Page 39 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“We’ll discuss their loyalty later,” he suggested. “For now—”

He was cut off by a sharp snarl.

Turning my head, I caught a flash of movement. A black-eyed vampire rushed to the dais. One second, he was coming right at us. The next, I was in the air. A shrill scream lodged in my throat as I plunged down into Lysander’s waiting arms.

He caught me like I was a doll, then swept me around to deposit me next to Aurelia.

“Follow me,” she said, sword drawn.

But I refused to budge. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Her eyes closed for a moment, her face drawn. “How did I know you would say that?”

A vampire crashed into the wall next to me and slumped to the ground in an unconscious heap. I looked up and met Julian’s midnight gaze.

Go.

I ignored his order. There was no way I was going to run from the throne at the first sign of trouble. I’d started this fight for a reason, even if it had turned into a brawl more quickly than expected. So much for centuries of refinement and rationality. In the end, vampires weren’t so different than humans.

Thea, go! Julian’s scream echoed in my mind. He was surrounded by three other vampires.

I didn’t move.

He caught the one closest to him around the middle, lifting him effortlessly, and threw him into one of the others. The third hesitated for a second as he watched his companions fall so easily. Julian lifted a hand and beckoned for him to attack.

He turned and fled into the crowd instead.

Julian shifted, his face a stony mask, as he spotted me still standing beside the throne. In one bound, he was next to me. His hands gripped my shoulders gently for a vampire. It would likely leave bruises, but I knew he was doing his best to rein in his strength. I lifted my head to speak to him, but he pushed me toward Aurelia.

Her cold fingers caught my arm, pulling me along. I fought her grip and stumbled toward the other side of the dais.

“I am not going. I need to stop this,” I hissed at her.

Meanwhile, Julian placed himself between me and the thick of the fight.

Aurelia’s sword glinted in the light as she swept it through the air. She turned to Julian and pointed a gloved finger at me. “You will get her out of here. Now.”

“I won’t leave you here to fight alone.” Julian’s voice was nearly drowned out by the encroaching screams and cries of the vampires below.

“I’ve been doing it a long time on my own.” Her eyes appeared as hard and cold as her blade as she spoke.

“I need to speak with them.”

“You’ve done enough,” Aurelia turned on me, all of her early friendliness gone.

“I thought you wanted to be there when I told them my mate was my equal,” I reminded her.

“I assumed it would be a private conversation. Not a means to incite a riot.” She held her sword aloft as a group of ambitious familiars moved toward us. One look at her, and they fell back into the fighting below.

Julian and I had made a public spectacle before. I’d expected the crowd to protect me from the other Queens’ wrath. I hadn’t expected it to turn on me.

I scanned the writhing mass below, a stone settling in my stomach. This wasn’t what I’d planned. Julian’s hand reached for mine. Our fingers twined together, and he tugged me gently away. But as I turned, I spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

Quinn Porter looked like the epitome of glamour, even wearing a torn gown and a determined scowl. She pushed her way toward me, knocking over grown vampires with the slightest touch.

“Get back,” Aurelia commanded, brandishing her sword as Quinn closed in on the dais. Julian pulled me away as she reached the base.

“Wait!” I broke free and moved beside Aurelia. “She’s my friend.”

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