Page 31 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2

I nod. "Whatever you're having."

He heads over to the tray and pours something into two of the goblets there.

"I haven't talked about Luca because I didn't think you wanted to talk about matters of the heart," Marcus says to his brother. "But that was before you had any of those to contend with yourself."

"Well, I'll concede that they're complicated," Linc says, handing me one of the goblets.

I take a sip, surprised that it isn't just water. "What is this?"

"Pomegranate juice," he responds as he sits down next to me. "They grow in the south."

"Not wine?" Marcus asks, looking at his brother curiously.

Linc stiffens and I reach out to touch his arm reassuringly.

"I prefer not to drink," I say. It's not entirely a lie, but it's mostly to cover for Linc who looks horrified. I'm going to have to keep good track of what I've told who when it comes to Linc not drinking wine or I'm going to get us both into trouble. "Linc likes to keep me company."

"Well, I'm surprised. I don't think I've seen Linc pass on wine since...." He frowns. "You haven't drunk wine in a while."

Linc clears his throat. "A few weeks."

"I didn't realise. I wouldn't have ordered wine if I'd known," Marcus says, making a surge of affection towards his brother go through me.

"It's fine," Linc responds. "Truly. How can I resist temptation if it isn't put in front of me?"

"Ah, so we're dropping the pretence that you're not drinking because of Beatrice," Marcus says.

"Yes. But please, don't tell anyone."

"I won't," Marcus assures him. "You keep my secrets, and I keep yours. That's how these things go. For what it's worth, I'm glad."

"Me too," Linc admits. "Even if it's hard."

"If you need any help with that, then you know where I am," Marcus says. "Or perhaps it's not my help you need." His gaze slips to me.

"I appreciate any that I can get," Linc responds. "But Beatrice has helped me to no end." He reaches out and takes my hand in his, making my heart skip a beat in response. I know Marcus is well aware of the status of things between us, but it still feels like an important gesture for Linc to make in front of a member of his family.

"So I was right to encourage Father to accept Lord Fallmartin's proposal," Marcus says.

"I'm certainly glad of it," Linc responds.

"Me too." I look at him and smile, feeling the tension of earlier slip away, even if we haven't talked about it that much. Perhaps because it's so comfortable to sit here with Linc and have him show me affection, even if it is in front of his brother.

Or maybe that part is also helping. It's letting me see how I could fit in with life in House Soveguine. Because it isn't just Linc I'll be joining as part of the royal family, but his siblings too. And while I haven't met Agnes yet, I believe I've come to know Marcus decently enough to be sure that I'll have multiple allies here, and that puts me in a stronger position than I ever imagined.

FIFTEEN

As much as it's enjoyable to spend time talking with Marcus, I'm relieved when he leaves and it's now just me and Linc alone. Not even because I want to talk about the whole situation with Bastian, but because I want to spend time with him.

"So..." Linc says the moment the door is closed.

"I don't want to go home," I whisper.

"Because you want to stay here? Or because you don't want to face Bastian?"

"A little of both," I admit, biting my bottom lip. "No one will say anything if I stay here, will they?"

Linc chuckles. "I think they'll have plenty to say," he responds. "But what can they say?" He pulls me into his arms.