[Carlisle hesitates, rubbing at his neck as the nug in his lap. Do vampires feed off animals? What if Armand returns and decides he'd prefer a smaller snack?

But he vowed he would not reveal the undead's existence to anyone else, and so he scrapes for an answer.]

I- as I've said, I've not had a pet before. Perhaps I, er. Am not fit to take care of one, or he would prefer somewhere quieter than this house with these roommates.