title I need to procure an heir after marriage. If I was indeed ‘shooting blanks’ as Angie had suggested, my title would revert to Viper.

Jag studies me over his glass, his eyes speculative.

“If you were anyone else I’d advise you to have a high-profile affair and produce an illegitimate child. But we both know you have to follow through with repairing the reputation of The Families and The Games, so that avenue is closed.”

“Not necessarily,” I shrug. “I have every hope that Sophie’s pregnant. As soon as it’s confirmed, she’ll return to Spider, and our plans to destroy him can progress.”

“You’re sure?” He frowns. “She literally only just dropped Spider’s baby.”

I smile, and he shakes his head.

“Pregnancy aside, I came today to tell you something I’ve discovered.”

“Oh, yes,” I sit, prepared for yet more half-assed speculation.

“I found the lost footage of you killing the director.”

I sit up a little straighter. I knew cameras were rolling unattended that night, but I hadn’t known there was footage.

“What did it show? Him begging for his life and me snuffing him like a candle?”

“That,” he nods, sitting opposite me and crossing his legs, “and him telling you that Angie was a spy, but not the kind you thought.”

I frown.

“I don’t remember that.”

“No, I’m sure you don’t,” he snorts. “You were in a Falcon rage and blind to everything. But I’ve followed up, and the fact remains that, yes, he said she was planted, but he didn’t say by Spider OR The Free Men. In fact, he intimated something altogether different.”

“Different how?” I scowl.

“I’ve followed a very faint trail,” he leans forward, fixing his eyes on mine, “that leads back to The Families. Angelina’s involvement in The Games has royal bloody fingerprints all over it.”

I down my drink and lean back in my chair, still steadily meeting his gaze. The hairs on the back of my neck have risen, I knew what he was going to say before the words left his mouth. But I can’t accept it. I won’t.

“Bullshit.”