Page 136 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“Someone needs to draw him out—someone who knows him.” Thoren shot her a meaningful look.

I didn’t think I imagined Jacqueline’s flinch.

“It would be my pleasure,” Camila purred.

“And you?” Julian asked, not looking at his brothers but his parents.

They glanced to each other, and my heart stuttered when Sabine flashed an icy smile. “The Council will know you aren’t dead soon, so if you aren’t in Venice, we need to distract them. We need them to think Thea is there while we move everyone into place.

“And how are you going to do that?” I asked breathlessly.

Her eyes skipped to mine, and a chill raced down my spine. “By making them believe you are too busy to show your lovely face.”

I’d expected Sabine to have a better strategy than this. “What would keep me that busy?”

Her smile widened. “Wedding plans.”

“Our engagement is old news,” I said with a shrug. “I’m not certain anyone will care.”

“They will care,” she promised as Julian’s shadow fell beside me, “when they receive the invitations.”

His hand went to the small of my back as I spluttered, “Invitations? We haven’t picked a date.”

“I took care of that for you,” she said with a breezy wave of her hand that made my stomach clench. “You’re getting married in two weeks.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

THEA

“This is the right address.” I checked the message again before staring at the house. Black lacquered steps led to a glossy red door with a brass knocker in the shape of a lion’s head and the number three hanging above it. Despite the wintery chill, ivy tumbled from baskets hung over the portico, tendrils curling around the sun-washed columns. A wrought iron railing ran along the path, curving around to keep oblivious pedestrians from falling down the steps that likely led to a basement flat. It was exactly how I’d pictured a London home.

I turned to find Julian staring at the ivy, his lip slightly curled. “Yes, it is.”

He reached for my hand and our fingers entwined. We’d both worn gloves, which seemed a necessary precaution given that we were entering a witch’s residence. But as his hand tightened around my own I felt my magic flare through the leather damper.

“The ivy is a sign of respect to the Fae,” he explained as we climbed the stairs. “It signals there is magic within but that they defer to the local Court.”

I lifted my brows. “I only met Diana once, but I have a hard time imagining she defers to anyone.”

“There’s no choice in London.” His voice was tight as he lifted the knocker and struck the brass plate beneath it twice. He’d been on edge since our arrival. “The Infernal Court demands it.”

“Infernal?” That painted quite the picture, but before I could ask him more, the door opened.

Diana James looked every bit the impresario in her loosely flowing rainbow kaftan, regal and composed. Her long braids were coiled in an elegant mass at the top of her head, showcasing her high cheekbones and rich skin. She smiled warmly at me, her hand hovering on the door. No gloves.

“Thea, welcome.” But the warmth radiating from her cooled as she shifted her attention to my mate. But her gaze wasn’t assessing. It was wary. “Julian.”

I looked between the two of them. “Do you two know each other?”

When I’d met Diana in San Francisco, she’d spoken knowingly of the Rousseaux family. I’d assumed it was a matter of his family’s reputation, especially given that Diana didn’t look a day over forty.

“Our family has always patronized the San Francisco symphony. Diana was once First Violin Chair.”

I held back a snort. His family had probably founded the San Francisco symphony given their ties to the city.

“That was decades ago.”

“1984,” Julian said, and I knew why he remembered the date, knew that the events of that year were seared into his memory.

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