It seemed San had calmed his wolf, and now he offered to take her arm and escort her back. Juliette hesitated. “I appreciate the effort you’ve made to help me collect myself, but due to my station I can’t walk arm-in-arm with you. If I don’t pretend I consider myself ‘above’ those without breeding, I’ll be labeled a rabble-rouser and lose what little credibility in the court I have.”<br/><br/>Juli disliked all the uncertainty the assassin had brought into her life. Did he mean to sabotage the peace process? It was very likely, but she could not be completely sure. Was his kindness sincerely meant, or a ploy to put her off guard? It might be either, perhaps even a little of both. It could even be that he was behaving this way out of sexual desire for her—in which case, might she acquiesce to get some measure of influence over him? It seemed too risky, but she would cross or burn that bridge if and when she came upon it.<br/><br/>At least all this speculation was helping to keep her mind off her father’s death. There was no time to grieve now, she would need some privacy. Juli made her way back to the banquet hall, walking with Sanguine assuming he is willing to accompany her. Once inside, she returns to her seat.