Page 137 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

Still, it didn’t make sense. “But you can’t be...”

“Sixty.” Her fuchsia-stained lips widened. “One of the few family spells that’s never stopped working,” she whispered with a wink.

No wonder Julian had been certain she would agree to meet with me, even before I’d heard back from her. They’d known each other. Of course, considering the tension stretching between them, I wondered if she’d agreed despite my connection to him rather than because of it.

“Did you plan to join us for the lesson?” she asked him.

A muscle beat in his jaw, his cold as he replied. “Am I invited?”

“She’ll do better without you looming over her shoulder.” Diana shrugged, her dress rippling in response, the movement as graceful as a perfect note of movement. “But you are welcome to come in.”

“Thank you.” Julian swiped his tongue over his teeth, unmistakably baring a fang at her. But instead of walking inside, he turned to me. “I will only be a phone call away. Call when you are ready for me to pick you up.”

I blinked, both pleased and surprised that he was leaving me in her care. Since the baby and the attack, he’d been sticking close. But Diana was right. I might do better without him distracting me.

Her residence is spelled against vampires, he explained. Inviting me allows me entrance. It’s a show of...trust.

What did you do to earn that?

His mouth twisted at my dry response. I believe you earned it, not me. But it makes me feel comfortable leaving you here while I see to other matters.

Julian stepped forward and gave me a swift kiss that despite its brevity left me breathless. Would I ever get used to the ache I felt for him? Even eternity seemed too short a time to want him.

“She is safe with me,” Diana promised as I stepped into her home.

Julian lingered for a moment, shadows battling in his eyes, before he nodded and—very stiffly—turned to head down the steps. I watched him go, each step sending a throb through me.

“You’re a good influence on him,” she said as she closed the door, blocking me from staring at his retreating figure.

I managed a smile. “Was he terrible before?”

Her lips pursed, but she only inclined her head as she gestured for me to follow her.

The attached sitting room with its southwest-facing windows was filled with afternoon light that flooded the cream-colored walls. Books, mostly titles relating to music theory and composers, were stacked in disorderly piles around the space, a few novels scattered along with them. A small, iron stove blazed, filling the space with a comforting warmth. Diana took a seat in an oversized linen chair and I took the one opposite.

“You’ve come to me because magic has awoken.” It wasn’t a question.

I nodded. I hadn’t gone into details over email, but now I found myself launching into the story. I told her about the throne and the Council, about my death.

“The Council wants you dead.” She shook her head, a sigh shuddering through her body.

“The Council does not wish a siren to carry a vampire’s offspring.”

“And they know?” She glanced to the hand I kept protectively over the still-flat plane of my stomach.

“Not yet. We think their attack was...preventative.”

“It’s equally likely that they saw their opportunity to undermine Le Regine. There are plenty of vampires who want to control your seat of power,” she warned me.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

Diana huffed a laugh, her eyes softening. “What can I do?”

“My magic...I need to know how to use it, control it so it doesn’t control me.”

“And your mother? Her people? Why not go to them?”

I sucked in a shaky breath. “I don’t trust them. Not after...” Squaring my shoulders, I met her eyes. “And I can’t trust anyone affiliated with my Court or the Council.”

---