Page 131 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“Agreed.” Camila’s voice was icy as she looked down at my mate. “Perhaps you can command my mother to speak, Your Majesty.”

White-hot anger barreled through me just as my mother exploded.

“You stupid, selfish child,” she hissed at Camila. “Do you think I chose to hide my grandchildren away for spite?”

“I have no idea why you do anything. You don’t bother to clue the rest of us in on your grand plans,” she shot back.

“She has a point,” Sebastian offered, earning a harsh glare from our father. But he walked over anyway, shoving his still-bloodied hands in his pockets. “You don’t tell us anything. You just expect us to go along with it. And that’s not really working anymore.”

There was a moment of stunned silence, each of us too shocked to speak. It wasn’t like Sebastian to be the reasonable one in the group, but...he had a point.

“Why did you hide them?” Thea asked. A simple question but one I didn’t expect Sabine to answer.

Sabine drew herself up and dragged a deep breath through her lungs. “The Drakes. I knew they would demand your children.”

“By law—”

“The Drakes have never cared about the law,” she cut in, “and I was not about to let them steal away my flesh and blood. Not again. Not after I lost...”

Her voice cracked, her head turning from us toward the ocean as a single crimson drop spilled down her smooth cheek. And before I could process my mother’s unexpected vulnerability, Thea moved to her side and wrapped her in a hug.

Wide-eyed, my mother accepted it, peering over Thea’s shoulders with a look of utter bewilderment that slowly softened.

“And why now?” Camila’s question cleaved the tender moment in two. “Why keep them from me?”

Thea backed away to give her room to respond.

“Your behavior has not proven it was worth the risk,” she admitted far more gently than any of us might have expected. Maybe my mate had granted her some of the golden, peaceful magic she possessed. Or maybe my mother knew that she was running out of time to explain herself.

“I would never harm my children,” Camila snarled.

“You might not, but I cannot say the same for your husband. Until Willem is dealt with its better that they stay hidden.”

“A plan I can get behind,” Benedict said, finally joining the conversation, “but you aren’t declaring war against him or the Council.”

“Still playing the part of the diplomat, I see.” My mother’s lips curled, her fangs bared. “No matter. It is for your sister to decide.”

Camila considered for a moment. “I never wanted to be matriarch. I wanted...it doesn’t matter. You can go back to ruling the entire family as soon as my children are with me. We won’t rest until my husband is dead.” She swiveled to face me. “Is that a problem?”

“I take no issue with ending Willem Drake. In fact, it would be my pleasure to do it myself.” After what he’d done to my family, to Thea...he was dead and while my sister might want it over and done with, I found myself inclined to take my time carving him into so many pieces that no magic could ever resurrect him. Thea paled, catching either my emotions or my thoughts.

Is that a problem, My Queen?

She swallowed before granting a slight shake of her head.

Good.

“Without the Council backing us, is that wise?” Thoren said carefully.

A cold spark of surprise bolted through me. Not my own. Thea’s. Her beautiful voice filled my head. He’s usually so quiet...

That’s his gift. Thoren chooses his words carefully. He never speaks unless he wants to be heard.

She blinked up at me, a little confused, before watching my family. No one is jumping down his throat.

Exactly. We all learned a long time ago to listen.

“What would you suggest?” Dominic asked.

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