Victorija put her hand on her shoulder. “I told you to trust me, Duca. I have everything under control. Amelia Honey will be available to us if we need her.”

The lift doors opened, and they walked into their clan’s recreation room. The music was playing a deep beat, and there were vampires and humans in various states of undress, either feeding or enjoying each other.

A sultry blond vampire approached, and took Victorija’s hand. “Come and help me feed from my human, Principe.”

Victorija looked at Drasas, and smiled. “Everything will happen in good time, but for now, enjoy, Drasas.”

Another female came and took Drasas’s hand. “Do you think Byron has given in to her bloodlust yet?”

Victorija laughed as they walked across to a plush chaise longue on the side of the room, where two dazed and smiling humans were waiting for them.

“I doubt it. She’s so ridiculously noble that she’ll probably be losing herself to blood sickness. If she does, and kills her bonded Principessa, can you imagine? It would destroy her. When my father killed my mother, he was already a monster, and he didn’t love her any more, but still, it affected him badly, even though he had Lillian replicate her blood as best she could. I think that’s what destroyed the last of his sanity.”

Drasas sat and pulled a human on her lap. “If Byron does that, Principe, she’ll become one of us.”

Victorija grinned, and pushed her blonde onto the chaise. “She always has been, Drasas, she just never admitted it, and now she can’t deny it.”

Chapter Twenty

After eating some dinner in her room with Katie and Sera, who’d arrived earlier, Amelia lay down and fell asleep. She woke to the sounds of shouts, and her neck wound burning and pulsing like never before.

Byron needed her.

She got up and opened the door, and peeked out. She saw Bhal, Alexis, Katie, Sera, and Wilder outside Byron’s bedroom. Amelia strained to listen and just heard Bhal saying, “My blood isn’t working any more.”

“She needs the Principessa’s blood now,” Alexis said with frustration.

Sera agreed but Wilder said, “No, you can’t expose her to that.”

Alexis grabbed Wilder by the neck and, more quickly than she had seen anyone move, pushed her up against the wall. “Mind your place, warrior. Your loyalty is to your Principe.”

Bhal touched Alexis on the shoulder and said, “Let her down, Duca. We are all emotionally involved here.”

Alexis let Wilder drop. “What do you suggest then, Bhal?”

“I gave Byron my word I wouldn’t tell the Principessa that she needed her blood to survive. Byron insists she come to her.”