Page 140 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“That is entirely up to you,” I said, keeping my words calm. Lethally so.

“How long will you be staying?”

“Not long. We’re due back in Venice in a few days.”

“Pity.” The flash of his eyes said it was anything but. “But you will come to court tomorrow. We’re all eager to meet your friend.”

I dared nothing more than a grim smile.

“Excellent.” He straightened, tugging at his gold cufflinks. “There have been rumors...”

“You know better than to listen to rumors.”

He gave an acknowledging tip of his head. “Still, it seems the fist holding your magic has been released.”

There was another pause before I nodded. “It’s true. Our magic has awoken from the curse.” I waited for him to ask me more.

Questions bottled up in those silver-blue eyes, but his lips smashed into a thin line. “My father will ask about it.”

“I will endeavor to answer.” I’d promise him no more than that.

“Good, and I will entertain your beautiful friend while you speak to him.” He smirked at the snarl that slipped from me. “Until then.”

And with a snap of his fingers, he vanished.

I was still waiting for Thea’s call when the door to our suite opened two hours later. I shot to my feet, panic seizing my chest when Thea trudged inside, looking utterly exhausted. Instantly, I was at her side. “Are you okay? You didn’t call.” I searched her for signs that she’d been hurt, but she wrapped an arm around my neck and yanked me down for a kiss.

It soothed the ragged edge of my concern, and she smiled up at me. “I’m fine. I just needed to clear my head, so I went for a walk.”

I went utterly still. “You...walked?”

She tilted her head, challenge written in her emerald eyes. “You said the Fae control London. I assumed no vampire would have the balls to attack me.”

“A vampire wouldn’t.” My voice was wooden, even to my own ears. “But a Fae might.” I tried to ignore the crushing fear that rushed through me. She’d been walking through London. Alone. If she had run into Bain or one of his people...

Thea planted her hands on my shoulders. “I’m fine,” she repeated, releasing a sigh, “and we think we had a breakthrough regarding my magic.”

“Tell me about it.” I took her hand, coaxing her toward the living space.

We were halfway to the sofa when she stopped, her eyes snagging on the tall case propped by the bedroom door.

“Is that...” Her words fell away, and I sensed her heart thundering. Whipping to me, her eyes flashed. “Did you know?”

“What?” I spread my hands, wondering how much control she’d gotten of her magic.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she snapped.

“Like what?”

“Like I might detonate.” She rubbed the palm of her hand against her forehead.

“You need to eat something.” When she opened her mouth to protest, I gave her a pointed look. “I’ll order something. Any requests?”

She shook her head. I went to the phone to call for room service, tracking her as she made her way to the cello case. She didn’t open it. She didn’t touch it. I was only dimly aware of ordering us both dinner as I waited for her to make a move.

She didn’t.

“It will be here soon.” I placed the phone back on the cradle. “I bribed them to bring it as soon as they could cook it.”

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