Page 23 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

Let’s hear her out.

I bit back a snort. Now you want to hear her out? She’s been screwing with us the whole time. We can’t trust her.

Just trust me. Even if she’s messing with us. There’s always a little truth in lies. We have to get as much as we can from her.

So now we’re going to sort truth and lies out?

He didn’t respond, instead stepping around me. “What the hell is going on here?”

She rolled her eyes and moved to the table to pour a glass of wine. “I’m going to have a drink, and then I will explain everything.”

“You’re going to explain everything?” he muttered with disbelief. “I’ve heard that before.”

“When you become head of the house, you’ll learn a few things about secrets. And enemies.” She held the bottle out to me. “You should have a drink. You’re going to need it.”

“Don’t—” Julian said, but it was too late.

There weren’t any glasses, so I just took a swig directly from it.

“That could be poisoned,” he told me.

Sabine’s lip curled. “You think I would poison your mate?”

“I don’t know what you’re capable of.” He met her glare with the assurance of someone who had survived her before.

“Everything I’ve ever done has been for you—for this family.”

“I’m not a member of this family anymore, remember?”

“I have to disown you. It’s the only way to maintain my status with the Vampire Council,” she said quickly.

“And status is the most important thing to you,” Julian accused.

I moved between them, holding out my hands. So much for hearing her out. This was going south fast. “Just stop. If you have something to tell us, say it now or get out.”

A faint smile played at her lips. “You are strong. Good. You will need that strength,” she told me. “Both of you. I must maintain my status so I know what is going on. There are spies everywhere, even in the Council. The Mordicum aren’t the only ones willing to get their hands bloody. Now that you are on your own, you have to be careful who to trust and you must know when to stand on your own. I’ll do my best to keep the Council in check, but every sitting member has their own agenda. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them makes a move against you.”

“We have the Queens,” Julian hedged.

Sabine shook her head. “Have I taught you nothing? You can’t trust anyone but your family.”

“And you?” I held up my head. “We can trust you?”

She nodded. “I don’t expect you to trust me, but yes.”

Julian looked like he was going to strangle her, but I wanted to know more. Even if I wasn’t certain I could ever truly trust her.

“Why can’t we trust the Queens?” I asked before they could start fighting again.

Her blue eyes met mine, her gaze so icy that I fought a chill as she spoke, “Who do you think killed Ginerva?”

CHAPTER SEVEN

JULIAN

It took me a second to process what she was implying. Thea’s hand reached for mine and squeezed it tightly, understanding before I did. A log popped in the fire and she flinched, but I found my eyes turning to watch the flames licking along the wood. I stared at it until my eyes burned.

“You’re…” The words jammed in my throat. I cleared it, but it remained raw. “You’re saying Mariana or Zina killed their own sister.”

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