Page 59 of The Tainted and the Tamed
“Because the chairmen wouldn’t allow it.”
Murasaki bowed her head into her hands. “I need to speak with Haruki.”
“You can’t tell him what I’ve told you. It’ll put him in danger. If there is to be a child of your union, the answer will become obvious.”
“Then what can I do?”
“Decide.”
“Decide whether I want to live?”
“Decide whether you want the burden of being an immortal vampire. Whether you wish to drink blood to survive for the rest of your existence. I am a dhampir; I can live without it for the most part. I do not have the cravings of a true vampire. But it is a burden we all carry.
“You must decide, too, whether you wish to entangle yourself in the vicious world of the chairmen. And whether you could live with yourself if you killed an innocent blood source.”
Murasaki’s eyes widened. “Does that happen?”
“It does.” She regarded Murasaki for a moment. “It happened with the maid who attacked you. Even though he is one of the best of them, he still could not stop himself.”
No. Murasaki’s gut knotted.She can’t be talking about Haruki.
“You don’t mean it,” she said. “You don’t mean him.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Mukai. It’s true.”
The room began to blur. Slowly, Murasaki stood from her chair.
“I have to go. Th—thank you for your time, Ms. Tanabe.”
The housekeeper’s only response was to sigh heavily, her eyes a little wider as they watched Murasaki. As if wondering just what she would do next.
Who was Murasaki kidding? The answer was obvious.
She was going to speak to Haruki.Now.
Chapter 26
Haruki
Someone was making a racket. Blearily, Haruki raised his head from his pillow.
The outer door to his quarters swung open, banging against the waddle and daub wall. He jumped to his feet, his legs still tangled in his bedding.
He’d expected an intruder. What he saw was Murasaki’s face, white as the sheet trapping his legs.
“What’s wrong?” He tore at the bedding, trying to reach her side.
It was only when he took a step towards her and saw the quiver of her lower lip that he knew. His stomach sank as he traced the raised line of her shoulders down to her clenched hands.
“When were you going to tell me?” she demanded.
Haruki sunk back onto his futon.Shit. This was the price for pretending—for pushing the difficult discussions onto another day. For taking comfort in her and reveling in his feelings for her—and hers for him—instead of telling her the truth.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m truly sorry. I was going to tell you—”
“Do you even know what you’re apologizing for? There’s more than one thing you’ve kept from me.”
Does she know about Chiyo? How could she?“I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
