Byron paced as Amelia spoke to Daisy’s friend Skye on the phone. She had discovered on returning from France that Sera had left the house with her guards and gone in search of Daisy. Amelia had said Sera had been contacted by Daisy’s friend Zane, who’d said that Daisy was with him.

Byron knew how eager Sera was to prove herself, but she couldn’t help but worry about her. Sera would always be her baby sister.

Amelia finished her call and said, “Skye hasn’t heard anything from Zane and can’t get him to answer his phone. One thing she did know was that Zane thought he was in love with Daisy, obsessed with her.”

“But if it’s this boy Zane,” Byron said, “then he is no match for Sera and our vampires. Why isn’t she back home with Daisy, and why can’t we get hold of her on her phone?”

Amelia shook her head despondently. “I don’t know.”

Bhal came striding into the drawing room. “Sera’s idiot bodyguard is clearly not doing his job.”

Byron could tell how worried and angry she was. Bhal always made it her personal responsibility to keep Sera safe and train her to be the best Debrek she could be, but Sera butted heads with her because of this. But Bhal did care for her, and Byron suspected that’s why she was hard on Sera.

“It’s not Henri’s fault, Bhal. She wanted the responsibility to lead and protect our home, and I’m sure there’s a reason why they aren’t back as yet.” Byron tried to sound as calm as possible, but inside she felt such a deep fear for Sera. If only she had been here.

“She should have waited until we returned,” Bhal said with frustration.

Amelia squeezed Bhal’s arm. “She was trying to do the right thing. She was being a Debrek, Bhal.”

“My sister doesn’t think, she just responds. Mother and Father are going to be beside themselves with worry. We need to find her.”

Bhal walked up to Byron and said fiercely, “That is why Henri is at fault. I would never have let her get into this position.”

Byron frowned. This wasn’t like Bhal.

Bhal seemed to realize her mistake and said, “I’m sorry, Principe. I’m just so—”

“It’s all right, old friend. I know.”

Just at that, Byron’s phone beeped with a text message. “It’s Anka. Anka has Sera,” Byron growled. “If she so much as puts a finger on my sister, I will hunt her down for the rest of my life.”

Bhal added, “I will be at your side, Principe, and I will take Anka’s head from her shoulders.”

“What does the text say, Byron?” Amelia asked.