Page 51 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“You should be ashamed of consorting with that slut,” the vampire facing me snarled.

“Didn’t your mother teach you any manners?” I growled, my fingernails cut into the flesh of my palms as I tightened my fists.

“Didn’t your mother teach you to take out the garbage instead of fuck it?”

Something inside me snapped, and I flew at him. Dark magic gripped me as I grabbed hold of him and threw him against a nearby building. Plaster crumbled around him as he fell to the ground, but he shook it off and leaped back up.

“She is your Queen,” I said loudly enough for everyone to hear. “For insulting her, I should kill you. But since she’s my mate, you’re going to suffer first.”

His answering smirk was cold, and as he moved, his glove shifted to reveal a single red slash tattooed on his skin.

Mordicum.

Were they following us?

It was exactly what I was wondering, but it could simply be a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I should knock him unconscious and take him into custody, send a clear message that any other attacks on Thea or Le Regine wouldn’t be tolerated.

But killing him would probably send that message, too.

He flew at me, which was exactly what I wanted. He was a young vampire. Given that he was probably turned, he didn’t have the centuries or the ancient blood to back him up in a fight against a pureblood. Which was why trying to attack me first was a very stupid move.

My arm hooked around his throat as he passed. Twisting my body, I brought him to his knees. I grabbed hold of his head. One twist and his head would pop right off.

His friends were on their feet, fists raised, but they didn’t budge. They knew I could kill him before they moved an inch.

“Stop.”

I paused at the command in Thea’s voice. So did the other two vampires. But I didn’t let go.

I heard Thea’s light footfall behind me, and a moment later, she was at my side.

“This fight ends now. You three go home.” She pointed at the troublemakers.

More like go back to wherever they’d slithered from.

“We don’t take orders from you,” one spat.

The air rippled, and I felt the darkness inside me stirring as if responding to the magic brewing in the wind. It swirled around Thea, lifting her hair from her shoulders so that it flowed around her like a veil of fire. Her green eyes glittered with unrestrained power.

“Do I need to repeat myself?” she asked.

The vampire hesitated before he squared his shoulders. “You can go and—”

He slammed to his knees, his words cut off by the sound of his bones cracking on the stones, followed by a grisly snap.

Turning, I found Thea staring at the lifeless vampire—at what she’d done.

I glanced at the other vampire, who looked as shocked as I felt.

“Go back to your people and take him with you. When he wakes up, he can send his apologies to my court.”

She turned and nodded at me. Reluctantly, I let my captive go.

He hurried to his friend. They didn’t bother conferring with each other before they grabbed their friend and took off. The two vampires hesitated and then hurried away.

Thea turned to me, and her gaze met mine. “Are you hurt?”

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