Byron was willing to go through all this pain rather than make her feel obliged. Amelia was struck by the nobility of it all, and realized at that moment that Byron had been noble from the start. She loved her, and made herself walk away, simply to protect her from the Dreds, and now this? It all became quite clear what she had to do.

Amelia slipped on her dressing gown and walked out of the bedroom, and along the hall. Bhal spotted her and said, “Please go back to bed. Byron is…feeling unwell.”

Alexis said, “Your presence will just make her feel worse.”

Sera took her hand. “It’s probably best you go. Byron will be okay.”

Amelia felt even more determined. This was her job, this was her task—to take care of Byron, the woman she loved. She stood a few inches taller and said, “I’m going in to her.”

“No,” Wilder said, “she’ll hurt you.”

Sera agreed. “We don’t know if she can control herself with you.”

Bhal and Alexis stood in front of the door.

“Both of you, move. I’m going to see her.”

Alexis looked to Bhal and back to her. “No, the Principe doesn’t want you near her like this.”

Amelia took a step towards them and said firmly, “I am the Principessa of the Debrek clan, and I’m telling you to move.”

They were all shocked at Amelia finally claiming her title, and after a few seconds, Alexis and Bhal stood back.

“Be careful,” Bhal said. “We’ll be here if you need us.”

As strong as Amelia was trying to be, when her hand turned the doorknob, she was nervous and scared. Could she really handle this?

She walked into Byron’s bedroom and closed the door. She gasped when she saw Byron curled in a ball, shaking in the corner. She was naked from the waist up, her shirt shredded a few feet away. All of her fears melted away. All that mattered was helping Byron.

“Byron?”

Byron looked up sharply and Amelia was shocked to see her eyes completely red and blue veins streaking across her temples.

Keep calm. It’s just Byron.

She held her hand up and said, “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here to help you.”

“Get out,” Byron snarled.

Amelia kneeled down in front of her, and took off her dressing gown.

“Get out now. I will hurt you,” Byron pleaded.

Everything in Amelia ached for Byron, needed to give her what she needed. She reached out and touched Byron’s face. Byron flinched away, but Amelia touched her again, and stroked her cheek.

Byron closed her eyes and groaned at her touch. “I’m so hungry for you. So hungry.”

Amelia’s heart was breaking watching Byron grimacing and in such pain. “Byron, you’re in my blood.”