Page 80 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

He led us down a vast, dimly lit corridor lined with tall windows that looked out over the ocean. The marble floor was covered in a deep red carpet, and I wondered for one paralyzing second if it was to cover bloodstains. I was walking into one of their oldest embassies. Who knew what had happened here over the years?

Portraits hung in gilded frames between the arched windows. Our guide pointed to them. “These are the vampires that have served over the millennia.”

Millennia. Would I ever get used to hearing things like that? My feet dragged. The air felt heavy, like there wasn’t quite enough oxygen thanks to whatever magic the Council used to ward their private chambers.

I struggled to keep my face blank and my expression neutral as we entered a vast open room. Beneath a vaulted, stone ceiling, a group of six vampires sat in the room’s only chairs, two males and four females. I recognized two of them. One was my future mother-in-law. The other was Selah, the vampire who had overseen my Second Rite—the one who had not been pleased when I passed it. They wore black cloaks that covered them from the neck down. If they were anything like Sabine, it was probably to hide weapons. Lots of weapons. Behind them more vampires in black were lined in a single, intimidating row.

I tried to make eye contact with Sabine, but she looked past me like I was invisible.

So, that’s how we were going to play this. Well, if she was going to act like a bitch, I would, too.

Breaking free from my companions, I walked right up to the seated vampires and planted my hands on my hips. “You summoned me.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I swore I saw Sabine’s mouth twitch.

But it was one of the males who spoke, his face drawn with distaste. “We have called you here to see to an important matter. It’s been a long time since the Council and the Queens have spoken officially.”

“I gathered,” I said dryly. “That’s why I deigned to come.”

He looked to Sabine. “Is she always so insolent?”

“Yes, she is,” I answered before Sabine could.

Selah glared down at me. “You smell of your mate, but he is not with you.”

“He wasn’t invited,” I said with a sugary smile, “but he sends his greetings.”

“That is just as well.” The male waved a dismissive hand. “The matter we must discuss is for you alone.” He looked to my companions. “Perhaps, they should wait—”

“They stay with me,” I said firmly.

“So be it,” he said blandly. “The Council summoned you for a reason—”

“Your Majesty,” Jacqueline interjected, moving to my side. She shrugged when his mouth went slack with shock at being addressed directly. “It seemed like you nearly forgot that part.”

“Along with the bowing,” Aurelia added.

I kept my shoulders squared, my gaze directed at them, and hoped that I looked fiercer than I felt.

Selah’s lip curled at the suggestion. “We do not bow to Le Regine.”

“Noted,” I said coolly. “Now that we have that sorted... Why am I here?”

Her face relaxed into a wicked smile, and I caught Sabine straighten in her chair, her own face grim. “We have called you here to discuss your death.”

But I didn’t back down. “I’m not so easy to kill.”

Turns out it was easier to face the idea of death now I’d actually died. Not that I was eager to repeat the experience.

Selah leaned forward on her chair, her gloved hands slipped from her robe to grip the chair. “Does death amuse you? We could arrange to see how you like it the second time around.”

“Selah,” the male said her name quietly. “We didn’t call her here to make threats.”

That was...surprising. “You didn’t? I thought that was all you did.”

I expected another annoyed reaction, but instead, he cleared his throat. He nodded to me, his face serious.

“We are not interested in making you our enemy. Rather, we have chosen to warn you.” He moved so quickly that I barely had time to blink before he was standing in front of me, holding a sealed envelope.

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