“Oh, and one more thing?” Magda said. “Amelia is one descendant, prophesied to bring the paranormal world together, and the second is Daisy.”

Everyone in the meeting room gasped.

“Daisy?” Byron said.

“Yes. She is as vital as Amelia. If Anka and Victorija find out, it will destroy our fight against them. They will kill her,” Magda warned.

* * *

Victorija walked down the hallway with as much energy as she could muster. She had to show her vampires that there was a marked improvement in her condition, and just give herself time to think.

Leo came towards her and said, “Feeling better, Principe?”

“Indeed I am. Thank you for bringing Daisy to me.”

“You’re welcome. Can I be of service to you, Principe?” Leo said.

“No, in fact I feel so much better, I’m going to take a ride out on one of the horses.”

Leo looked surprised and tense. “Very good, Principe. Have a good ride.”

When Victorija got around the corner, her shoulders slumped, and she was sure the pain of the blood sickness was etched on her face. She just needed time, but time was not on her side.

As Victorija gathered her breath, her exceptional hearing picked up several voices.

“Excuse me, Duca,” Leo said.

“One moment, Leo, I’m on the phone…Yes, Madam Anka. The plan is in place. She’s feeding from Daisy MacDougall now.”

“Make sure she is fit and healthy for me. I need the strength of a born vampire, and if I don’t have it, I can’t give it to you, Drasas, and I know how much you want to be Principe.”

Victorija couldn’t believe her ears. Her own protégée was plotting against her?

“Yes, I do. I will give you anything.”

Treacherous little fuck.

“Are you sure this will go well?” Drasas continued. “She is a born vampire, too strong for me.”

Always will be, you gutter trash.

“Believe me, you will soon have more power than Victorija can dream of. Then you will take her head and burn her heart to dust,” Anka said.

Drasas had been sleeping on the street, sickly, starving, and with no hope when Victorija met her. How could she?

“What shall we do with Daisy MacDougall once Victorija is dead?”

“Kill her.”

That remark made her snarl. Daisy might be a human with delusions of grandeur, but she was her Daisy, and her Brassard, and she would make sure she kept Daisy alive, if only for Angele’s sake. But Victorija wanted to live. There had to be some way to break this bond. There was always a way. She had to think.

As Victorija walked, she thought, I gave Drasas everything.

She followed her instinct to get out of the castle and go for a ride. She approached the stable block and saw one of her stablehands brushing down her favourite horse, Angel.