Page 134 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“Permission?” I repeated.

“Technically, any visiting dignitary has to clear it with the court before they step foot in the city, and you, My Queen, definitely fall into that category.”

My cheeks warmed. “What court? Like the Royal family?”

If he told me he knew the King of England, I might actually faint.

“Bit of a crush?” he asked, reading my thoughts. His lips twitched.

“Not anymore.” It came out more defensively than I’d intended.

But that hint of a smile didn’t materialize. Instead, his mouth pressed into a thin line. “The Fae court.”

An hour later, we were entirely packed, and I’d sent an email to Diana asking if she’d be willing to talk. Julian had thrown his clothes into his baggage with the abandon of a centuries-old vampire and gone out to talk to his brother about our plans while I finally showered.

I tried not to think about the blood crusting my skin, about what had happened. Instead, I scrubbed myself clean quickly and changed into fresh clothes, dumping my ruined ones into the trash rather than the hamper. Even if someone could get the stains out, I never wanted to see them again. When I emerged, toweling my hair dry, Jacqueline was on the bed, a tray of food next to her.

“I thought you should eat,” she said brightly, but her cheerful tone didn’t match the shadows swimming in her eyes.

My stomach growled in agreement. “Thanks. Dying really takes it out of you.”

She didn’t smile. “I imagine being pregnant does as well.”

The strawberry I’d just popped into my mouth became difficult to chew.

“I know what you said about being clever instead of fighting.”

I forced myself to swallow and nodded.

“And while you’re probably right, I don’t like the idea of you returning to Venice,” she continued, pinning her eyes on me. “Maybe that’s not fair, but it’s clear that the Council wants you dead.”

“Good thing I’m hard to kill.”

“We can handle this.”

“I know you can,” I said slowly, letting my thoughts catch up to the conversation. “But I have to see this through. The crown chose me. I can’t just turn my back on the throne.”

“Even if that’s what you want?”

“Julian told you?” I guessed.

She nodded. “Don’t be angry with him.”

“I’m not.” I sighed and plopped onto the bed, making the bone china rattle. Facing my own death—again—had made a few things clear to me. As much as part of me longed for a quiet, uncomplicated life, longed for the friends I’d left behind, I would never trade who I was now. I would not be silent. I would not allow fear to control me. Because of Julian, because of our child, because of the future that lay before us if we only seized it. And if I had to fight for that, I would fight—in my own way. I would not hide. Not anymore. “Wanting and doing are two different beasts. Even if I want to walk away, I can’t. Not yet.” Reaching over, I squeezed her gloved hand. If she minded that my own was bare, she didn’t say anything. “I have to see this through, because if I don’t, we’ll never be safe.”

Her eyes flickered to where my other hand now rested on my stomach. “Then I will be right next to you,” she vowed. Tears welled in my eyes at the solemn tone of her voice until she tilted her head and winked. “Have you given any thought to Godmothers?”

I swiped at my tears, rolling my eyes. “We haven’t gotten that far, but I promise you’re top of my list.”

I ate a few more bites while Jacqueline mused about whether or not the baby would be male or female. She’d just asked me what I would prefer when voices rose outside the room.

“You can’t have this many vampires under one roof without a fight breaking out,” she muttered, rising to her feet.

I followed her to the living room to see what the trouble was. We found Julian and Benedict shouting at one another, their chests a breath apart as if any minute, they might smash into each other like actual cavemen. Lysander, Sebastian and Camila stood by, casually taking bets on which one of them would win.

“Absolutely not,” Julian growled.

A muscle beat in Benedict’s jaw. “I do not make the rules.”

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