Page 61 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“So, it’s all okay because you followed your maternal instinct?

“I didn’t say that, but if you come with me, I will explain.”

“Not without my mate,” I said firmly. “He’s helped me find answers while you hid them from me.”

She considered a moment, her face a hard mask and her mouth set in a grim line. The wind picked up, tugging at her hair. It fluttered around her stony features. Finally, she leaned closer. Her eyes narrowed, and her nostrils flared with each shallow breath. Then, she nodded. “Fine.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

JULI

I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but this wasn’t it.

Tucked into a quiet corner of the Cannaregio district sat an unassuming palazzo—by Venetian standards, at least. Its windows were arched in the typical fashion, but the rest of its lines were simple, harshly so, as if it didn’t want to draw unwanted attention, unlike the flashier palaces throughout the city.

The snow was falling harder, clumping together mid-air and building up on the streets. Next to me, Thea shivered and brushed the melted remains from her cheeks.

I don’t like this.

I know.

That was apparently the end of the discussion.

Kelly approached the austere building and pulled a set of keys out. Her fingers trembled from the cold as she moved to unlock the door. “Shit,” she said as her gloved hands fumbled, dropping the keys.

“Let me.” Thea pulled away and bent to pick them up, but when she held them out to Kelly, her mother hesitated.

“You don’t wear gloves,” she said, taking them carefully.

A muscle tensed in my mate’s jaw. “Are you afraid I’ll steal your magic, Mom?”

“No,” she replied quickly as the door’s ancient lock opened. “Will you at court?”

“Yes, but I don’t wear them around Julian.”

Kelly glanced at me, and I knew she was wondering if that was a wise choice.

“I don’t wear them either, if you’re wondering,” I offered. “Not with Thea. There are no secrets between us.”

“So, you share magic.” She spoke as if this was fact, but I caught the edge of question in her words.

Shit. Thea’s voice was panicked in my head. She doesn’t know about us…dying. Do I tell her?

Up to you. I moved closer to her, placing my hand on the small of her back.

There was no way she was going to allow me to go inside first, but there was no way she was going in without me right behind her.

“We do share magic,” Thea murmured as we stepped inside to a dark interior.

Kelly’s gaze flicked to me. “That’s dangerous.”

She could think what she wanted. I certainly wasn’t going to be the one to sway her. And I had more important concerns — like whether or not we were walking into a trap.

“You aren’t,” Kelly scoffed, shrugging off her jacket.

She headed toward the quiet, unlit hearth, but I simply stared after her. Thea started to follow, pausing when I didn’t come with her.

“What is it?” Thea whispered. She tugged at my hand to draw me out of my stupor.

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