“We can’t do this again. Ever,” I say.
But I want to.
From the way his eyes flicker, I know he can sense the lie within me.
“Marcus, I—” I stop short at the sound of raised voices from within the house. We exchange a loaded look.
“Shit,” he says, buckling his pants and straightening his shirt. “Something’s wrong.”
I nod without responding, already halfway up the stairs to the front door. More voices. More sounds of alarm. The door bursts open, and I rush through, racing to the sunroom where the others are seated, dimly aware of Marcus right behind me. I stop on the threshold, taking in the sight of my family standing around, their faces masks of horror. If I’d been worried about comments about my disheveled appearance, they don’t come.
“What’s going on?” Marcus says, his voice at my shoulder.
“It’s Lucien.” Soren’s eyes are wide. “He’s taken the House of Eterna.”
My brow furrows. “He’s what?”
Marcus’s body is pressed at my side, but this time, there’s no sense of need coming from him. Just an overwhelming alarm.
“The seat of Clan Eterna,” he says.
I still don’t get it. “What the hell does that mean?” I look at the others. “Is somebody going to fill me in on what’s happening?”
Dad looks at me, his expression grim. “Lucien Marlowe has just taken Arabella’s seat in her clan. And with it, the Assembly.”
Understanding begins to dawn. “Oh, my God.”
Marcus nods, a dark cloud settling over his strong features. “He’s overthrown our Grand Elder, Kara. That makes him the new leader of the vampire realm.”
Fuck. We’re screwed.
10
Chapter 10
Kara
LucienMarloweisthenew ruler of the vampires. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This is the worst news ever. Things were bad before, but this…
This is a fucking disaster.
As if reading my thoughts – because of course he is – Marcus looks down at me and nods.
“Things are about to get ugly,” he says.
“You mean more than they were?” I grimace.
The others are looking at us curiously. As if, perhaps, they’re suddenly noticing our ruffled hair and rumpled clothing. Mia hits me with a pointed look, glancing down meaningfully. I look down, too, and notice that my jeans are still unbuttoned.
Shit.
My cheeks flush red.
A wave of amusement washes over me, and I know it’s not my own emotion. Marcus is silently laughing at me, the asshole. Now. At a time like this.
“Don’t be a jerk!”I think, knowing he’ll read me loud and clear. There’s a snort from beside me, but I ignore it as I fix my clothes and walk into the small gathering with as much confidence as I can muster.
“What are we going to do about this?” I say, looking around at the group.
