She ended her call and walked quickly back to the grand dining room, where she found Byron pacing backward and forward, while Alexis, Sera, Bhal, Wilder, and her most trusted lieutenants were sitting around the dining table, some working on tablets, trying to gather information.

“Byron,” Amelia said, “Uncle Jaunty’s sending his assistant manager next door to run the outfitters for me.”

Amelia’s uncle owned gentlemen’s outfitters on the famous Savile Row in London. Amelia’s dream had always been to make a similarly welcoming place for women to come be fitted for suits and other clothes that had traditionally been the preserve of men.

“Excellent. I want you with me.”

Byron held out a chair for Amelia and made sure she was sitting comfortably. “I’ve just come off a call with Sybil.”

“What did she say?” Amelia asked.

Just then Katie led Magda and her granddaughter, Piper, into the dining room. Byron greeted her. “Thank you for coming, Magda. I’m sure it doesn’t make you popular in your coven to come into a vampire’s lair.”

Piper, who seemed to have a permanent scowl on her face, said, “Especially when said vampire got one of your coven’s best witches killed.”

“Piper, sit down,” Magda said. “The Debreks are an honourable vampire clan. I’m sorry, Byron.”

“Not at all. There have been historical reasons behind the mistrust between our two kinds, but I assure you we only have the best intentions.”

Piper sat next to Wilder with a heavy sigh. Katie shut the doors and sat beside Alexis.

Magda said to Amelia, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling good, thanks.”

“Good, you, Byron, and your child will hopefully bring the witches and the vampires together as the Grand Duchess Lucia and Cosimo Debrek did. We all need each other.”

“I hope so, Magda. I think we all want peace. Sybil said she wouldn’t come here, that she knew where she must be. Do you know why?” Byron said.

“I do, but show me the letter Daisy left.” Amelia handed Magda the letter, and she gazed over it. “Yes, as I thought. The time has come.”

“What time?” Byron asked.

“Sybil isn’t coming here because she is at Daisy’s grandmother’s house in Scotland,” Magda said.

Amelia wasn’t expecting that answer. “What? Why?”

“She feels Daisy might go there if she escapes the Dred castle. Daisy’s grandmother, Margaret, is familiar with Sybil. They have crossed paths many times over the years.”

“She has?” Byron said with surprise.

“Margaret Brassard is her full name.”

“Brassard?” Byron said.

“You recognize it, Byron?”

Byron looked at Alexis, and Alexis replied, “We both do.”

Amelia hated being in the dark like this. “Byron, what is this about? How do you know the name Brassard?”

Byron sat down beside Amelia and said, “The Brassards are, and have always been, vampire hunters.”

Amelia gasped and looked at Magda. “Is this true?”

“Yes, indeed it is. The Brassards have always been vampire hunters, and the calling has been passed down through the generations, along with the ability to sense when they are with a paranormal.”