“Of course I can. I’m a born vampire, cherie. Now, move.”

“How do we get past them?”

Victorija sped over to the window and opened it.

“I can’t jump from here,” Daisy said in panic.

Victorija secured the bag over her shoulders. “No, but I can.” She moved quickly to lift Daisy up in her arms.

“What are you doing?”

“Saving your life, as I seem to have to do.” Victorija jumped out of the eighth-floor window and landed gracefully on her feet.

“Jesus, Torija. Don’t do that without warning.”

“Thank you for saving my life, Torija,” Victorija snarked. It dawned on her that she had referred to herself as Torija. But being Torija scared her. It had been the worst time of her long life. “I’m giving you warning now, Daisy—you’re going to be staying in my arms, so we can escape quickly.”

* * *

Alexis left the second bar and sped around the corner to the waiting car. Bhal was behind the wheel after meeting them with backup. She got in the car and said, “Drasas and her people have been in and out of a few pubs and clubs, asking if they’ve seen Victorija, and nobody has.”

Byron sighed. “We have no leads. Where do we go from here?”

Bhal turned around in the driver’s seat and said, “Byron, you brought the telephone that Daisy left in her room?”

Byron patted her jacket. “Yes, but what good will that do?”

“What we need is a bloodhound to track her scent. What about Brogan?”

Alexis and Byron looked at each other. She remembered the last time Brogan and Byron spoke, and it wasn’t the most pleasant of conversations.

“Brogan Filtiaran?”

Brogan was a werewolf for hire, a mix of a private investigator and mercenary. Originally hailing from the Irish Filtiaran pack, she’d left pack life a long time ago and become a lone wolf in the truest sense.

At one time Brogan and Byron had been friends but certainly not when they parted company. Alexis knew this wouldn’t be comfortable for Byron, but in the end she would do the right thing. Byron always put others first.

“It’s our only option, I suppose,” Byron said. “Do you think she’s still living at her studio?”

“I think she will be,” Bhal said. “It was the perfect setup for her.”

“Alexis?” Byron asked.

“I think it’s our only option at the moment, Principe.”

“Take us there then, Bhal.”

Brogan Filtiaran was going to get a big surprise when they three arrived at her door, Alexis thought as the car pulled off.

* * *

Daisy was feeling sick at the blur of the passing landscape as Victorija went at breakneck speed. Luckily, they came to a stop at last, and Victorija fell to her knees after putting Daisy down gently.

Daisy cupped Victorija’s face. Blood was seeping from her mouth. “Are you okay? Talk to me.”