Page 37 of Blood and Roses

"Thank you. Now I suggest you get some sleep so that you can heal properly."

Rosa followed him to the door, her leg protesting. He cast his eye over her living room covered with research, and the clothes rack with her lingerie drying on it.

Great. Now he's seen your knickers. Nice one, Rosa.Don't forget you are also covered in blood and smell like wolves.He grinned sideways at her, and her heart gave an unexpected flip.

"Maybe we need to send one of the servants to help you clean up?" he teased.

"I like to think of it as a creative chaos," she replied. "I have been doing a lot of research and reading lately. Thank you againfor coming after me tonight. If there is anything I can ever do to repay you, please let me know."

Balthasar tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You could always model for a painting."

"Oh, of course! I've always wanted to be painted like one of Ruben's women," she said, lifting her arm behind her head in a mocking pose.

He looked her over as if his artistic eye was scaling her up before nodding sharply.

"Excellent, then we agree," Balthasar said as he opened the door.

"Wait...what?"

"Good night, Miss Wylt."

"You can't just...disappear," Rosa said, looking around her doorway, but Balthasar Vane had already vanished into the night.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

By the time Balthasar made it back upstairs, Pearl was fully healed, Lily stroking her fair cropped hair. Saul was smoking and looking out of sorts.

"Did you find her, brother?" he asked as Balthasar tried to check his rage.

"I did. Right when Rosa was about to get her throat torn out by wolves, I might add." He walked slowly into the room, his fists balled tightly. Lily gave him a warning hiss. Pearl had the look of the broken, melancholy flower that undid his sister every time.

"Rosa could havedied,Lily. She is the last of the Wylts. Do you not know what losing her would do to Eli? All because that piece of trash is jealous of her," Balthasar snarled.

"Easy, Bal. Can't you just talk about it? There is a misunderstanding—" Saul began, ever the peacekeeper.

"Stay the hell out of this, Saul. There is no misunderstanding. They left her out there with a broken leg, like a wounded animal to attract predators. I'm disgusted with the both of you," Balthasar said coldly. "I'll kill her for this, Lily, as soon as your back is turned, as soon as you drop your guard?—"

"Balthasar." Eli appeared in the room, and they all shrank a little. "What is the meaning of this upset?"

"Pearl tried to kill Rosa. I had to rescue and heal her this evening down at the lake," Balthasar stated.

Lily and Pearl both tried talking at once, but Eli held up a hand.

"Enough," he commanded. "I don't have the time or luxury to deal with your drama at present. Lily, you will keep this creature out of my sight for her own safety until the Gathering is over and I can deal with the matter. Balthasar, leave her for the time being. If I learn that she has gone near the Wylts again, I will take her head myself."

Lily picked up Pearl and vanished. "Saul, please make sure they don't try to flee in the night. I need my family around me, but she needs to control that whelp. Balthasar, come with me."

He followed Eli dutifully back to the library, all the while doing his best not to go after Pearl.How could Eli let her still breathe after this?

"Sit down," Eli instructed before pouring them both whiskey and handing him a glass. "Tell me everything while keeping your temper please."

Balthasar did as he was told, leaving out none of the details. He didn't tell him how he would have the smell of Rosa's hair and blood etched into his memory for weeks, that she had found Jane's letters, or how he had felt when he saw the wolf on top of her.

"How did you leave her?" Eli asked when Balthasar was finished.

"She was well and in good spirits. She was full of lip and bravado but shaken. She has read your accounts and has taken it all in her stride. Are all the Wylts so accepting?"

"Most of them. Rosa is the exception. If she had stayed, she would have known years ago. It would be easy for her; her blood would remember even if she does not." Eli sipped his drink thoughtfully. "She was such a brat of a child."

---