“Byron was punished by the clan, and pledged to take care of the family she hurt in perpetuity. They grew to love her very much, actually, but that’s a story for Byron to tell you.”

When Amelia thought about all these anxieties and worries going through Byron’s mind in Monaco, then being terrified that the Dreds would target her, she could see exactly why Byron left her so suddenly.

She leaned over and kissed Bhal on the cheek. “Thank you for telling me. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

Bhal blushed. She obviously wasn’t used to that kind of affection or gratitude.

“Byron is my family, not by blood but I helped raise her, and I wanted to help you understand why she is like she is. She would probably never tell you.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

Victorija paced up and down the living room of her London penthouse apartment. She was barely restraining her anger. Victorija turned back to Lillian, who was kneeling by the coffee table, with a map and a divining necklace.

“Mademoiselle Witch, you better get something quickly because you’re starting to look like dinner.”

“I’m trying, but whatever this object is that the Debreks are moving, it’s well cloaked.”

Victorija rushed over to Lillian, and grabbed her by the back of the hair. “Now, my dear Lillian. I need you to give this your very best shot, or your little coven of witches will be no more. Do you understand?”

Ever since Lillian’s coven had helped take down her father, she had kept the witches under confinement. She couldn’t risk Lillian using that group magic on her.

Lillian looked angry and frustrated. “I’m trying my best, Victorija, but your constant threat of death doesn’t help my concentration.”

“Very well. I will leave you to your work, and return with more threats of death later,” Victorija whispered into her ear. “You better hope I’m not hungry.”

The sound of Lillian’s quickening heartbeat made Victorija smile. She walked over to the lift doors and Drasas joined her.

Victorija addressed the guards as they were leaving and said, “You guard her with your lives, or I’ll have you walled up for eternity.”

Once they were in the lift, Victorija said, “We’re so close I can smell it, Drasas.”

“Do you really think this witch is up to it?”

Victorija nodded. “She has incredible powers—she took down my father, after all. She’ll do it with the correct encouragement. We have the Debreks on the run for the first time. Whatever this object is, it’s the secret that allows them to procreate, and they are scared. The new Principessa is the key to this. I’m sure of it.”

“If only we still had her. We could trade her for the object,” Drasas said.