Page 20 of A House of Fangs & Deceit

“Were you actually talking, or were you sampling all the wine and ale he’s been working on?”

“Both, of course.” I laughed and shook my head at him as he gave me a wounded look. He added, “I’ll have you know I picked up a lot of useful information.”

I crossed my arms. “Do tell.”

“He recently met with one of the Velesian brewers to arrange a trade of our grapes and their grain. Apparently, another trade deal broke down between the Narchis and Fervis.”

“Interesting. What else did you learn?”

Rynn was my main source of gossip on the Velesians, but it was nice to get other information. Plus, Rynn wasn’t exactly social whereas Kieran did his best to be in everybody’s business.

“You’ll have to join me for lunch to learn more.” He held an arm out to me, and I looped mine through it without hesitation.

A few Moroi came out to tend the gardens and waved at us as we passed. Like me, Kieran knew everyone by name and asked after them or their family as we walked by. I recognized most of the names, but I filed away the ones I didn’t, along with other bits of information.

Kieran was one of the reasons I always made such an effort to learn everyone’s names and about their lives, no matter their position in the House.

Not only was it polite, but servants picked up all kinds of information, so it was always useful to be on their good side.

“I had everything brought to your suite. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine.” I let out a sigh of relief. “Everyone has been really nice to me, but if I get one more sympathetic look or pity hug, I might scream.”

Kieran released my arm so that he could pull me in for a side hug. “I promise to give you no sympathetic looks or pity hugs. Only amused looks and sweaty hugs.” He leaned over to wipe some of the sweat that had been dripping down from his forehead onto my cheek.

“Ugh!” I shoved him away from me. “I told you that doublet was too warm for this weather!”

He chuckled as his fingers nimbly worked to undo the front buttons while we hiked up the stairs to my room. By the time we got there, the doublet was slung over his shoulder and Kieran had unlaced the top of his shirt, putting a decent amount of his chest on display.

I fought back the blush that was threatening to creep up my neck as I realized we were about to be alone in my room with Kieran looking absolutely indecent.

My emotions were all over the place, and I really didn’t need this right now.

Thank the moon Carmilla had insisted I feed from her earlier when she found out it’d been over a month since I’d last fed. It was a little awkward, since at this point, I was used to having sex with my blood, but that probably wouldn’t be happening anytime soon, and I had desperately needed a blood meal.

Even with my thirst being sated I was still nervous about being alone with Kieran right now. I could have blamed my wanting of him on the bloodlust, but that would have been a lie. The desire was always there and had been from the first day I’d met him.

My hand hesitated on the doorknob as I tried to come up with an excuse not to go inside. But the decision was taken away from me when Kieran brushed past me to open the door and waltzed into my suite.

Shit.

Steeling my inner turmoil, I walked in after him, because like hell would I run away from my own damn room.

I froze a few paces in as I took in the feast before me. Honey biscuits, several types of fish sliced up into thin pieces, and an assortment of berries and salted nuts.

Kieran’s grin faltered when he saw my expression, then he looked over the food he’d set up on the low table in front of my settee before facing me again. “Is it too much?” he asked, concern lacing his words. “It’s too much. I’m sorry. I just… I thought…” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll go get us something else.”

“You remembered,” I choked out.

His expression softened then. “Of course I remembered, Sam. I’d never forget anything about you.”

The memories of us raiding the kitchen and throwing together this exact meal every time one of us had a bad day paraded through my mind.

The last time we’d done it had been when my wedding date was set. At the time, I hadn’t been willing to admit I had any reservations about the marriage itself. Instead, I had mentioned how sad I would be about leaving House Harker.

About leaving him.

He remembered. After all these years. Heremembered.

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