“But why?” I press. He shrugs, still turned away. “Claude, please look at me.”
He turns slowly to face me. A smile is plastered across his face; with his eyes hidden behind dark lenses, it’s much harder to read his actual feelings. “I’m a blemish on their reputation. A drain on their coffers. An embarrassment and a nuisance.”
“If that’s true, then why haven’t they kicked you out yet?”
His smile is strained, but his voice is still light as he says, “I’m sure they’d be rid of me if they could. But it’s not so simple. There are laws about these kinds of things, and no matter how much Vulpe wishes it were, refusing to paint is not a breach of vampire law.”
After a moment, I slide closer on the seat. Claude doesn’t move as I reach up to remove my sunglasses from his face, revealing the soft blue of his eyes and the sad depths they contain.
I study him as I tuck the glasses away. “Do you even want to be in Vulpe?” I ask. “Surely you can’t be happy as a part of a court that openly snubs you.”
He shrugs. “Better that than courtless.”
“Benjamin is courtless, and he seems to do well enough for himself.”
“Benjamin is a rare case, and he has not made enemies of half the Vulpe Court.”
“You think they’d come after you if you were courtless?” I ask, taken aback. He seems so flippant, I figured he was exaggerating. “They hate youthatmuch?”
His eyes flicker. He looks away. “I’d rather not find out.”
“But…” Surely there has to be a better answer than him existing in perpetual misery in Vulpe. “Couldn’t you join another court? You have friends in Camelia, don’t you?”
He pauses, stares at me. For a moment I think I’ve said something helpful, but then he says, “You think I’m beautifulenough for the Camelia Court?” He splays a hand over his chest. “I’m touched, Nora.”
“Claude, I’m being serious,” I say. “You can’t be happy with the way things are now.”
He drops his hand. “Of course I’m not,” he says. “But it’s… it’s complicated, Nora. Even under better circumstances, it’s extremely difficult to change courts like that. In my situation, nigh impossible. Camelia and Vulpe don’t have the best relations as it is, and Ambrose would never allow such a thing.”
“Ambrose has that much power over you?”
“He is my sire,” Claude says, as if that explains everything. Then he presses his hand across his eyes. “I’m tired of talking about this.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The next evening, I make myself coffee. Claude doesn’t emerge from his bedroom. Maybe it would be best to leave him alone… but I hate the thought of him wasting away in there again, so after bolstering myself with my evening dose of caffeine, I knock on his door and enter at the sound of his voice.
He’s still wearing last night’s clothes, but at least he’s sitting up in bed. “Do you need something?”
“Well…” I clasp my hands behind my back, feeling awkward. I’ve never been very good at comforting people. “I was wondering if we could go to the beach today.”
He frowns at me dubiously. “The beach?”
“We’re so close to the ocean and haven’t gone this whole time, so…” I shrug, feeling foolish. “It’s fine if you’re not feeling up to it, though, we can go another time.”
Claude hesitates, and then swings his legs out of bed one at a time with slow determination. “No. We’ll go today. Give me an hour to get ready.”
* * *
It turns out to be a short walk to the beach, down a path descending the cliffs behind the house. I probably didn’t needto ask Claude to accompany me, but at least it’s gotten him out of bed. He even has me feeling underdressed in my shorts and hoodie, since he’s donned what I can only describe as a belted silk kimono.
It’s too rocky to take off my sandals, but still pleasant to walk along the shoreline. The sea glows under the movement, and the sound of the waves is soothing. We walk for a while, side by side, while I try to think of something to say.
Claude surprises me by breaking the silence first.
“What do you plan on doing after our contract is up?” he asks. “I mean, I know you want to go to school, but for what?” His brow creases. “I realize… I’ve never asked. I’ve been so caught up in myself that I…”
I nudge him with my shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’s not very exciting, anyway. I want to study engineering. Not sure which kind yet.”
