Hupotasso (Vampire Bachelor Games #2)

49

49

His words broke my heart. How long had I dreamt he would say all the things he’d said to me?

How long had I hoped he would see sense and realise that all along I’d truly loved him?

Too long. Too much water had passed under our bridge since my marriage. My heart has hardened, and it would have taken more than a conversation and a raw vow of repentance for me to recover my lost feelings. But I hadn’t meant it when I said I hated him. My feelings for him might be buried, but they were there. It might have taken a full-scale archaeological dig over several years to uncover them, but he would have, eventually.

If it wasn’t for Viper.

I close my eyes tightly as I run our conversation over in my mind.

It was Viper’s venom that forced the hateful words from my mouth that had pushed him too far. But it was all me when I’d struck my husband and pushed him over the edge. I was angry at Falcon, and at Jag for not telling me that Falcon knew I wasn’t a spy, and at Asumpta for knowing I was under Viper’s control and not saving me. Angry at them all.

Of course Falcon had lost his shit when I hit him. I know him well enough to know he has a quick temper, and I’d seen his reaction when I’d slapped him in the past. I thought he’d get violent, but I hadn’t expected him to bite me.

I don’t think he expected to do it either.

I knew his contrition was real. And I knew the bite wouldn’t work because I was already under Viper’s control. Still, Falcon’s roar of anger and disbelief when I didn’t respond to his order had shaken me to the very core. I thought then, I was positive, that he would kill me, and I think he would have if Jag hadn’t kicked in the door and stood between us.

They’d faced one another like gladiators, both furious, both panting as though they’d run a marathon.

“Get out of my WAY!” Falcon had thundered, fangs all the way out, as I cowered on the floor.

“Stop it. Stop it. Don’t fight, don’t fight. Don’t let him win,” I’d screamed.

But they ignored me.

“What are you doing? Why? Why are you doing this?” Jag had shouted.

“My bite didn’t work. It was all lies, everything Tatyana said, every bit of it. Angelina’s also his . I knew it, all along, his! ”

Jag had looked incredulous at Falcon’s claim.

“You know she’s not his. How many times do we have to go over this?”

I watched his expression change from bemused to furious as he looked down at me and saw my arm bleeding from the vicious bite just inflicted.

“Wait. You bit her? You tried to force hupotasso after what your mother told you? What madness is this? Have you truly lost your fucking mind? Have you stepped so thoroughly into your father’s shoes that they fit perfectly, Lord Dragonspur ?”

Falcon punched him then. Clocked him on the jaw so hard Jag’s head whiplashed to the side like he’d been hit by a truck.

And as they brawled, I cried. Cried and crawled from the room. When I’d reached the hallway I’d risen to my feet and stumbled to my bedroom where a team of staff were waiting to do my hair and makeup. They’d bandaged my arm without question or comment, and I’d dressed on autopilot and stepped into the waiting car to take me to the Lear. It was surreal — like I wasn’t even really living inside my skin any more. Somewhere along the way I’d stepped outside of it and slunk off in another direction.

When I’d reached the plane I’d dropped off to sleep as though I was falling into a coma, only waking when we landed some eleven hours later.

I stare out the car window now.

Eleanor’s being cared for in America’s top private hospital specialising in royalty and the uber rich. I’m making a daytime visit because I’m human, and so is Eleanor. But if Falcon had been with me it would have been a night visit, of course.

I’m so glad I’m here without him. The city buildings and bright sunlight are beautiful when you haven’t seen them for a while. I wish this ride would take forever, not just because I’m finally out of the castle, but because I’m not looking forward to upsetting Eleanor with Viper’s vicious words. Falcon had said she needed to stay calm. Me visiting her will be anything but.

It occurs to me that maybe Viper wants his mother dead. After all, she’s always berating him. Perhaps he found out he’s only a half-brother and he doesn’t want his mother to reveal that to anyone. Perhaps he’s planning on taking away everyone and everything Falcon has ever valued; Jag, Eleanor, Sophie, the title.

Leaning forward to pour myself a stiff drink I frown as l feel a strange flutter in my lower stomach and a snap in my brain, as though someone has pushed a pair of scissors into my ear and snipped off an invisible cord that was wrapped around my cerebral cortex.

‘No!’

Disbelieving, but hoping against all hope, I take a deep breath and bite myself so hard on my left hand that blood pours from my knuckles and flows onto my dress, and I cry out before forcing the knuckle into my mouth to prevent drawing the attention of the driver with my whimpers.

I’m free.