Page 161 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

It was an effort not to find the nearest wall and claim her. She had waited for me, wanted me, never given up on me. Even when I’d thought she was gone, when I convinced myself I’d turned an innocent flirtation into something more, when I had struggled with wanting her, loving her.

“I have been in love with you for two hundred years,” I told her. “No one else. You are all I have ever wanted.”

“I meant it.” She cleared her throat, peeking at me through her mask. “I want to take The Rites with you.”

The tension between us lifted, in its place a thread remained. A connection. A lifeline.

“I think...” she said slowly, her chest heaving slightly. “I think we’re mates.”

A smile broke across me. “I know we are.” I brushed a kiss over her lips. “Or we will be by tonight.”

“Tonight?” she whimpered, her eyes bright with the same gnawing hunger.

I brought our clasped hands to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. My thighs clamping together as I imagined taking her gloves off, pressing my palm to hers. “Tonight,” I said firmly, as much for my benefit as hers. “Someone told my mother we would take The Rites together.”

She shook her head. “Me and my big mouth.”

I gave her a look that promised I had plans for that mouth. Then I pulled her toward the party, toward The Rite, toward our future.

Neither of us looked back.

Julian

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I sighed as I beheld my mother. The spell’s choice fit her a little too well. A plume of peacock feathers rose from the center of her mask, matching the ones layered into a skirt that trailed behind her. Her laugh carried through the space with ease. Our father stood quietly by her side, his own mask transforming his golden hair into a lion’s mane.

“Someone’s recovered from being kicked off the Council,” Lysander muttered.

I wasn’t as certain. My mother knew how to attract an audience. As we approached, our father tipped his head in our direction. She glanced, assessing us with a shrewd gaze at odds with the part she was playing, before beckoning us to join them.

“My sons,” she announced as we joined them. “My eldest has mated to the new Queen, but Lysander is available.” She shot a meaningful look at the females assembled nearby.

My brother bristled. “I’m only here until the wedding is over. I’m afraid The Rites will have to wait.”

I could have sworn her feathers ruffled, but she laughed it off, murmuring farewells before sweeping away, her fingers digging into my arm and dragging me along.

“Where is your mate?” she demanded.

“We came separately.” My frustration mounted at the reminder of Thea’s absence.

“Her place is here. The Council will see—”

“She’s got morning sickness,” I whispered furiously.

Her jaw tensed. “A good excuse to some.”

“That excuse is your grandchild,” I reminded her. “And why are you so eager to dangle Thea in front of the Council?” After what they had done, I was having a hard enough time not seeking each of them out and turning tonight’s festivities into a bloodbath.

Malice glittered in her eyes. “The Council needs a reminder of our power.”

“Our? Don’t you mean her power?” I gritted my teeth.

“She’s a member of this family now—”

“I thought I was disowned,” I pointed out.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You are a Rousseaux.”

I smirked. “Soon, I’ll be a Melbourne.” If looks could kill… I baited her anyway. “You wouldn’t ask a female to abandon her name.”

---