Victorija stroked the horse’s nose. “This is where we say goodbye to Angel. This is about you now, keeping you safe.”

“Why?” Daisy asked.

“Because that’s what Angele wanted.” Victorija stroked the horse one last time and said, “Be free, Angel.”

The horse neighed and ran off.

“I can’t walk or run as fast as you can.”

Victorija threw the bags over one shoulder, and Daisy squealed as she was thrown onto the other shoulder, and Victorija ran.

Chapter Eleven

After landing in Paris, Byron suggested they split up. Alexis wasn’t happy about letting Byron go anywhere herself, so Bhal left alone to ask around.

Byron and Alexis thought they would start off at an old French haunt of theirs, the club La Nuit.

A taxi dropped them off around the corner from the club. La Nuit was not as old as The Sanctuary in London and catered to the slightly more shady element of the paranormal world. But it was still an old club, and one that held special significance for Alexis.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this, Duca?”

La Nuit was the first bar that Alexis went to after Victorija turned her. One of the camp followers saw the symptoms Alexis was dealing with on the battlefields and brought her here.

“I’ve been here since, Principe.”

“But this is different. We are looking for the woman that brought you here, that changed your life.”

“Honestly, it’s okay. Life is different now. I’m happy,” Alexis said.

Byron smiled. “And I couldn’t be happier. Come on.”

La Nuit looked like nothing more than a barber’s out front, a good way to disguise what was really there. At this time of night, there weren’t many in the barbers’ chairs. Paranormals came here for grooming as well as the club, and to make sure no humans got in, the shop was by appointment only.

Alexis got the door and held it open for Byron. When they both went in, a woman behind the desk said in French, “Do you have an appointment?”

Byron answered her in perfect French. “Yes, Byron Debrek and Alexis, Duca of the Debrek clan.”

The woman’s eyes went wide, and the barber cutting hair stopped and looked silently at them. They clearly weren’t expecting this tonight.

“Oh, of course, Principe. Enjoy your evening.”

She put a security code into the door, and it slid open. Byron entered with Alexis and took a staircase to another door that opened as they approached. The sound of the music hit them first. La Nuit was about cocktails, chatting, and cabaret. The room was big and had a lot of round tables and a stage at the other end of the room. It had the feel of a 1920s club, which Byron enjoyed.