“What are you?” Amelia asked directly.

Katie smiled and sat on the bed. “Don’t worry. I’m a plain old human. I just work for the Debreks. I’m your friend—I would never hurt you.”

Amelia believed her and felt such relief that there was one person who wasn’t hiding something from her. Katie opened her arms and she took the offered comfort willingly.

“I’m so glad to see you. Where am I, and what am I doing here?”

Katie pulled back and stroked Amelia’s hair. “You are in the Debrek London mansion. You’ll have to excuse the sheets and dust everywhere. The house has been in mothballs for a long time. Why you’re here? That’s for the Principe to tell you. I’m just here to look after you.”

“The Principe? You mean Byron?” Amelia asked.

Katie nodded. “I know you are angry at her, but please hear her out.”

“She lied to me, left me, and broke my heart,” Amelia said.

“I know, and I’m not going to say I would have made the same choices, but she was scared.”

“Scared?” Amelia laughed. “Emotionless and in-control Byron Debrek scared?”

“Yes, she’s controlled, but do you really believe she is emotionless? You’re the closest anyone has ever gotten to her. Was she really emotionless?”

The times when Byron let her sexual hunger control their lovemaking ran through Amelia’s mind. She was anything but emotionless. She was raw and passionate, and Amelia even encouraged her to bite and taste her. In those moments Byron’s heart was on fire for her.

“No, she wasn’t, but the secrets, the lies…Wait—where is my friend who was with me last night?”

“Daisy?”

Amelia nodded. “Yes, she helped save me. I don’t want her out there if Victorija is trying to hurt people connected to me.”

“She’s downstairs, don’t worry.” Katie chuckled. “She refused to leave your side, and is annoying Alexis no end, which is always good.”

“Thanks.”

Katie stood and said, “Why don’t I get you some tea and something to eat, then bring Daisy to see you?”

“That would be nice, thanks. And, Katie?” As angry as she was, all she could think about was Byron and what she might be. Her logical mind fought against what she had seen with her own eyes.

“Yes?” Katie stopped and turned back to look at her.

“Where is Byron?”

“She’s in her office, I believe. Do you want me to give her a message?”

“I need to see her before I leave.”

Katie looked uncomfortable all of a sudden. “Of course. Just relax, and I’ll be back.”

Just then the dull aching pain in her bite mark increased exponentially.

* * *

All Byron could feel was bloodlust and pain. She leaned against the wall of her office bent over, fighting the pain.

“I need to feed, need Amelia,” Byron said breathily.