Page 59 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2

"Will you stop that?" I snap.

Bella gives me a strange look from the other side of the table. Apparently, she's not been briefed about the commotion last night.

"I just can't look at you the same again," Bastian says.

I sigh. "Really? I'm going to be married in a few days. What did you think would happen after that?"

A weird, strangled sound comes from his throat, and his hand tightens around his fork. "You're my sister."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. What I'm not aware of is why you think that gives you the right to dictate what I do in my private time and in my private space."

His anger only seems to intensify at my words.

"What happened between you two?" Bella asks. "Did he walk in on you with the Prince or something?"

I avoid looking at her.

She lets out an amused laugh. "Please tell me you weren't using the sitting room again."

"Again?" Bastian demands.

"No, we were in my room," I respond, ignoring him. "Bastian could have saved himself a lot of trouble by knocking."

"He shouldn't have been in there," Bastian responds.

Bella rolls her eyes. "So if you had a mistress, where would you take her?" she asks him.

I raise an eyebrow, while Bastian looks at her in shock.

"That is different," he snaps.

"I suppose so," Bella responds. "Beatrice is going to be married to Prince Lincoln, whereas your wife lives here, so your mistress being here would be a bit of an affront. It's not like there haven't been mistresses killed by wives before."

"That's not the point," Bastian insists.

I sigh, knowing I somehow have to put a stop to this even though the two of them would probably keep needling each other all day if they could.

"Bastian," I say to get my brother's attention.

He turns to me, his frustration barely hidden.

"I'm sorry you walked in on what you did. I didn't want you to see that either. But you have to start knocking when you come into my room. I've asked you before, and it still stands." Maybe he'll actually learn that he should now he's seen something he didn't want to. He didn't listen to my previous anger on this, maybe he'll listen to me asking nicely.

"You shouldn't bring him here," he says darkly.

"Why? What exactly is wrong with Linc-Prince Lincoln being in my room?" I ask him. "Even if he wasn't my betrothed, no one would think anything of it." Except Lord Fallmartin, who would probably then work to secure the same betrothal we have now.

"It isn't proper."

I roll my eyes. "Neither was bringing me to a castle full of vampires without telling me about it first," I point out. "But you don't hear me bringing that up every other day. Or punching you for it." Though I'd be well within my rights to.

Something a bit like confusion wars over his face, and I finally feel as if I might be getting through to him. It'll be a miracle if I can, though I'm not going to hold my breath on that.

"I'm sorry," Bastian mumbles, almost too quietly for me to hear. If I couldn't see the shock on Bella's face, I might think I'm imagining it.

"I accept your apology," I say with more confidence than I'm really feeling. "Though it wasn't me you hit."

"You hit the Prince?" The horror on Bella's face is impossible to ignore.