Page 47 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

Before we reached it, he stopped and turned to face me.

“I can’t make you a vampire, Thea.”

I realized then that I’d been clinging to one final thread of hope that things could return to the way they were before Venice, and Julian had just snapped it in two.

“I think I knew that,” I said, a tremor shaking my words.

“To be turned into a vampire, you must experience a physical death,” he said slowly.

And if I died, he would die, too. A sob broke loose from me when I realized that not only had I taken away our chance at eternity together, I’d also given him a death sentence. I clapped a hand over my mouth, beginning to shake.

“I would not wish to live a day without you.” He gently pried my hand from my mouth.

“I killed you!” I blurted out.

“You gave me a second life.” His hands pressed against my cheeks, drawing my tear-soaked eyes up to look into his. “Do you think I lived a day before I met you? A life with you is more than I ever expected. I would trade a hundred years for a single day with you. How lucky that I get to have you for decades not days.”

I tried to smile at him, tried to believe him. But the truth was that I thought we would have more time. That was supposed to be the perk of falling in love with a vampire.

“I’m sorry.” I swiped at my tears. “I’m ruining our date.”

“You aren’t ruining anything,” he promised. “But let’s get you something to eat.”

To my surprise, he guided us toward the dead end.

“I think we need to go the other way,” I said.

“I told you I knew all the secret places in Venice,” he reminded me. With a wink, he stepped right into the brick wall, dragging me with him. I stumbled over my own feet as we found ourselves in a small corridor. I turned to find the brick wall behind us.

“Magic,” I grumbled under my breath.

“Let’s see if Claudio is still making noodles.” He tugged me toward the brightly colored shops on the hidden street. It was busy here, but not from tourists. Vampires and familiars wandered the street, many carrying baskets of groceries as though they were simply running errands.

Overhead, the sky was cloudy and full of flurries that never reached the ground. Like most of the other secret magical spots he’d taken me to, the weather here was kept free of the snow and wet cold the rest of Venice was currently experiencing.

It all looked far more normal than in Paris or Greece. There was a market selling produce and meat. The only sign that anything was amiss was a large freezer case stocked with blood bags. There was a costume shop on the far corner, filled with exquisite gowns and masks and finery. Although, maybe it wasn’t costumes so much as everyday clothes for Venice’s older vampires. But I knew the moment we arrived at Claudio’s.

The scent hit me first, so rich I tasted it rather than smelled it. Garlic and tomatoes and onions. My mouth watered, and my stomach growled as we stepped inside. Overhead, a bell rang out above the clattering dishes and lively conversation inside. The entire place was packed.

I shifted closer to Julian, hoping no one recognized us. But no one seemed to notice us.

That was until a burly vampire, clad in a stained white shirt and apron, barreled out of the kitchen straight for us.

“What are you doing in my restaurant?” he demanded.

My mouth fell open at the rude welcome.

“I can’t believe this old shack still exists.” Julian kicked a battered, old chair, which rocked precariously on its worn legs. “And that you haven’t been run out of town yet, Claudio.”

“Not all of us have so many enemies, il flagello,” Claudio said darkly, but then his face brightened, his mouth widening into a grin. “I personally favor admirers.”

“Some things never change,” Julian said with a chuckle. I stared at both of them, trying to figure out what was going on. Before I could, Claudio turned his attention to me. His eyes lingered shamelessly as he surveyed me.

“And who have you brought to fall in love with me today?” Claudio asked.

“She has better taste than that,” Julian scoffed. “Thea, meet Claudio Forner. Be careful. He thinks he’s Casanova.”

“I’m wounded.” Claudio clutched his chest. Shaking his head, he looked to me with wide, dark eyes. “Julian is being a bastard. I taught Casanova everything he knew.”

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