Page 100 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

"Oh, those colours aren't good together," I murmur as I take in Lady Ermentrude's dress. The yellow and green clash violently with only a white border to part them.

"That's the Tufflion crest for you," Linc responds.

"I mean, yes, but surely there's a way to work with yellow and green that looks better than that."

"I would think so, but maybe not. I'm sure you'll find Lady Ermentrude dressing in House Rothorne colours very soon."

I touch my own dress. "What am I supposed to do when we're married?" I look across to the other side of the clearing to see if I can work it out from the women standing with their husbands there, but without names and family trees, it's almost impossible to make sense of what I'm seeing.

"Most ladies use both their House colours. So you don't need a whole new wardrobe, don't fear."

"I'm glad, because that would have been a complete waste. I don't think I've ever worn some of the dresses I have at the moment." Though I suppose I could give them to Bella.

Except that she should be wearing Vermouten colours. I don't understand why clothing has to be so complicated, but it seems to be the vampire way.

Lady Ermentrude and her mother reach the wedding stones, and Lady Tufflion steps back, gesturing for Bastian to take over.

I watch curiously, not entirely sure how my brother is going to take any of this. He's been against the match for weeks, but that's been in private rather than in front of many members of the court.

Lord Fallmartin runs the ceremony, which I know is the norm from what Bella told me last time. Though it won't be what I experience. The King will do the ceremony in my father's stead.

It isn't until Lady Ermentrude bites into her wrist that I realise there's something else I've not really been considering. The biting part of the wedding ceremony made me nervous before, but that was when I thought I was going to be drinking the blood of a stranger.

Drinking from Linc, and being drunk from by Linc, are very different. Especially when it's something I've had the urge to do already, and it's definitely not a position that I want to be in when I'm in front of other people.

"Are you all right?" Linc murmurs. "You look a little pale."

"Fine," I promise. I want to talk to him about it, but I don't think here is the right place for the conversation.

But maybe once we're in the House Rothorne apartments, it will be a different matter.

FIFTEEN

I lead Linc through to the private sitting room used by me and my cousins. I'm glad there's a break between the wedding itself and the feast, because I need a moment alone with him that's away from curious eyes. Luckily for us, most people seem to have gone straight to the ballroom even if they have to wait for the food to be served.

The door to my bedchamber is slightly ajar, and I'm disappointed that Pip doesn't race out to join us, even though I know it's walk time and she'll be with one of the servants.

"Are you sure I can be here?" Linc asks.

I shrug. "What are they going to do if they find us here? Make us get married?"

His lips quirk up into a smile. "I suppose that's true. It just feels like I shouldn't be so close to where you sleep, especially not when we're alone."

"We're probably less alone than we are in the library," I point out.

"Mmm, fair. Where's Pip?"

"I think she's out with one of the servants for her walk. I wanted to take her myself, but there's so much going on today that I don't think it's possible."

"Ah."

I head over to the table holding a pitcher of blood and hold it up.

He nods and I pour us both a glass. I hand one of them over, and Linc takes it, his fingers brushing against mine as he does.

I take a sip of my blood, mostly to take my mind off the wedding ceremony.

"Are you all right?" he asks. "You seem on edge."