Chapter 14

Tristan observed the young woman sitting opposite him at a small table. They were having supper in his private chambers.

"Thank you," she said to a servant who poured her wine.

No real noblewoman would thank the servants or ever agree having supper in a man's chamber without a chaperone. No, this woman most certainly wasn't a noblewoman. She wasn't like her companions either, Tristan's little test with Lucien's blood had proven that. If she would be a beast, she would have reacted very differently.

According to all the information Tristan had managed to gather, these creatures drank blood, they were stronger and faster than normal humans and the smell of blood revealed their true face. The face of a beast. Surely, they also had weaknesses, just like every creature, and fortunately Tristan had managed to find one of them. He would have loved to know what exactly was strong enough to scare these beasts.

"Leave us," Tristan ordered the servant without even looking at him.

Of course, the servant obeyed immediately and closed the door behind him. Tristan placed a charming smile on his face as he concentrated on his female companion. According to her body language, she was tense, but not afraid. At least not yet.

"How is the food?" Tristan asked politely.

"Fine, thank you," she replied. "About Lucien…"

"His wounds are being cleaned as we speak. I am a man of my word."

She nodded.

"Thank you, my lord."

Tristan observed her quietly for a moment as she ate. She possessed no ladylike gracefulness, but her eating wasn't clumsy either. More like efficient, as she would have feared that someone would take the food from her. A servant. Was that what she was to her companions? That was Tristan's best guess. And one of them had broken her little heart. Poor thing. Poor useful little thing.

Tristan was very good at reading people, but there was one thing about her he couldn't understand. Why was she so loyal to Lucien? Why had she helped him? They weren't lovers, Tristan was sure of that, so why had she jeopardized her own safety for him? There was nothing she would gain for her loyalty, on the contrary.

Tristan wasn't sure why the matter bothered him. Perhaps because he couldn't understand it. He knew everything there was to know about human behavior. He knew what motivated people and how he could make them act the way he wanted. Why would this girl be any different?

"Have you enjoyed your time here, my lady?" he finally asked.

"Yes, I have, thank you."

She surely used those two words a lot. Thank you.

"No need to thank me," he hummed smiling. "It has been a pleasure to have you here."

Confusion. She wasn't used to compliments.

"That's a very kind thing to say," she stated tensely.

"It is the truth," Tristan assured. "Surely you know that you are a lovely young lady."

"Thank you, my lord," she murmured.

"Surely I am not the first man to say that. You must have plenty of suitors."

"I don't," she murmured without looking at him.

"Oh? Why not?"

She pressed her lips together, clearly unwilling to reply.

"Why were you willing to sacrifice your reputation for Lucien?" Tristan asked after a moment of silence.

"I told you," she replied tensely. "He is a good man."

"You must know him well then?"

"Not really, but I know that he did nothing to deserve to be punished."

Tristan looked at her curiously.

"What did you hope to gain for helping him?"

Finally, she looked at him, confusion clear in her eyes.

"Gain?"

"Yes. Why else would you have done something like that for a servant you barely know?"

"Because it was the right thing to do. That is all."

The right thing to do? What a strange thing to say. As he observed her, he saw that she meant it. Normally Tristan would have laughed at such naivety, but in this case, he found it interesting. There seemed to be more to this girl than met the eye. Her modest loyalty, as foolish as it was, was admirable.

"Because Lucien is a servant?" Tristan inquired.

She shook her head.

"Not just because of that. He is a good man."

"So you keep saying, although you barely know him."

"I know him well enough to form my opinion," she replied.

"I see. Have you formed an opinion about me?"

She tensed and pressed her lips together.

"I am sure you are also a good man, my lord," she lied.

Tristan smiled as he shook his head.

"I think we both know that is not true," he hummed. "You see, my lady, I cannot afford to be a good man. What I must be is a strong man. A feared man."

"That sounds lonely," she stated quietly.

"Sometimes it is, but it is the part I was born to play. The heir of Count de Martel."

"Would you change your part if you could?"

Her question surprised him. The truth was that he had never really thought about that.

"I don't know," he replied truthfully. "How about you?"

She shrugged.

"First I would have to know what my part is."

"I could help you find it," he replied softly. "Offer you safety."

"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously.

He smiled and leaned towards her.

"I can offer you a safe home and a comfortable life right here."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I know the truth about your… shall we say companions. I know what they are, and I know you are not happy with them."

"I am afraid I do not know what you mean," she murmured.

"I think you do, but I do admire your loyalty. I would like to have it for myself."

"I am tired, my lord," she stated tensely. "May I retire?"

"Not yet I am afraid. We are not finished."

Slowly she looked at him.

"What do you want from me?"

"Not much. I would only like to ask you few questions about the de Guises."

"I don't…"

"I already know that they are not humans," Tristan cut in. "They are bloodsucking beasts. I also know that they are hiding from someone or something. I believe you know what that something is."

"I don't," she replied firmly. "And I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Why should you remain loyal to them?" Tristan hummed. "Especially after what he did to you."

Tristan didn't actually know what had happened and which one of them had hurt her, but she didn't know that.

"What happened between me and Niklaus is private," she replied coolly.

"Of course, I didn't mean to upset you. What I want you to know is that I can protect you from them. You could have a home right here."

"As what?" she asked sharply. "Your toy?"

"No, no, absolutely not. I wouldn't force you into anything, but I admit that I wouldn't mind getting to know you better."

"Why?"

Tristan raised his eyebrows.

"My dear lady, surely you know how special you are. A rare jewel, I might say."

She didn't have time to reply when the door suddenly flew open. Tristan's eyes widened as he saw Lucien standing in the doorway.