Victorija guided the vampire she’d picked down the corridor and into an empty room. There she looked into her eyes and said, “You won’t remember our dance, or me bringing you here. You will wake up with no idea how it happened.”

“Yes, Principe.”

Victorija quickly snapped her neck, and she fell, knowing the vampire would wake once her body had healed itself. “So far, so good.” She felt a sharp stab in her guts that nearly made her throw up, but she forced herself to calm. She did and made her way to a door on the other side of the room. She took a couple of deep breaths. It was adrenaline that was keeping her going at this point.

This door led to corridors and stairs used by the staff, where she was less likely to be challenged.

She just hoped Daisy was ready.

* * *

Daisy paced back and forth in the dungeon. She thought every noise she heard coming from outside the jail door was either Jacque, or Drasas coming to kill her, if Victorija’s plan went wrong.

How ridiculous it seemed to her to be rooting for Victorija, when not long ago she would have been running from her. The time she’d spent in here had confirmed to her that their blood bond deserved a chance, her one chance to do the right thing.

From what she’d heard and had seen of Victorija, she didn’t have much discipline for her impulse for blood, so stopping herself from feeding on her was a big gesture. Angele must have really made a big impact on her.

Finally, she heard keys in the lock. She held her breath, and the door opened slowly.

She let out a long breath when she saw a young man smile at her and say in a thick French accent, “Mademoiselle Daisy?”

“Jacque?”

“That is me. Come, please.”

She followed him out the door and was unnerved when the two beefy guards didn’t even look at them or react to any sound they made. Compulsion was an extremely powerful gift. Daisy held her necklace that protected her from compulsion, and thanked God she had it.

“Come quickly, please,” Jacque encouraged her.

He led her down some very quiet corridors. They only passed a couple of staff on the way. He opened a door to what looked like an old armoury room. There were swords and spears adorning the wall, and some suits of armour that appeared to be for decorative purposes, but it was a big room, and she was sure it would have been full of guards back in its prime.

Jacque pointed over to a huge double door on the other side of the room. “We go out here.” He stood by the door and put his finger to his lips, then listened for any activity outside. When he was apparently satisfied, Jacque slid open a couple of bolts and opened one of the huge doors.