The exhilaration was unlike anything she had ever felt. Now she needed blood and lots of it. “For tonight the city is yours—feed till you are gorged.”

She looked to the side and saw a worried looking Lillian. Victorija would still need the services of the most powerful witch she had ever met, and her followers—for now.

“Everyone is fair game, except the witches, for they are under my protection. Go, and bring me back new turned vampires. We have an army to build!”

Chapter Four

Byron and Amelia walked through the huge doors of the Gothic Debrek mansion, perched in the rocky coastline. Amelia was awed as she looked around the grand entrance hall. She had seen from the outside that the castle was built from the bedrock, and now inside, Amelia could see that the exposed grey stone of the castle walls extended only to the ground floor. The marble staircase to the first floor marked the start of the more modern levels, which had obviously been renovated over the years, she supposed due to the family adding to the house as time and fashion moved on.

The older ground level had ancient looking tapestries, wall hangings, and oil paintings decorating the cold, grey stone.

“It’s beautiful, Byron. How old is it?” Amelia asked.

“There has been a house here since the 1300s. We have added and rebuilt along the way.”

Two members of staff were waiting for them, and they took their jackets.

Byron turned her attention to the female staff member. “Diana? Could you make sure Miss Honey’s luggage is brought in carefully and taken to her room?”

“Yes, of course.” Diana walked back out the doors.

Byron guided Amelia up a large black and white marble staircase. “You’ll have to excuse our lack of staff—my butler and head housemaid are with my mother and father at the moment.”

They stopped outside Amelia’s bedroom, and Byron stuffed her hands in her trouser pockets to hide their slight tremor. She hadn’t fed properly since before she picked up Amelia this morning, and the bottled blood on the plane just wasn’t cutting it.

Just being in the same room as Amelia made Byron’s hunger intense, and after making love on the plane, she greedily drank more bottled blood, but it only took the edge off. She needed to feed on fresh blood, and feed now.

This holiday was going to be a difficult juggling act, trying to sneak away to feed without Amelia noticing anything. Thankfully she had the excuse of business phone calls and urgent emails.

“I’ll leave you here to settle, while I take care of some business matters.”

Amelia folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were on holiday?”

“Sadly, the business of banking never takes a holiday. There is no rest for the wicked.” Byron leaned in to kiss her cheek and whispered, “But the rest of the time I will be yours.”

“See you soon, then?” Amelia said hopefully.

“Absolutely. Relax and settle in and I’ll have someone bring you to me later.” Byron finished by giving her a kiss to the palm.