Katie’s warm, open smile immediately put her at ease. “Thank you. I’m Amelia.”

She held open the door and Katie entered. She was similar in age to Amelia, and didn’t come across as intimidating, like Byron’s flight attendants did.

“It’s so nice to have you here, Amelia.” Katie walked over to her luggage and started to unpack it. “I know this place can be intimidating, and some of Byron’s security a bit too serious, but it’s really a beautiful place. If there’s anything you need, just tell me.”

Amelia walked over to the bed and started to help. “The large army of security Byron travels around with are a bit intense. I think Byron’s guard Alexis doesn’t approve of me.”

“Oh, don’t worry about Alexis,” Katie said with a scowl. “She’s a professional misery guts.”

Amelia laughed and finally felt at ease. “It’s not just me, then?”

Katie lifted two of Amelia’s dresses over to the dressing room. “Believe me, it’s not you. She scowls at me just as much.”

Katie’s manner and enthusiasm were infectious, so unlike the stiff, serious people she had met so far. Now that she’d met Katie, she felt like she had someone on her side.

“Thanks for coming to help me, Katie. I was feeling a little lost in this huge house.”

Katie walked back and took her hand. “Don’t worry. Byron wants you to be comfortable here.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that,” Amelia said. She knew it was rude, but she couldn’t keep her eyes from the wound on Katie’s neck. It looked well taken care of, but what an unusual place to have an injury. “Did you hurt your neck? Is it painful?”

Katie’s eyes widened at the question but then soon were cool and calm again. “Oh, just a bee sting. Annoying, but it will heal. Now, what would you like to change into for the afternoon?”

Amelia felt like Katie was changing the subject, but decided to let it go. Another strange thing to add to the growing list, Amelia thought.

* * *

Byron was going through some figures at her desk when there was a knock at her office door. She knew who it would be. “Come in, Bhal.”

Bhaltair stepped into the room and bowed her head. “You wish to see me, Principe?”

“Yes, take a seat, Bhal, and I’ll pour us some good whiskey.” Byron stood and made her way over to her decanters. She and Bhal shared a love of aged whiskey. Luckily, her family’s longevity meant they had some of the oldest drinkable casks in existence in their collection.

Byron poured two glasses and brought them over. Bhal raised her glass and said, “Slainte, Principe.”

“Cheers,” Byron responded.

After each took a sip, Byron said, “I have a request to make of you, Bhal.”

“Anything, Byron. You know that.”

Byron felt so lucky she had Bhal to rely on, as had her father before her. Her relationship with Bhal was different than the one she had with Alexis. Even though they both had warrior backgrounds, Bhal’s age gave her a wise, much more relaxed personality than Byron’s intense, ordered Duca, and Bhal’s counsel always gave her a different perspective.