He went rigid and turned from me. I froze, realizing how stupid I’d been to make the glib comment. After a moment, he turned to me. The edges of his eyes were black, but it was clear he was regaining control. I waited for a rebuke for my careless remark, but none came. Instead, he swept a ravenous look over my body. He moved closer and reached between my legs. I inhaled sharply as he pressed his palm against my sex.
“Will you leave this bare under your dress tonight?”
I nodded, my mouth going dry at the implication of his request.
“I promise you’ll be rewarded, pet.” He stepped away without a second glance, leaving me to wonder what he planned to do.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
JULIAN
The Palais Garnier, known more infamously as the Paris Opera, loomed ahead, rising above the crowded streets and traffic like a beacon. To most people visiting the City of Lights, the Eiffel Tower was the center of the whole metropolis. To vampires, it was the Opera. Tonight, however, none of it mattered because I couldn’t take my eyes off the woman at my side.
Thea remained quiet throughout the ride. Her hand, clad in a velvet elbow-length glove, rested under mine as we waited in the line of cars. I suspected she was occupied with the same thought haunting me.
If only I were a vampire, she’d said.
For the past few days, I’d been obsessed with the possibility she was my mate. Or rather, the impossibility. Now, I wondered if the reason I fought the idea so hard had less to do with her being a human and more to do with what being a human meant: a mortal lifespan. I clasped her hand more tightly, as if she might slip away any moment.
Thea glanced over and smiled, but her eyes betrayed that thoughts were somewhere else. Whatever was on her mind haunted her, too.
“What are you thinking, pet?” I asked her before she could ask me.
She turned nervous eyes on me and lowered her voice, so Philippe couldn’t hear, “That everyone is going to be staring at the virgin.”
More than ever, I wished I could relieve her from that burden. “You said that they planned to compel the familiars not to speak of it.”
“That doesn’t mean they won’t remember,” she pointed out.
“Yes, but only half the people will be staring.”
Her lips pursed, unimpressed with my logic. It was a tad slim. “Another crappy vampire pep talk.”
“Another?” I lifted an eyebrow.
“I called Jacqueline while I was getting ready.”
“What did she say?” I asked curiously.
“That they would be staring at me because I was hot,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“She’s not wrong.” I swept my eyes down her, allowing my blood-lust to darken my eyes just enough for her to know I meant it. “Every male in there will want to fuck you, and every woman will want to be you.”
“Because I’m with you?” A smile tugged at her lips to show I’d succeeded in my attempts to distract her.
“Because they know you’re mine.”
She laughed. “You’re pretty cocky for an old man.”
“They won’t stare because of whom you belong to,” I whispered into her ear. “But because of how you belong to me.”
“How is that?” she asked softly.
“Completely.” I kissed the spot below her ear, earning a shiver. “Absolutely. Unequivocally.”
Her tongue swiped over her lower lip as she leaned closer. “Then why am I–”
“We’ve arrived,” Philippe interrupted.
I used the interruption as a diversion and got out of the car. I knew what she was going to ask. Now wasn’t the time to discuss our shifting relationship or remind her of the necessity of limiting our physical intimacy. I wasn’t sure how much longer we could avoid the reality of our situation.
Circling the car, I helped Thea from her seat and offered her my arm. She took it, adding, “We’re not through discussing this.”
But as we stepped inside the Palais Garnier, she fell silent. Thea looked around with wide eyes as she tried to take it all in at once. For a moment, I saw this place I’d been a thousand times through her eyes. I marveled at the sweeping stone staircase, at the murals painted overhead, at the mirrors that seemed to make the guests milling about the grand foyer part of its extravagant scene. Unfortunately, the moment ended abruptly as we were swarmed. The vampires who refused to return to the states all wanted to say hello or have a word.
But mostly, they wanted to get a look at Thea.
Maybe Sabine hadn’t compelled everyone at the first Rite, after all. Thea shot me a panicked look as more and more people accosted us. She had to be thinking the same thing.
An imperious voice sliced through the crowd. “You’ve arrived with your little girlfriend.”
The guests surrounding us parted ways to allow Sabine to walk through. She’d gone for black–an unusual choice for her. Dark lace rose high on her throat and down to her wrists. All around her, vampires whispered their admiration, but I got the distinct impression the dress was a message. She was in mourning.
“Mother,” I said coldly. The vampires who greeted us before slowly vanished, as if they sensed a storm brewing. But I noticed more than a few curious onlookers eavesdropping.
Boucher appeared at my mother’s side. “Julian,” he said, “and the lovely Thea.”
“Don’t tell me you’re encouraging this,” Sabine hissed, glaring at him.
