Page 178 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“I now present to you Julian and Thea Rousseaux. You may kiss the bride.”

The collective gasp of the crowd made her grin. Behind us, Sebastian twisted his laugh at our boldness into a coughing fit. I didn’t bother looking to see everyone else’s reaction.

I only had eyes for my wife.

One step brought us together, and she was in my arms. Mine, my lips promised. Yours, hers answered. The world faded away, giving us one perfect moment.

When I finally pulled away, applause erupted around us, but I only saw Thea and her shining eyes, saw the love in them.

“For eternity,” I murmured against her lips.

She brushed her mouth to mine. “Longer.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

THEA

As soon as the ceremony was over and we’d received what felt like endless well-wishes, the reception began. Since most of the guests were vampires, we’d skipped a formal dinner, opting for a large spread of dishes and drinks. There were silver trays filled with imported cheeses, earthy from the caves where it was aged, and meats expertly cured in Prague and delivered this morning. Nestled between them, bowls of fruit so ripe their scent called across the room. And an astonishing variety of desserts—chocolate truffles, cream tarts, delicate Viennoiserie dusted with sugar and strawberries, petite cakes cloaked in pastel frosting, and, at the center, a towering wedding cake, piped with delicate sugar blossoms. Servers passed glasses of champagne mixed with what I suspected was blood.

But it was the music—an 8-piece orchestra — that had beckoned me onto the dance floor and into my husband’s arms. Guests mingled, pausing to murmur more congratulations, but Julian hadn’t let go of me for an hour. I knew this because two of his brothers, his father, and Jacqueline had all grumbled at him for hogging the bride. I nuzzled against his firm chest, completely content to let him keep doing just that.

“You might have to give me up eventually,” I warned him when I saw Sabine’s narrowed eyes on us. “I think your mother wants a dance.”

“It’s our wedding.”

I tipped my face up to drink in his. “And she’s been waiting almost a thousand years for it.”

“You make a good point. Why do you have to do that?” He sighed and spun us away from the dance floor.

Sabine didn’t smile as we approached. She was standing with Camila and two vampires I didn’t recognize, tension stringing between them.

“Finally going to acknowledge the rest of the world,” Camila teased.

I blinked. I’d never seen her in a good mood. She’s happy.

Mating does that to you.

I still can’t believe it.

But the joy written across her face couldn’t be denied.

“I came to ask our mother for a dance.” He forced a smile, and I resisted the urge to elbow him.

“Don’t look so thrilled.” But she offered her hand, clad in an elegant silk glove that continued to her elbow.

He shot me a suffering look as he swept her onto the dance floor.

I was about to find my own mother, who was probably hiding from all the damn vampires, when Camila stopped me. “Thea, I want you to meet my children, Hadrian and Laurel.”

I stared at them for a moment, seeing what I hadn’t before. Hadrian, Camila’s oldest, was the mirror image of his father—our father. My mouth fell open, and I quickly shut it.

Camila seemed to realize that at the same time as I did. “And your half-siblings.”

This was awkward.

But Hadrian stepped forward, hand outstretched. “Mother caught us up on everything. It’s a little weird, isn’t it? You’re our sister and now our aunt.”

He might look like our father, but instead of finding cruel sharpness in his eyes, his were soft, crinkling warmly at the edges. I shook his hand, laughing. What else could we do?

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