“One, I’m not your mia cara, and two, you don’t have a say in my life any more. You gave up that right when you smashed my heart to pieces. You can keep your flowers for the next woman you use.” The tears tumbled from Amelia’s eyes.

Byron was running out of options. If she couldn’t get Amelia to listen, she would have to take her by force to safety. She placed her hand on the bite mark on Amelia’s neck, and Amelia gasped.

“You feel that? We are connected by more than you can ever imagine. You are my shining girl, and I have to protect you from my enemies. Victorija is my enemy.”

The bell rang, as someone walked through the door. “Amelia, are you all right?”

Byron stepped away from Amelia quickly, and Amelia said, “I’m okay, Uncle Jaunty. Byron is just leaving.”

Jaunty gave his former friend an icy stare. “Byron, I think you should go.”

Byron had no choice. She had too much respect for Jaunty to cause trouble for him. She would have to get Amelia to safety at a later time. She felt the tremors in her hands start too. Byron hadn’t fed for a while, but being close to Amelia, the only woman who could sate her hunger, made things so much worse.

Byron nodded and said, “I’ll go, but I can explain everything if you let me. I’m never giving up on you, Amelia.” She turned and walked past Jaunty at the door.

“You let me down, Byron.”

Byron nodded and left.

* * *

Victorija knew there was something different as soon as she laid eyes on Amelia that evening. She appeared confused and emotional. She suspected it was something to do with Byron. Her informants told her the Debreks had arrived in London this morning, and it was clearly because of Amelia.

You really have lost your heart, Byron.

This information didn’t change Victorija’s plans, just moved her timetable up a bit. In fact the idea that Byron was fully aware of what was going on and that Amelia had chosen to come out with her would make her conquest all the sweeter.

And now they were riding to The Sanctuary Club, in the back of Victorija’s limousine.

“Is there something wrong, Mademoiselle Amelia?” Victorija asked.

“No…nothing.”

Victorija grasped her chin and looked directly into her eyes. “Tell me, what happened to upset you, Amelia?”

Amelia’s eyes softened as she fell under Victorija’s compulsion. “Byron came to my shop with flowers, and wanted to explain why she left me and broke my heart. She said we were connected, that I was in her blood, and she in mine.”