Page 117 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

It had taken all of three days before they traced Julian and Thea’s outgoing flight to my private jet. But since I’d compelled the pilot to take a vacation of his own after dropping them in Cuba, no one knew exactly where they’d gone.

No one but me.

My best friend owed me big time. It was going to take an extraordinary amount of groveling to make it up to me—and probably a diamond or two.

“I promised I wouldn’t say anything.” I offered an apologetic smile instead, but Aurelia’s nostrils flared.

“A few days away can’t hurt,” Lysander said, reaching for her hand as she passed him. She jerked away, glaring at him with blazing eyes. “Lia...”

“If this is the behavior I can expect from a mated Queen, I can see why everyone at court is pissed at your brother. Julian will have to answer for what he’s done.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And what has Julian done?”

Aurelia lifted her brows and stared at me. “Everything. He’s making a mockery of the court. Sitting on a throne. Running off with our Queen. He needs to learn his place before I’m forced to put him in it.”

I winced. I’d been afraid it would come to this. Aurelia’s loyalty to Thea kept her from seeing the truth. Julian hadn’t dragged Thea away. They’d gone together. “It was as much Thea’s choice to leave as his. Blame them both.”

“I will,” she promised. “She is a Queen, and she abandoned her court.”

“Not permanently. Thea belongs to herself first. Not you or your court,” I said coldly.

“And she has a duty to her mate,” Lysander added.

Aurelia threw a sharp look in his direction. It was a miracle neither of them had killed the other yet. I’d seen wars start over less tension. “You aren’t helping. I thought you came...”

“My duty is to my family.” His eyes never left hers.

“And mine is to my Queens,” she said through gritted teeth.

They were still locked in their battle of wills when Geoffrey entered, carrying a silver tray. He paused in the doorway, assessing whether or not to proceed.

“Mademoiselle,” he said tentatively. “If I could have a moment...”

My shoulders slumped, relieved that he needed me. I was going to give him a raise. Or maybe once the lovebirds were back, I’d run away with Geoffrey to somewhere sunny and let the chips fall where they may. I could use a break from all the drama, too.

I left Lysander and Aurelia arguing and walked over to Geoffrey.

“You have visitors.” He glanced down at the tray, and my gaze followed to discover a single calling card.

“Better tell Camila to join us,” I said tightly, “and show her in.”

I was wrong. Julian wasn’t going to owe me a diamond; he might have to give me that stupid private island to make up for dealing with this. Since my duel with Camila, things had gone from strained to tortured. Rumors swirled that Sabine’s surrender had endangered her standing with the Vampire Council. Camila, meanwhile, seemed disinterested in her new role as matriarch. She’d challenged her mother for answers about her children, but Sabine refused to talk. But despite the really possibility of bloodshed by having them in the same room, I wasn’t going to miss the chance to force them to talk. They needed to work this out. I walked back to the other two.

“If you two are done,” I interjected, cutting Lysander off mid-sentence, “I’m afraid we have company. Your mother’s arrived.”

He groaned, but Aurelia’s eyes widened. “I need to go.”

“I’ll come with you,” he said, and I wondered if he was being a gentleman or if he was just a glutton for punishment.

“No,” she stopped him. “I must see the Queens and tell them what I learned—or rather didn’t learn. You’ll only make it worse.”

I smiled as she swept out of the room, but Lysander frowned, his gaze following her as she left. “I always make it worse,” he muttered.

“Is something going on between you two?” I asked him.

He shook his head as footsteps approached. Camila rounded the corner and stopped when she saw us standing there. She was already wearing her red silk pajamas. She hadn’t said good night, so I was surprised at the state of her undress—not that we’d been speaking much. She was only staying here because she didn’t trust her mother not to take back her position by killing her in her sleep. I stared at the way the silk draped over her curves, and she lifted a brow. I looked away quickly.

“Don’t let me interrupt, Brother,” she said sweetly. “I’ve been wondering the same thing about the two of you.”

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