Page 188 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“Fae,” Willem spat the word at Aurelia.

Lysander moved away from her, his face slack with shock. I didn’t dare move. Not with that knife pressed to my mother’s throat. The air was still. None of us even drew a breath, save for Aurelia. She shook, trembling from whatever magic had ripped away her magic.

Willem strode toward her, laughing. “Perhaps she’s come to call in her bargain with you, Kelly. Our daughter has fulfilled the terms of your agreement. Your new Fae master should be along to collect you.” He turned toward me. “Do you have any idea what the Fae will do to her? They’re much crueler than vampires. You can’t even imagine—”

A strangled cry cut him off. Blood bubbled from his mouth, the sharp end of the dagger protruding through his throat. He stumbled a step, revealing my mother panting from the effort of her surprise attack.

“You always loved to hear yourself talk,” she snarled.

He reached for the dagger, his fingers grappling for the blade as my mother collapsed behind him. Her body arched from the stone floor, and I rushed toward her as Lysander tackled Willem. They were a blur of blood and motion. I knelt next to my mom, trying to soothe the spasms racking her body. Aurelia and Quinn joined me, shielding us both from the savage battle happening between Lysander and my father.

“What do I do?” I begged them. “It’s his tether. She disobeyed him.” She’d fought that primal connection, and I knew what the cost would be. Julian had died fighting his tether. I couldn’t lose her. Not after what she’d given up for me. Not after things were finally healing between us. Looking to Aurelia, I said, “Make a bargain with her. Save her.”

Aurelia dropped into a crouch beside us, tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m not that powerful. I’m only half Fae. I’m sorry.”

I turned to Quinn, the silent sorrow on her face telling me what I couldn’t bring myself to face. There was nothing to be done. Not in this life. I held my mom closer as my last hope evaporated. “I’ll find you,” I promised her, sobbing. “I can bring you back.”

She lifted a trembling hand to my face, managing to shake her head a little. “No. Do not go where I am going. Do not risk your child. Being your mother was my greatest honor. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. Trust yourself.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Let me go, Thea. Save your magic to finish him.”

Her eyes glazed over as her breathing became a faint rattle in her chest.

“No.” I looked at Aurelia. “Take her to the Otherworld.”

“Thea—” Quinn cut it, but I ignored her.

“Snap your fingers!” I demanded. “Take her to the Fae.”

Willem hadn’t been able to control her magic. If Fae magic was that powerful, another bargain might be the only thing that saved her now.

“You don’t understand. I am bound to the court, not only by a vow, but to the throne itself,” Aurelia said. “Even if I could—”

“Then I will make a bargain with you,” I cut her off. “I will release you if you take her to your people. Ginerva taught you about your magic. I know you can do it.”

Aurelia turned to where Lysander and Willem struggled, something unreadable on her face. Then, she nodded. Only once. She grabbed my mother’s hand, snapped her fingers, and they disappeared.

A hollow pang rang through my chest. I might not see either of them again. I wouldn’t blame Aurelia if she never came back here. Next to me, Quinn rose and offered me her hand.

I stared at it.

“We have to finish him,” she said. “For her.”

I took it, hauling myself to my feet. She was right, even if I had no clue how to do that. Even the knife—the Queen-killer—hadn’t been enough to take him down.

“Enough,” my voice boomed through the room.

A second later, Lysander flew against the wall, hitting it with a bone-splitting crack. He groaned as he slid to the floor and didn’t get back up.

“Help him,” I told Quinn, who rushed to his side.

Willem appeared before me, dagger lodged in his throat. His lip curled as he reached up and yanked it free. He flicked the blood on the ground and lifted it in my direction. But he didn’t lunge. He didn’t make a move.

Why? He could kill me and take my throne. That was his plan the whole time.

Lysander lifted his head, managing to croak a few words. “His magic. He can’t call it.” He lifted a bloody hand to his throat, and I realized what he was telling me.

Willem used spells. Old magic stolen from the grimoires of witches his family had taken over the years. But he was still a vampire—still stronger and faster than I was. He could end me easily, even without his magic. Unless...he couldn’t kill me.

I was the only surviving Queen, the last one linked to the magic that flowed through the water of Venice. The magic flowed through me.

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