Page 38 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

The silence that followed was thunderous.

I glanced at Mariana, who no longer looked amused, and to Zina, whose mouth had fallen open.

Careful, I warned her.

I know what I’m doing. She sounded a little pissy, actually.

“Join me, my love.” She extended a hand.

It was dangerous business. I knew it, but I took her hand anyway. Rising, I joined her on the dais.

Sit down.

I froze at her instruction, barely remembering the part I needed to play. Thea...

Sit. Down.

You have no idea what this will mean.

I know exactly what it means. We’re equals in all things. Mates. Even this.

I stared at her, waiting for her to change her mind. I searched for the right warning to convey what it would imply if I sat on the throne.

Would you take a throne without me? Her question silenced my confused thoughts.

I sighed. No.

Her answering smile was triumphant.

Later, we need to have a talk about springing crazy ideas on me.

She snorted softly, her hand squeezing mine.

So, I took the throne, and if the silence was thunderous before, it threatened to swallow us whole now.

I hope you’re right about this.

United front, right?

Thea smiled as she lowered herself into my lap, undoing a thousand years of tradition—and starting a riot.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THEA

Shouts rose from the gathered crowd. The mass of people began to shove and swarm, and multiple fights erupted. A couple of dozen pitchforks would complete the scene.

Julian’s hands gripped my hips, his whole body tense and alert. But as much as I wanted to lean back into his arms, lean against his solid body, I knew that would send a different message.

So, I held my head high, more aware than ever of the crown resting atop it.

“We should get you out of here.” Julian’s breath tickled my ear as he spoke quietly into it.

“Now?” What message would that send?

“Let’s worry about bad publicity later,” he said, hearing my thought. “Your sisters already left.”

My head whipped to Mariana’s throne, finding it empty beside me. Then to where Zina sat. Also empty. They’d abandoned me at the first sign of trouble.

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