[ The curve of fingers around his own, the acknowledgment of that extended reassurance, is a comfort in itself, but barely — Lestat isn't preoccupied enough by it that he'll falter in his awareness of their surroundings. Yet the world still narrows, as it often does for him. It's selfish to think, but he knows he would allow the rest of this house, and all in it, to come to ruin if it ensured Louis' safety. The difference now, and one Lestat himself has come to recognize, is that Louis wouldn't want that. ]

The compulsion to feed... it may only become stronger.

[ And even though Lestat despises the circumstances they're in, is already questioning the path that may have brought all of the vampires to this point without their knowledge. Perhaps not all, he thinks to himself, briefly sparing a look for Armand. That will be a separate conversation, reserved for later. ]

Stay, for now. [ A low encouragement, with the understanding that they will both need to take their leave eventually. ] And if you must, if the hunger becomes too much to bear... then take it from me. [ He knows how deep Louis' restraint runs, but if it becomes a question of the other guests seeing the feed, it may look less damning if they reach for each other. ]