Page 65 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

"I don't think so, why?"

"Meet me in the entrance hall in ten minutes?" I ask.

"All right, but what do you have in mind?"

"I'm going to go get Pip," I answer. "Then we can go on that walk we said we would."

He nods and leans in to give me a fleeting kiss, before leaving me so I can go get my dog.

FOURTEEN

Pip bounces along, seeming to know that we're going outside, even though she has no way of possibly being able to tell. Maybe it's something about the way I told her to come with me. I don't suppose it matters, that's where we're going.

She gets more excited the moment she sees Linc, which is impressive when she's only met him once before. He crouches down and fusses her as soon as she gets to him, making me smile.

He gets up and reaches out for my free hand, entwining our fingers together.

The cool night air brushes past me as we step outside. Clouds have drifted over the moon since we were out here for Eliza's ceremony, but it's still a nice night, and perfect to take a walk.

"Do you think people will mind that we're missing the Feast?" I ask as Pip takes a chance to race around, her tail wagging so fast that it's a blur.

"Unlikely. The people who are invested in it won't notice anything other than blood and death. Those who stay and hate it will be too busy trying to keep their composure, and the rest of the court will have already made a swift exit."

"My cousin told me that's what she and her husband planned on doing."

"See, your distaste isn't as uncommon as you think it is," he says.

"How many people do you think skip the Feasts?" I wonder out loud.

"Hard to say. I barely go to formal events."

"You came to this one."

"Mmm, my father insisted," he says. "But I also thought I might get to see you, and consider where we are now, I don't mind."

"Even if it made the urge to drink worse?"

"It didn't," he says softly. "I'd have felt the same urge if I'd been alone. It's only now I'm trying to resist that I realise how dependent I've become."

"That sounds difficult."

"It is. I'm not the person I thought I was."

"What? No." I turn around, causing Pip to give a short bark when I accidentally tug on her lead. "You've been struggling with your vampirism almost alone for five years, and you happened to fall onto wine for help, that doesn't change who you are."

"I didn't think I'd be the kind of person to end up so reliant on something like that."

"I know. But it's all right. You're trying to stop that reliance now, and that's what matters."

He winces. "And if I fail? What happens if I end up caving and drinking?"

I reach out and cup his cheek in my hand. "Then you'll start again the next day."

"I'm going to be fighting this for the rest of my life."

I swallow hard. "Yes, probably. But I'm here to help, in whatever capacity you need me. Even when we have to end things because of our betrothals, I'll be your friend."

He doesn't look so sure, but then he nods.