Amelia walked into the drawing room and looked around. Some of Byron’s most trusted vampires and Bhal’s warriors were there. She spotted Daisy over on the couch and went to her. Daisy immediately got up to meet her, and gave her a hug.

“How have you been?” Daisy asked. “Byron’s guards say you’re together now. Wait, your neck is healed.”

Amelia felt her cheeks burn remembering the bites and the passion they’d shared last night. “It healed up when Byron gave me this ring. It has some sort of mystical properties that help me heal more quickly. How is yours?”

Daisy held her hand to her neck and appeared nervous. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Your vampire friends say it will clear up in a few days.”

Something seemed wrong with Daisy. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Daisy smiled and took her hand. “I’m okay. It’s just a bit shocking and hard to take in. Even though I’ve been chasing after paranormal stories and creatures like this since I was sixteen, it’s still a shock to come face to face with them, and then to be bitten? It’s a bit crazy.”

“I know—it’s overwhelming for me too. Apparently, Byron and I are married and I didn’t even get to pick a dress,” Amelia joked.

“What?” Daisy pulled her down onto the couch. “How could that possibly happen?”

“It’s a long story, but vampires become bonded by blood apparently, their version of marriage or mating, when they share blood. We accidentally shared blood in Monte Carlo, and since then we have been bonded. That’s why my bite didn’t heal.”

“Wait. How do you accidentally exchange blood?” Daisy asked.

Even though Daisy was her friend, it was hard explaining what had happened. The way Byron and she made love was very personal, so she fudged it.

“Oh, cut lips and deep kisses…Anyway, since then Byron became progressively sicker without my blood. She needs my blood to survive.”

Daisy looked shocked, and quickly scanned the room, before whispering, “Are you sure you are okay with this, Amelia? I know they are superhuman and everything, but if you don’t want to be here, and you need out, I could get you out with the help of my friends.”

It touched Amelia so much that her younger friend was looking out for her, and willing to stand up against a clan of immortal vampires.

“I’m very okay with this. I love Byron, and there’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be.”

“Wonderful to hear,” Sera said, coming to sit beside them. Sera leaned into Daisy and teased, “You know, it’s pretty pointless whispering among a room full of vampires. We can hear you plotting to steal Amelia away from us.”

“Good point,” Daisy said, “but I had to ask. Amelia is my friend.”

“And I really appreciate it,” Amelia said.