Page 86 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

Half an hour later, the bar was dead along with some of its patrons. The creatures that Maggie hadn’t kicked out had taken off of their own accord. I took a seat on a worn barstool, rolling up my sleeves until I couldn’t see the bloodstains.

Maggie leaned against the bar and arched an eyebrow. “Back in the game, I see, il flagello.”

“Yes.” I tried to keep the disgust off my face. What was the point of fighting it? I’d stepped into my old life to save Thea. I’d have to stay there to protect her now that she was a Queen.

“You took his heart.” She kept her eyes trained on me as she poured two fingers of vodka and pounded it back. “That might cause trouble.”

“Isn’t there always when we’re around?” Lysander asked, dropping onto the stool next to mine.

“Then maybe don’t come around again,” she said flatly, but there was a sparkle in her eyes that hadn’t been there when we first arrived.

“He was Mordicum. Most of the vampires in the bar were.” I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. “Maggie, what do you know about this group?”

“More than I’d like.” She pulled the bottle back and poured another shot. Her hand shook slightly as she drank. “They got started in the late eighties. At first, it was just rebellious punks that didn’t like the Council’s rules. And now, well, I’m guessing you know what they are now.”

“Terrorists. Murderers.”

“And you aren’t?” she pointed out coolly. “You just walked into my bar and picked a fight that ended in death. How are you better than them?”

“She makes a good point,” Lysander muttered.

I ignored him. “I’m fighting for someone—someone innocent.”

“Let me guess.” She rolled her dark eyes. “You’re fighting for your mate. Males are so predictable.”

“You don’t approve.” That didn’t surprise me.

“Women can fight their own battles. That is unless your mate is too precious to get her hands bloody.” She picked up the bottle of vodka and poured another drink but didn’t offer any to us.

“She’s not,” I snarled.

“Then why are you doing it for her?”

I clenched my jaw to keep myself from growling. “Because she’s not here.”

“She can hold her own?” She shrugged and took her shot. “Maybe I’ll end up liking her after all.”

“You will.” Lysander smiled, his eyes lighting up as he spoke of her. A soft growl slipped from me, and he drew away with his hands up. “What? I like Thea.”

“It’s the mating instinct,” I said through gritted teeth. “It’s not easy to control.”

“Try,” Maggie said with false sweetness, “before you wreck the bar again.”

“What about you?” Lysander jumped in. “Why are the Mordicum hanging out here?”

It was the question I didn’t want to ask her because I was afraid of the answer. She studied me for a second as if she guessed what I was thinking. Finally, she leaned onto the bar. “They’re everywhere. You rich boys are too busy attending your balls and orgies to know what it’s like for those of us in the lower classes. The Council doesn’t care what we say. The second a Switch steps out of line, they’re punished if they’re lucky. Executed if they’re not. We’re expected to live by the same rules without any say in them.”

“It sounds like you sympathize with them,” I said softly.

“I understand them just like I understand you, but I’m not taking sides. This bar is a neutral zone.” Her eyes scanned the trashed room. “Or it was until you showed up. Purebloods don’t bother coming in here. The Council and those rich assholes don’t bother with us unless it’s to cause trouble.”

“We’re rich assholes,” I reminded her.

She didn’t deny it as she met my eyes. “And you caused trouble. What a surprise. What you are is a reflection of the Council. You’re just as bad as they are."

“I don’t believe that.” I slammed my fist on the counter, making the glasses shake. “And neither do you.”

The Maggie I remembered wouldn’t feel that way, but time had a way of coloring one’s opinions.

---