Byron took a step towards Amelia, and held up her hands in surrender. “Please, give me five minutes. Just to talk?” She didn’t want to spook her ex-lover and make her run from her emotionally and physically. Seeing the pain on Amelia’s face and knowing she caused it was heart-breaking.

Amelia crossed her arms defensively. “What makes you think I have any interest in what you have to say?”

“Amelia—”

Byron reached out to touch her, but Amelia pulled away. “Don’t touch me, Byron. I’m not the innocent little woman who waited patiently for you and swallowed your lies any more. When you’ve had your heart ripped out and thrown on the ground, you tend to toughen up.”

Byron had known this wasn’t going to be easy, but she couldn’t even get as far as talking. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. Believe me, I’ve been hurting right along with you, but I had my reasons—”

“You were hurting? Oh, please, Byron. I’m sure you were hurting while you were sleeping your way around Europe.”

Frustration was starting to make Byron’s anger rise. She grasped Amelia’s wrist and pulled her towards her. “There’s been no one—I’ve touched no one else. You’re in my blood, Amelia.”

Amelia looked at her silently as if trying figure out her truthfulness, and then tears started to well in her eyes. “I have gone to sleep every night thinking about you, thinking about what I could have done wrong. Why you would tell me you love me and then run away the next day. Sometimes I can still feel your breath on my neck, your teeth as they grazed my shoulders and neck.”

“That’s because I’m part of you. Please let me explain,” Byron pleaded.

“Why would I listen to anything you say, when you’ve hidden and lied about yourself for our whole relationship?”

How much did Amelia know? Had Victorija told her anything?

“I’m ready to tell you the truth, if you’ll listen. Just please come with me and don’t go out with Victorija tonight.”

Amelia gave her a rueful laugh. “Oh, I see. That’s why you’re here, Byron. Your ego. The first time I’ve met someone else and want to go out with them, here you pop out of the blue. What a coincidence.”

Byron could see how it looked. “Mia cara, if you’ll just let me explain, you’ll realize it’s not like that. Victorija is dangerous. I cannot allow you to spend time with her.”

Amelia’s face went red with rage, and Byron could feel the anger boiling through their blood bond.