Page 79 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

Being here was dragging him back to his past, to a version of himself that I’d only seen glimpses of.

“I don’t want him to be scared,” I said.

“I know, but I’ve learned a few things from my time on this planet,” she said with a wry smile. “The deepest fears are born from love. And I’ve never seen love as powerful as what you two share.”

“Even more than yours?” I instantly wished I could take it back, but she only smiled sadly.

Her eyes strayed to Camila, still walking several paces ahead of us.

“We can talk about it later. Right now, we have an island full of old, powerful, unhappy vampires to deal with,” she said, bypassing the question so artfully that I knew she’d asked herself the same and still didn’t have an answer.

Ahead of us, the others disappeared around a corner. We picked up our pace, following behind them, but I paused as I saw what waited past the bend. The decayed landscape shifted into manicured grounds that led to a domed building. Roses grew in heavy vines up its sides, their blooms blood-red against the winter sky. Despite the sudden life, it was utterly silent, the only sound that of our footsteps on the stone. Even the scent of salt on the breeze died away, replaced by the cloying scent of roses. A pair of vampire sentries, clad entirely in black, stood on either side of the marble entrance. Neither of them looked as we approached.

“We’re here to see the Council,” Aurelia announced loudly.

They didn’t budge as the continued to stare past us.

“What do we do—” I started to ask Jacqueline but Camila cut in.

“We’re escorting Thea Melbourne, the Queen.” Each word was a venomous dart, and it did the trick. The males shifted, but their expression betrayed no curiosity.

One angled his head. “You are expected.”

“We know.” Aurelia rolled her eyes.

He leveled a harsh glare at her. “You are not.”

“These are my personal...guards.” It wasn’t exactly true, but I was on the spot. “They come with me.”

There was a moment of hesitation before he gestured toward the door, nodding to his partner to remain at their post. “This way.”

The four of us shared a look as we entered the massive stone building.

We passed through the columns and entered through the massive oak door.

“Have you been here before?” I asked Aurelia.

“No.” Her lips pursed, her hand moving to the hilt of her sword. It was always strapped to her side. I wondered if she slept with it. “The Council and the Queens keep a healthy distance. This is all new territory.”

“I don’t think anyone is going to attack us,” Camila said.

We all looked at her like she was crazy, but she shrugged.

“If the Council wanted you dead, they’d do it in the middle of the night.”

Well, that was a comforting thought.

“They would never get inside the court.” Aurelia lifted her chin.

But Camila’s mouth quirked into a smirk. “Keep telling yourself that, sister.”

“Cam.” Warning laced Jacqueline’s word. “What have we talked about?”

Camila’s jaw tightened, and she looked physically pained by whatever she was holding back. Finally, she smiled sweetly at my bodyguard. “I’m just being a bitch. I’m sure your court will never be breached.”

The look they shared told me they were not on their way to becoming friends.

The vampire guard escorting us turned before the bickering could start again. “Come. They do not like to be kept waiting.”

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