Just then, they heard a bang from the balcony at the back window. Byron turned around and saw Brogan’s wolf nose through the window, which had been left on the latch, and jump onto the floor. Brogan’s wolf was impressive by any dominant’s standards—big, grey pelt, with a streak of red and brown down her back.

She started to shift back to skin, and Alexis grabbed the jeans and T-shirt Brogan had left on the table. Brogan panted as she stood from all fours, and her skin was covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

“Anything, Brogan?” Byron said.

Brogan pulled on her jeans and T-shirt, and then went to the fridge for a bottle of water. “Yeah, just give me a second.” Brogan gulped down the water greedily, and ran her hands through her hair. “Oof, that was a longer hunt than I thought it would be,” Brogan said.

“What did you find?” Alexis asked.

Brogan rested her hands on her hips. “I didn’t find your friend Daisy, or Victorija, but I did track them to a boating shack down by the river. I’ve never seen it before. When I arrived, I saw a woman and the vampire Drasas was with her.”

“Drasas?” Byron said.

Bhal walked over to them. “Maybe the woman was Anka, Principe?”

“Was she elaborately dressed? Light brown skin with black hair tinged with blond highlights?”

Brogan snapped her fingers. “That’s her. Your friend Daisy was there earlier. I came right back to take you over there.”

“Let’s go,” Alexis said.

Byron got in the back seat of the car with Brogan. She leaned forward and said to Bhal, “Go straight ahead for about two miles.”

“Aye, will do.”

When she sat back, Byron said, “Thank you for doing this for me, Brogan.”

“I’m sorry it took so long for me to come to my senses. I missed our friendship.”

“As did I, but don’t worry about it. Love makes us do funny things,” Byron said.

“Well, it won’t get me again. I’m not looking for love or a mate.”

Byron chuckled. “Sometimes it doesn’t take no for an answer.” A thought flashed across Byron’s mind. “Wait a minute. Alexis? Bhal? A shack by the river—could it be the Reaper?”

“Could well be, Principe,” Bhal said.

Alexis turned around in the front passenger seat and asked, “Why would Victorija take Daisy there?”

“No idea, but hopefully we’ll find out.”

Brogan said, “I never knew there was a Reaper in Paris.”

Byron nodded. “Yes, for many years. Our paths have crossed a few times.”

The car pulled up by the river, and they all got out of the car. Byron immediately knew something was wrong. The Reaper’s base was in full view. Reapers’ homes were always disguised.

“Blood, Principe,” Alexis said.

“I smell it, Duca,” Byron said.

“Let us go ahead, Principe,” Bhal said.