Page 66 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2

"I won't tell a soul," I promise. "I'm definitely going to miss you winding Bastian up. But we'll still see plenty of one another. You're my chief lady-in-waiting."

"I guess I'm going to be seeing lots of you too then, Pip, aren't I?" She scratches my dog behind her ears.

"She's heading over to the royal apartments while we're at the wedding," I say. "Jemima is taking her."

Bella nods. "Along with the rest of your belongings, I assume."

"Yes, though I'm not entirely sure how I've got so many of them," I admit. "I came with nothing except a dress that I'm pretty sure Eliza burned."

Bella laughs. "My sister is dramatic like that."

"It was a terrible dress. And Bastian's choice."

"Mmm, I've not seen much to suggest he has decent fashion sense," she jokes. "These things accumulate quickly, especially when you're a member of a noble House and betrothed to a prince."

"True. Though I guess in an hour or so, I'll be married to a prince."

"And that'll make you a princess."

I grimace. "I'm not as keen on that."

"It'll be true all the same. So we should get you out there, because I don't think Uncle Gerard is going to be particularly happy if you're late."

"He's not going to get a fight from me. Not on this."

"No doubt it'll lull him into a false sense of security, and then he'll find out that you're a force to be reckoned with."

"Something like that." I get to my feet and slip the dagger Lord Fallmartin gave me into the sheath at my waist. It feels good there, and while I hope I don't have to use it, I'm grateful to have it. Especially when it seems to mean something to Lord Fallmartin.

She opens the door for me, and I step out into the sitting room where Bastian is waiting.

"I'm going to go tell Uncle Gerard you're ready," Bella says, slipping away before I can say anything in response.

My brother gets to his feet. "You look beautiful, Bea."

"Thank you."

"This isn't exactly what I imagined when I brought us here," he says.

I raise an eyebrow. "You mean you didn't expect me to be sold off into marriage even if it was painfully clear that was going to happen?" My words don't have the same kind of sting as they should thanks to the fact I'm content about my future husband.

"I never meant to make you unhappy, Bea."

"I know. And I forgive you." I meet his gaze and give him a tentative smile. "I understand why you made the choices you did, and I appreciate that you didn't just let me die." Though saying it out loud makes me realise that it's the bare minimum he could have done, considering how much of my life I dedicated to keeping him alive.

I dismiss the thought. Now isn't the time to think about it.

"I wish you didn't have to marry," Bastian says. "And that you could stay here."

"I'm content with what's about to happen," I assure him. "I know you have something against Prince Lincoln, but I assure you he is a good man, and he'll do right by me."

"I don't trust him."

"Would you trust anyone?"

There's no time for him to answer the question before Lord Fallmartin and Bella reappear, but I don't really need him to tell me what he thinks. I know the answer, and it's clear to me that Bastian would never trust anyone to take care of me.

He just happens to have missed the fact that I'm capable of taking care of myself.