Page 107 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

"At least everyone knows now," I say.

Marcus nods and looks around the room at the assembled guests, a thoughtful expression on his face. "My cousin certainly knows how to throw a wedding."

I frown. "Your cousin? Bastian didn't have anything to do with this. Other than get married."

"Lord Fallmartin is Marcus' cousin," Linc reminds me. "The Queen is your father's aunt."

"Oh." I frown as I try to think through my own family tree, but fail miserably. This is probably why they need the blood charts in the library to make sure people aren't accidentally related before they get married.

"How old are you?" I ask Marcus. "No, that's a rude question."

He laughs. "It's fine. I'm forty-two," he responds. "Much closer to the two of you in age than to Lord Fallmartin."

"I don't even know how old he is," I say, looking over at my father.

"I'm not sure," Marcus admits. "Do you know?" He looks at Linc.

"I've read it in one of the genealogy books, but I can't remember exactly," Linc responds. "Between three and four hundred, I think."

"That's a long time," I murmur. "So the Queen is even older?"

"No, she's a hundred and fifty," Marcus responds.

"That makes no sense," I mutter.

"It does," Linc promises. "So imagine that Bastian has a boy with Lady Ermentrude. Then in twenty years, Lord Fallmartin has another daughter. She would be the aunt of the baby despite being twenty years younger."

"Right. I think vampire math is going to give me a headache," I admit. "It's easier than reading, but I still only know the basics."

"We can work on that," Linc promises.

"You might want to get a head start on it," Marcus says. "They're preparing for a feast in twenty minutes or so."

My heart sinks. "A feast?" I look at Linc. "Didn't you say that the groom is supposed to be the one who does it?"

He goes a little pale, but manages to nod.

I look past him to where Bastian is sitting with Lady Ermentrude. She seems to have charmed him a little bit, only making me more confused about her. Maybe she's just likeable. Or she knows exactly what she's doing when it comes to my brother.

"I don't want to watch that," I say to Linc.

"You should leave now if you're going to," Marcus says. "Pretend that you just don't want to keep your hands off each other or something."

I choke on air. "I don't know what you're talking about," I manage to get out.

He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. "After what I witnessed in the library, I'd say you're lying to me."

"Nothing happened in the library," I murmur.

"Yes, because I walked in on you. If I'd been a minute later..."

"It's a weird thing for you to be thinking about," Linc says.

"I'm just being practical. You're my brother, and even if Beatrice wasn't my cousin, she hasn't got anything I'm interested in," Marcus responds.

"I don't know how to respond to that," I mutter.

"You don't have to," Marcus assures me. "But just giggle and make your way over to the exit or something. Everyone will believe you've just one off for a late-night tryst or something."