Page 51 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1
I raise an eyebrow, putting the pieces together. "That makes him a full vampire. Those are rare."
"Ah, you're learning," he jokes. "But yes, my brother is a full vampire. My step-mother tolerates me at best. She hated my sister, a little less since she's away from court now. But she can't say anything because my father kept my mother as his mistress for so long. Which isn't normal when it comes to vampires. Most lords with children from the same mother are like your father, and it's because they had twins."
"Is that common?"
"Twins? Reasonably so. But I think it's partly because it's easier to bring two children to the Golden Moon together."
I nod along, processing everything he's saying. It sounds complicated and makes me glad that Lady Fallmartin isn't around to make things even more tense. Though there is the Queen who could do that, she's from House Rothorne and presumably could clash with Lord Fallmartin.
But that's a problem I'll deal with if it ever actually comes up.
"Being here isn't all bad, though," I say. "I like not having to cook every day, and having a safe place for Pip to sleep. She loves being on a really soft bed."
Linc chuckles. "I bet she does, but I bet she was spoilt before too."
"As much as I could," I admit. "Would...would you like to come on a walk with us sometime? It doesn't have to be outside the castle, but I'd like it if we could."
"I'd like that too," Linc says, smiling at me in a way that makes me feel like I just asked him the best thing in the world.
There's an intensity in the room that I don't think I've felt before, and I lean in at the same time as he does.
My lips brush against his in a tender kiss that feels like it means far more than either of us could put into words. Maybe it's just because we've both bared our emotions to one another. I break away, looking into his eyes and seeing all kinds of things there.
But not a hint of uncertainty.
I give him a soft smile, caught up in the moment, and completely forgetting about the tea that's probably completely cold by now.
EIGHT
I make my way to the dining room for family lunch, anxious to get it over with so I can head to the library to see Linc. I fell asleep thinking of our kiss last night, and haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. Between that, and finally saying some of the things I've been thinking out loud for the first time, I'm feeling lighter than before. Though I also have questions, mostly about what is hanging between us and if the kiss means anything, and only Linc is going to be able to answer those.
I pause in the doorway, trying to make sense of what I'm seeing. The table is set for eight instead of six.
"What's going on?" I ask Bella, who is already in her seat.
She shrugs. "How should I know?"
"Ah." I don't probe her any further. She's blunt and sometimes a little overly honest, but that means she tends to be telling the truth about these things. I actually appreciate it. She'll be sharp about it, but she'll answer my questions when she can.
I take my seat and wait for the others to arrive, a little surprised when Bella's husband, Lord Thomas, arrives. He doesn't usually come to lunch, I imagine because he's tending to business regarding House Vermouten. I'm not entirely sure how it works when he seems to live in the House Rothorne apartments but runs a House of his own.
For him to be here, it implies that Lord Fallmartin must have summoned him.
A strange silence falls over the room, and I find myself wishing I had Pip with me so I could at least have something to focus my attention on.
The door swings open and I look up, hoping it's my father with an explanation, but it's Bastian who sweeps into the room with an expression that says he thinks he owns the place.
He pauses when he takes in the table. "What's going on?" he asks, echoing my question in a rather eerie way.
"I still don't know," Bella responds, gesturing for one of the servants to pour her some wine.
No wonder Linc has found it easy to fall into dependency on the stuff, it's everywhere, and completely unavoidable. I push the thought to the side. It's something to think about later if he decides he wants to continue not drinking.
The double doors at the entrance to the dining room, and Lord Fallmartin sweeps into the room with two women coming after him. I'm guessing they're the guests two other places have been set for.
I rise to my feet alongside the others, knowing by now that this is the appropriate way to greet the head of my House.
"Family," Lord Fallmartin says. "Lady Tufflion and her daughter will be joining us for lunch this afternoon."
