Page 74 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

“I’m sorry if I startled you,” he says, with a smile. “I forget sometimes that you’re new to the magical world.”

“I’m just…not quite used to the vampire speed yet,” I reply. Even though I know that he won’t hurt me, it’s still difficult to calm my pounding heartbeat. Especially since I know he can hear it. But then I remember the events of yesterday, and my heart beats quickly for another reason. “How is Eloise?”

“She’s stable now,” he replies. “I had to come back to the mansion when the sun rose, but she’s doing all right.”

I exhale. “That’s good.”

“I owe you a great debt,” the old vampire tells me. “If it wasn’t for your quick action, she wouldn’t have made it.”

“It’s really nothing,” I reply. “I’m studying to be a nurse. Well, I’m not in school yet, but I enjoy reading the textbooks.”

He cocks his head. “Really? How intriguing.”

“I want to be prepared, when I start,” I explain. I’m used to having to justify my weird behaviour.

“Your studiousness is commendable. And in this case, very helpful.” There’s an expression in his eyes like he’s considering something. “I think…I have something you might like to see. Will you join me, upstairs?”

“Oh…” there’s a flicker of nerves in my stomach.

“Nothing like that,” he correct quickly, with a half-grin. “I’m very well-fed, I assure you.”

“Of course,” I answer.

He holds out his arm, and I take it. His movements are graceful, precise, just like the other vampires. We go up the stairs together, and down a hallway. Some of the other vampires give us funny looks, they’re all used to seeing me with Crimson.

“Here we are,” the vampire says, stopping outside of a set of ornate wooden doors. He waves a hand, and they open on their own, a shimmer of violet light against the wood.

I stare in amazement. “Do you always open doors like that?”

He gives me a sly smile. “No, I just thought it would impress you.”

“You were right,” I concede, following him into the room.

My breath catches as I look around. I don’t know what I was expecting - another office, perhaps? But this room isenormous, like the lounge downstairs. Except it’s filled with shelves upon shelves of books. The ceilings are high - it must be at least two stories - with brass ladders on wheels to reach the higher shelves. Overstuffed armchairs crowd the large room, along with long wooden tables, also laden with books. It’s got a cozy, lived-in feel to it, unlike the rest of the mansion.

Murad chuckles. I realize that I’ve been standing in the middle of the room, staring with my mouth open, for at least a minute.

“I suspected you would like it,” he says, closing the doors behind us. “I’m sorry it’s such a mess. I’m usually the only one here. The other vampires aren’t big readers, to say the least.”

“Iloveit,” I answer, stepping toward a shelf and running a finger along a dusty, leather bound tome. It’s too old to have a title on the spine, but I glance at Murad. He gives me a permissive nod, and I pull it off the shelf and flip to the inside page.

North American Demons and Deities: Summoning and Common Practices

I take another one.

Blood Magick and Its Uses for Witches and Vampyrs

My eyes widen. “These books are aboutmagic?”

“I’ve collected books on a wide variety of topics,” he answers, an expression of pride on his face. “Magic, history, biology…I have a section devoted to medicine, both magical and non-magical, just there.” He gestures to an overstuffed shelf in a bright corner of the library.

I can’t hide my enthusiasm. I quickly skip over to the shelf and start scanning the books. There are more recent ones here, shiny textbooks mixed in with larger, more ornate tomes.

“There’smagicalmedicine?” I gasp, pulling a thick, cedar-smelling book from the shelf. Its title readsElementary Healing Magic: Cuts and Bruises.

“Of course. I know a Hecate witch, who specializes in healing magic. She’s quite a bookworm herself.”

I can’t quite believe what he’s saying. “You know a realwitch?”