Page 83 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

“Many years ago. Usually witches don’t allow vampires to attend their schools, but long ago, they started an inclusive magic academy. It was shut down for a while, but they’ve opened it back up again.”

“For vampires and witches?”

“Vampires, witches, shifters,mermaids…”

She bats me playfully on the arm. “Now Iknowyou’re teasing. There’s no such thing as mermaids.”

“I wish there was no such thing as mermaids,” I mutter irritably, my eyes scanning the courtyard for any gemstone-wearing delinquents. But there are few others out here tonight. Just Paige and I, strolling among the rosebushes and fountains. “They’re causing me quite a headache right now.”

Paige frowns at me. “I know you probably think I’m just a silly human, and that I don’t know much about the magical world. But…you can talk to me about what’s going on, if you want to. Iwantto know.”

There’s a flicker of guilt as I remember how harshly I spoke to her before. But it’s only the two of us out here tonight, and the moonlight across the marble statues is making me feel sentimental. What harm could it do?

“Just before I saw you, the leader of the wolf shifters showed up at the lounge,” I tell her. “We’re allied with them, but they’re upset because they think we’ve been dealing with the mermaids, who are their enemies.”

“The mermaids and the wolves are enemies?”

“Well, the wolves are part of a broader shifter alliance, which includes the dolphin shifters, who are enemies with the mermaids.”

“Dolphinshifters?” Paige gasps. “Like…people who can turn into dolphins?”

“I know, they’re incredibly irritating,” I sigh. “Anyway, now the wolves are threatening to break our alliance because they’re paranoid. They’ve never liked us anyway. Shifters and vampires donotget along.”

“Why do the wolves think you’re friends with the mermaids?” Paige asks.

I answer with ascowl. “My progeny, they’re…enamoredwith a merman. It’s been going on for several years, but it’s become more serious recently. They think they’re in love. They even asked me if they can get married, if you believe that.”

“Aw,” Paige says, burying her heart-shaped face against my arm. “That sounds sort of romantic. They must really love him. I think it’s sweet.”

“Inconvenient, is what it is,” I mutter, but I find it difficult to stay irritated, with the way she’s nestled in close to me. I’m used to breathers treating me with reverence and fear. I can’t recall the last time one of them was so…affectionatewith me. “I should drain that merman for causing me so much trouble, but…” the words come out of me, unbidden. I’ve never acknowledged this out loud, and I’m a bit surprised by the revelation. “Kai is my only surviving progeny. I’ve always given them a lot of leeway, and I…I hesitate to cause them any pain, or to stake them.”

“That sounds difficult,” Paige whispers, rubbing my arm tenderly. “That’s a heavy burden, to have to keep your clan safe, but also have to make those tough decisions.”

“Yes, it is…”

We’ve come to the center of the rose garden, beside a looming fountain. The sound of water trickling is strangely soothing. I pause, and then turn to face Paige, looking down into her gentle brown eyes.

I bring my hand to her cheek, caressing her smooth skin with my thumb. I know I should say something to her, but I don’t have any words for this moment. Instead, I lean down, and kiss her softly. I keep my fangs retracted, wanting to savour her slowly.

She leans in to me, bringing her fingers up to my shoulder, stroking the short hair on the back of my head. In return, I take her into my arms, holding her close, deepening our kiss.

And it feels like…like I have the whole world in my arms.

She breaks away for a moment, her eyelashes fluttering. “Do you…do you want to drink from me tonight?”

“Your blood levels must be low. I should give you time to recover.” I take a strand of her dark hair between my fingers, and tuck it carefully behind her ear.

She swallows, and takesa wonderfully breathy inhale. “You know I’m…I’m all yours, Crimson.”

For a moment, I wonder if Idoknow. I’m aware of our agreement. But is she telling me…that she’s mine in another way?

Suddenly, a loud, clattering sound breaks the moment between us. Paige jumps, her pulse quickening. Instinctively, I shield her body with mine.

With my vampiric night vision, I can see a group of breathers in a corner of the courtyard, circled around a stone table. A wisp of purple smoke reveals what they’re doing. When they spot me, they cower in fear, the smell of adrenaline thickening the night air.

“Go back to the lounge,” I hiss at them, furious that they’ve interrupted us with their clamouring. “And take that with you.”

In a scramble, they pack up the violet powder and hurry out of the courtyard, and back into the mansion.