Page 20 of Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

“Whose blood is that?” Thea asked.

A muscle twitched in Sabine’s blood-splattered jaw. “Does it matter?”

“I suppose it does if you came here to kill me.” Thea blinked once, no sign of distress or fear on her beautiful face, but maybe a little surprise. She was light itself. She was a queen rising to take her crown, her throne, to reign.

And even though I was not surprised to find my mate was strong and powerful and fearless, I felt a swell of pride as I felt her realize it herself.

Sabine looked at the mark on my chest and then up to my face. “You’ve chosen her, then. Your allegiance is now to your mate. You are a Rousseaux in name only. I will not protect you.” She swallowed. “I can not protect you. You are no longer my son.”

“I know,” I said without hesitation. Even as her words settled over me, there was no regret.

Cast out. I’d been expecting it from the moment I chose to take Thea as my mate. Not because of the tether, but because of the obvious prejudice my mother held against her. I had tried to find a way to make it work. Not wanting to lose my family. As head of our house, it would be Sabine’s decision if I was allowed contact with my brothers, my father, even my twin. I hadn’t wanted it to come to this.

But if I had to choose between my family and Thea, I would choose her. She was my blood, my soul, the beating of my heart.

Her gaze flicked back to Thea, and she whispered the last thing I expected, “Thank you for saving my son. I can never repay my debt to you.”

Confusion doused me like a splash of cold water, and I glanced to Thea who looked equally perplexed by the stranger standing before us. I had never seen this version of my mother before. It was like she’d reached up and removed an invisible mask to reveal a different face beneath. But which of the two faces was real?

I think she’s having an aneurysm. Thea’s voice filled my head.

She’s had a rough day.

Sabine’s face hardened, her eyes narrowing to slits. “It’s rude to talk behind your mother’s back.”

“You just disowned me,” I reminded her, surprise sneaking into my voice. How did she know…

“There’s a lot that I know, and you—”

“There you are!”

I looked up as my father started down the corridor. He was still wearing his tuxedo, and of the lot of us, he looked the most put-together. But I smelled the tang of blood on him as I approached. His mouth turned down in a grim frown when he spotted my mother coated in blood. He shook his head, managing to look disappointed with his wife. “I’m told you beheaded a guard.”

That wasn’t a surprise—unlike the bout of sentimental gratitude. That was a surprise. A shock really.

But before I could process it, she grabbed my arm and hissed, “There isn’t a moment to waste.”

CHAPTER SIX

THEA

I stumbled to the side as Sabine dragged Julian inside. Dominic followed her swiftly, casting a concerned glance at me. I looked down, remembering that I wore only a sheet, and muttered, “I should put something on.”

Dominic nodded once before raising an eyebrow at his completely naked son. His eyes stopped on the tattoo. “Maybe you should find some clothes, too.”

Julian lips pressed into a line. He tugged free of his mother’s grip and grabbed my hand.

He wants to talk to her. His voice filled my head.

You mean lecture her, right?

Sabine had killed someone. That wasn’t a surprise, but I’d never seen her so...frantic.

Violent, yes. Imperious. Calculating. I expected these things from Sabine. But this was different. She seemed almost anxious, and it didn’t feel like it had anything to do with losing the crown. I wasn’t really sure what to make of it, but I held Julian’s hand tightly and followed him inside the bedroom.

“I’m not sure this is salvageable.” I held up the blood-stained dress I’d worn this evening. I hated the sight of it. Not just because it had practically been my funeral gown, but because I’d gotten it from Willem. I shook my head, wanting to clear the memories, but my chest tightened. Julian was beside me instantly, his strong arms around me.

“It’s not,” he agreed. His head bent, and he nuzzled my neck, his lips brushing the scar from his earlier feeding. “I can hear your thoughts—about Willem and what happened—but we don’t have to talk about it.”

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