Page 62 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

"Is that it?" I ask.

"For the ceremony," Bella responds. "Now it'll be inside for the ball and the feast."

"The feast or the Feast?"

"Both. You have until midnight if you want to avoid the latter."

I do a double-take at her response. "You don't think I should stay?"

"You can do whatever you want, Beatrice, I really don't care. I'll be back in the Rothorne apartments half an hour before midnight. So don't take your friend there or getting him out will be difficult."

I stare at her, trying to think of a good response and coming up with nothing. I hadn't even considered taking Linc back to the Rothorne apartments, and yet that's what she's suggesting.

She turns and stalks off before I can think of anything else to say, with Thomas beside her.

I guess the best thing for me to do is head inside to the ball, and find Linc before midnight so we can go to the library before the Feast starts. If one thing is certain, I don't want to witness another one, not if I don't have to.

THIRTEEN

Music is already playing by the time I enter the ballroom, and everywhere I look, people are making merry. Several couples are even already on the dance floor.

Someone clears their throat beside me, and my heart skips a beat hoping that it's Linc. I try to school my disappointment when I realise it's Marcus instead.

"Dance with me?" he asks, holding out his hand.

I nod and put my hand in his, letting him draw me onto the dance floor.

"I wanted to talk to you, and this seemed like the safest place," he says as we take our place.

"The dance floor is a safe place to talk?"

He shrugs. "Have you ever overheard a conversation on the dance floor?"

I frown, realising he's right. I sink into a curtsy while he bows to me, and then pulls me into hold. It's different from dancing with Linc, but I don't mind it.

"You're much better than when we first danced," Marcus says.

I laugh. "I don't think that's the compliment you think it is."

He smiles. "I just mean that you've learned well."

"I'm glad you think so."

"And I wanted to thank you for keeping my secret," Marcus says as he guides me around the room.

"There's nothing to thank me for," I assure him, only stumbling slightly as we change direction. "Whatever it is you and Lord Luca share, no one will hear about it from me."

He lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. If my father found out..."

"I imagine he'd do something terrible," I say. "Not that I know the King, I'm just guessing based on what everyone keeps telling me about how being at court works."

Marcus chuckles. "You're a quick study."

"My goal is to survive, and that means learning how to play the game," I say. "You made that clear at the Golden Moon when you told me to have a goblet of blood in my hand." I dread to think what I'd have been forced to do if I hadn't.

"And you're learning from Linc?" he asks.

I shrug. "Should I not be?"