Page 101 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2

"All right..." I'm not really sure what to expect from her demonstration. My hand itches, wanting to proactively reach for the dagger, but knowing that isn't her point.

Lady Wentworth steps forward, crowding around me. I reach for my dagger, but she's blocking me from drawing it. She moves too fast for me to fully process, placing one of her hands against my chest before I can do anything else. "And now you're dead, Your Highness."

I swallow hard. "Ah."

She steps back and gives me a reassuring smile. "We'll work on your reactions."

I nod, grateful I thought to ask her for any kind of lessons, because it's clear that I'm not able to defend myself at all.

And considering I have things I want to achieve, I'd rather not end up dead.

TWELVE

I'm aching from yesterday's lesson with Lady Wentworth, but I know it was worth it. And that it's nothing a little blood can't solve once we've done our opening dance at the ball.

I tighten my arm around Linc's and smile at him, grateful that I now get to walk into these events with him by my side. I suppose that technically I'm the one by his side, considering he's the royal, but it's hard to think about it like that when the two of us are a team, and hope that we can be for a long time to come.

"This is the last wedding event, right?" I ask as we head into the room and are announced.

He chuckles. "Yes."

"So as of tonight, we're officially married?"

"We were officially married as soon as you bit me at the wedding stones," he reminds me.

"Then why all of this?" I ask, gesturing to the elaborately decorated ballroom and the amassed nobility.

"You married a prince, Bea. Did you really expect that it was going to be a one day affair?"

"Vampire weddings never seemed this complex before," I murmur.

He smiles at me. "I would hope you think it's worth it."

"I do." I want to lean in and kiss his cheek, but I know I can't. Not when there are this many people around.

Lord Fallmartin nods at us, and we acknowledge him in return. It feels strange to be someone of consequence to my father when I barely existed to him until a few months ago, but there's no doubt that's what's happened.

"How are you feeling?" I ask Linc as I eye up the drinks that are making their way around.

He grimaces. "Tempted," he admits. "But I am hoping that it may pass."

"Perhaps a dance may help with that?" I suggest.

"I believe it might." He holds out one of his hands to me, and I take it, allowing him to lead me into the middle of the dance floor.

The way he smiles at me makes me feel as if I'm the only person in the world.

I dip into a curtsy as the music begins, my blue and gold dress dipping out around me. It's strange to be wearing the colours of House Soveguine instead of those of House Rothorne, but for official royal events, it's better to be seen in this colour scheme. I don't think it suits me as well as the black and red of my own House, but it doesn't look terrible.

I place my hand in Linc's, aware of how close the two of us are when his hand touches my waist. Except that now we can be this close. It's no longer like it was before we were betrothed. We can be seen to show a certain amount of affection for one another. Not to the extreme that we do in private, but it is better than any alternative.

"You've picked up the court dances so quickly," he says as he leads me through the steps of the dance.

"I've had a good incentive to learn," I remind him. "I wanted to be able to dance with you secretly at all of the masquerades." I step my left foot back, while he steps forward.

"It turns out that wasn't a secret from everyone."

"I'm coming to realise that not much at court is. Especially not when you're important."