Page 180 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“Tell Julian where I am, and that I’m fine and to stop worrying.” Because he would. I might be able to sneak away for a few minutes, but I knew how it would look to have both the bride and groom disappear. My legs shook under me, reminding me that I might get sick again at any moment.

“Yeah, good luck with that,” she said dryly. “I should see you to your room.”

I swallowed the acid in my throat. “I’m fine. I know that a quarter of those guests are security in tuxedos.”

Her grin told me I was right. “We just thought it might be nice to avoid bloodshed today.”

“Believe me, I appreciate the gesture. I’m sure I won’t be long.” The churning in my stomach suggested otherwise, but I kept that to myself. I’d get over the worst of it, clean myself up, and make my way back to the reception. There was cake waiting for me, after all.

But as I wove through the halls, I couldn’t soothe the pit in my stomach. I felt... wrong. It didn’t feel like morning sickness. More like being plunged into the icy, fiery depths of hell.

The empty corridors were a welcome relief, given my condition. I wanted today to be about me and Julian and while it was the happiest day of my life, I didn’t know half the people here. I guess that’s what happened when the groom’s family’s guest list stretched back millennia.

I reached my quarters as Aurelia flew down the hall. “Thank the Gods.” She gripped my arm. “I need you to come with me now.”

The chill that snaked through me had nothing to do with my nausea. “What’s wrong?”

Her eyes met mine. “It’s Zina. I think... just come.”

That was the pit in my stomach. Not morning sickness, but an intuition. I was connected to the other Queens. If something happened to one of them...

“Where is she?”

“The throne room.”

What was she doing in there? I tried to keep up with Aurelia’s furious pace. Questions would have to wait. The adrenaline pounding through me overwhelmed the nausea, but my legs were much shorter than hers. I lost sight of her as she rounded the corner.

On the threshold of the throne room, I stopped. Icy air blasted through the open door, so cold that my breath fogged. A copper tang filled the air. My fangs protracted, recognizing the scent before my brain did. Blood. Lots of blood, from the smell. Dread curled around me, settling in that yawning pit in my belly. Something was very wrong.

I took one step and hesitated. Maybe I should wait for Julian.

“She’s in here,” Aurelia called from inside the room.

And if the blood I smelled came from her, I didn’t have to time to run for help. I reached out with my mind.

I’m in the throne room!

It felt like shouting down a tunnel. We rarely used our bond to communicate when we were apart, but I had to try.

When I entered, my eyes landed on the empty thrones first. Aurelia crouched, a body sprawled at her feet. She lifted her stricken face to mine, revealing her bloodstained hands.

CHAPTER SIXTY

THEA

My courage faltered for a moment, but I forced myself forward.

My knees buckled as I reached the body. Zina. Her glassy eyes stared at the ceiling, her silver hair now muddy crimson from the blood pooling under her. She was still beautiful, even in death, but her skin was ashen, as if her magic had drained out with her blood. But my eyes lingered on her wound, on the angry red slash, the flesh pulled back to expose muscle and bone. It was vicious, but calculated.

“How?” I asked, already afraid of the answer. She was a Queen. She should have healed, and if she didn’t...

Aurelia’s mouth thinned with anger. “She was attacked. It was a trap.”

And if she had been attacked...

“We need to find Julian and Mariana,” I said, the words rough and uneven. “And we need to get out of here.”

But even as I spoke, I knew it was too late.

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