Just like clockwork, the dungeon guards looked through the shutter in the door to see the evidence that Victorija had fed. The blood ran down her neck, and they were satisfied everything was in order and shut the hatch again.

It was so clear to see Victorija’s clan were working against her. If she could just get Victorija away from the influence of the clan, Daisy was sure she could save her.

* * *

The Debrek household was tense with worry, but busy with staff preparing clothes and supplies for the three seniors in the Debrek clan—Byron, Alexis, and Bhal—leaving for Paris, to try to rescue Daisy.

Byron, Alexis, and Bhal were standing in the entrance hall while their bags were taken out. The family were waiting in the drawing room to say goodbye.

“Just about ready, Principe,” Alexis said.

Byron sighed and looked at her warrior, Bhal. “Maybe I should leave you here, Bhal. Sera may not be ready to—”

A split second later, her sister Sera arrived at speed from the drawing room. She looked furious. “I want to talk to you, Byron.”

Byron looked at Bhal and Alexis and indicated for them to go to the drawing room.

Once they were away, Sera said, “What is Sera not ready to do? Lead and defend our family? Don’t you have any faith in me?”

“Sera, this is not a slight against you. But you haven’t been in the position to lead my vampires and Bhal’s warriors before.”

“Only because you won’t ever let me. When I went to America, you had our cousin never let me out of her sight. I’m not a child, and I think you sometimes forget I’m a born vampire, too. Do you think I’d put Amelia and my niece or nephew in danger?”

“Of course I don’t.”

Sera folded her arms defensively. “Then trust me. Let me do this. You, Mum, Dad, Bhal—you all always treat me like an airhead child. I’m not.”

“I never intended to make you feel that way, Sera, but you can be impulsive. Remember what happened in Monaco?”

Sera rolled her eyes and then shook her head. When Amelia and Byron were first dating, they went on a trip to the Debrek Monaco house. And against Byron’s instructions, Sera took Amelia out to a club, and the Dreds nearly captured Amelia.

“I’ve apologized for that, like, a million times. I can do this. Trust me?”

Byron smiled then kissed Sera on the cheek. “Of course. Let me say my goodbyes. Come on.”

Sera was smiling widely now. Byron was worried and had her reservations, but she wouldn’t show Sera that. It was going to be so hard leaving Amelia. She was a capable woman, but she was only just learning about her powers, and they had a baby to protect.