Chapter 4
FOUR
The fresh air is a welcome change from being inside all the time, even if I understand the need to stay out of the sun.
The early morning air is crisp, and there's a hint of the sky lightening on the horizon, meaning I should get back into the safety of the castle.
No one has told me how much sun is deadly to vampires, and I don't want to find out by accident.
But I can have a few minutes more out here before I have to face another family breakfast. I run my hand over the dry stone wall while Pip takes a chance to sniff at it.
Everything feels more natural out here, more at one with the way things should be.
I know it's mostly in my head, and that this is all still part of Castle Sanulieon, but it feels different. I should bring Pip out here more often.
She bounces over to a tree and does her business, looking back at me with her tongue hanging out of her mouth and what looks like a wide grin.
"You can run," I say to her. "I brought the long lead." I lift it up in my hand so she can see, though whether she understands is a whole other matter.
She gives me a confused look, so I just let her do whatever she wants. It's nice to have a variety of leads for her, but we're not used to it, and there's a part of me that misses the twine I used to walk her on. The way it felt in my hands grounded me in a way that nothing else did.
I lose myself in my thoughts as we make our way around the edge of the forest and back up to the castle.
It isn't as imposing from up close as it was from town, or maybe I'm just used to it.
Not everything about being here is awful.
I like the new friends I'm making, and I enjoy spending time with Linc in the library.
Learning to read better and not having to eat the same vegetable stew every night.
The blood bit isn't even that bad if I'm honest, at least it tastes nice.
A shiver runs through me as a bitter wind starts to pick up. The sky is getting lighter at a worrying rate now, and I know I need to head back inside.
"Come on, Pip," I call to my dog.
She looks up from the end of her lead, a displeased expression on her face.
"I know you want to stay outside, but dawn's nearly here and we have to get inside before anyone notices we're gone." Not that anyone other than Bastian is going to care. Lord Fallmartin doesn't seem to mind what I do so long as I'm not in his way.
She lets out a low whimper.
"I know." My heart aches that I can't let her stay out here, but I'm not the only one at risk from frying in the sun. "We'll come back later in the week," I promise.
She eventually relents and trots over to me.
"There'll be breakfast inside," I say to her. "At least that's an advantage."
She seems to be placated by that, bringing a smile to my face.
Another advantage of being at the castle is definitely how well cared for Pip is.
I can take her on multiple walks a day, she gets good food prepared for her by the House Rothorne cooks, and she gets to sleep on my incredibly comfortable bed.
Not to mention that if I have to be somewhere, one of the servants can take her out.
It's definitely preferable to how things used to be.
I climb up the stone stairs, looking over my shoulder one last time to look at the forest. I'd love to spend all day there, but I know I can't.
Pip's claws scratch against the hard floor of the entrance hall, drawing the attention of the lone person making their way through.
I prepare an apology for disturbing them before I recognise them. "Linc!" There's no helping the smile that spreads over my face. I'm glad to see him, even if it's unexpected.
He looks up, a smile of his own appearing as he sees me. He pushes his light blond hair out of his eyes. "Early morning stroll?"
I nod.
"And you're not alone." He crouches down and holds out a hand. "You must be Pip," he says to my dog.
Pip sniffs him a couple of times before heading closer and letting him fuss her properly.
"Your mistress has told me a lot about you. Don't worry, it's all good."
I let out a small laugh. "She wouldn't expect any different."
Her tail beats against my leg as he finds a particularly good spot to scratch behind her ears.
"She likes you," I say.
He looks up and grins. "I'm glad."
"She's a good judge of character." Though I didn't need Pip to tell me that Linc is a good person, I know that from the amount of time he's spent teaching me to read and talking about very basic politics with me.
Linc gets to his feet. "I'm glad you think so. Even if I did make a terrible first impression on you."
I laugh without meaning to. "I hardly made a good one on you either. I was in your spot."
"Hopefully, I'll find you there the next time there's a Feast."
"Or we could just beat them all to it and sneak off to the library before it even starts," I suggest, thrilled by the idea he wants to spend time with me, especially time when he feels vulnerable. Or I'm guessing he does based on how drunk he was during our first encounter.
"That sounds much more pleasant," he responds. "I've not done that before, my father wouldn't approve."
"I doubt mine would either." Though Lord Fallmartin hasn't made any comments about the fact I keep going to the library. He might not have noticed, but if he's going to let me do what I want, then I suppose it isn't the end of the world.
Pip whines, demanding attention with a paw at my dress.
"Yes, I'm sorry." I crouch down and fuss her. "She's not used to not being able to go outside all the time."
"Ah, she came with you?"
I nod, knowing he isn't asking about this particular walk. "I didn't realise that she'd..." I trail off, not wanting to say the words.
"That she'd become a vampire too," he finishes for me.
"Well, considering I had no idea I was going to become a vampire, it's impossible for me to have guessed that she was going to end up a vampire by being brought here."
"Mmm, it is frowned upon to not have told you."
I shrug. "What's done is done."
"You're dealing with it much better than I did," Linc responds.
"Maybe because I have a friend." I look up and meet his gaze, a new feeling spreading through me. Being around him is easy, more so than any other friend I've ever had.
The expression on Linc's face is hard to read, and I'm not sure what to make of it.
I try to get up, but my heel catches on the hem of my dress. I let out a cry as I fall over, making Pip bark.
For a moment, I'm horrified, but then I burst out laughing, realising that there's no other response I can give.
Linc covers his mouth with his hand, but is clearly amused judging by the light shining in his eyes.
"You can laugh," I say.
He gives a hearty chuckle. "It seems ungentlemanly to do that."
"It's not like we can pretend I didn't fall over," I point out.
He smiles and holds out his hand for me.
I take it, everything within me reacting instantly to his touch. He pulls me to my feet but doesn't let go of my hand. If anything, it feels as if he's holding it tighter. And that's what I want him to do.
"My etiquette lessons might leave something to be desired," I murmur.
"I don't think that's etiquette, just clumsiness." He finally lets go of my hand and bends down to pick up the end of Pip's lead, holding it out to me. "She's very well-behaved."
"I think she's just nervous to be here still." I take it from him. "I hope you don't think worse of me for my clumsiness."
"Not at all." He meets my gaze, and I can see all kinds of thoughts in his eyes. I know that isn't actually possible, but it doesn't stop me from thinking it is. Or maybe I just want the thoughts I'm seeing to be lingering there.
The slam of a door finally has us move apart.
"I should let you get on with your day," I say.
Disappointment flits over his face. "Will I see you in the library later?"
"I wouldn't miss it," I promise. "I'll see you after lunch?"
His wide smile warms me from within, and it's all I need in order to get through family breakfast.
"Come on, Pip," I say.
My dog hops along beside me. I turn back to wave to Linc, thrilled to see he's still watching me go.
"Who was that?"
I jump at the sound of my brother's voice. "Bastian, you scared me," I say, turning to face him.
"Who was that?" he asks again, his face all harsh angles. Has it always been like that? Or is it something about him that's changed since we arrived here?
"A friend," I respond, heading in the direction of the Rothorne apartments.
For one second, I think he's going to argue with me and insist I tell him what he wants to know, but he doesn't. Perhaps he's realised that this isn't the place to have the conversation. Not that I intend us to have it anywhere else either. My friendship with Linc is none of his business.