Page 37 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

"I did make sure to get more of that cake you liked with the cherries," he says.

I look up and meet his gaze. "That's very sweet."

He flashes me a smile. "I thought it would help with the reading lessons."

"Am I that bad?"

He chuckles. "I promise you're not."

"Hmm."

"You're not," he assures me. "Another week and you might not need me at all."

I laugh sharply. "I very much doubt that. Even if I can read the information, I wouldn't know how to fill in any of the gaps. You're good at that."

His whole face lights up at the compliment. "Thank you. We should go and sit down before the tea is over-brewed."

I nod and let him lead me over to the table I've come to see as ours, even if it isn't. "You never told me what got you interested in history in the first place."

"I suppose it's mostly because I wanted to know where I came from. Isn't that what you're here for?" He pulls out the chair for me and waits for me to take my seat.

"I want to know how to survive at court," I respond. "Everyone keeps telling me that vampire politics is deadly, and that I'm likely to go through a husband every decade. I have no desire to be collateral damage in anyone else's game."

"An admirable choice."

"You disapprove?"

"No." He sits down and pours each of us some tea. "Or maybe in parts of it. I didn't realise you were resigned to your marriage."

I sigh. "What else am I supposed to do? My father is going to marry me off to whichever noble he believes is best whether I like it or not. I can either accept what's going to happen and use the time to learn how to play the game so I'm not as powerless next time, or I can fight against it and die. Is that not the same as what you're doing when you drink?"

Linc chuckles uncomfortably. "I'm mostly searching to forget when I drink."

"Does it work?"

"No." He picks up his teacup and takes a sip. "Certainly not as well as interesting conversation."

"I believe that's normally a good distraction," I respond. "But it seems to be in short supply."

"It has been better since the last Golden Moon." He meets my gaze and there's something in them that I can't quite fathom.

I look down at my tea, trying to collect my thoughts. I clear my throat. "I finished the book you gave me." I set it down on the table. "Thank you."

"Was it helpful?" he asks.

"I think so. But I'm still surprised that the whole book contained history of the castle but didn't include any mention of vampires at all." It took me a few attempts to read some of the passages, but I have a real sense of achievement in having finished it by myself.

"I suppose I never thought about it, I didn't know about the vampires when I first read it, so it never crossed my mind. And when I got here, I moved straight onto the library. I don't think I've ever re-read the book I gave you."

"Why did you keep it? If you haven't re-read it, I mean?"

He reaches out and touches the cover of the book. "I'm not sure. It reminds me of a simpler time, I suppose. Or maybe I just like to hold onto things others would have me be rid of."

"Like your humanity," I quip.

Linc snorts. "Precisely. It's very unfashionable at court to maintain such a sentimental thing. If you really want to play the game of politics, you'll need to learn how to pretend you've lost that."

I grimace. "Which is going to be a challenge when it comes to the Feasts," I murmur.