“Don’t tell me not to be silly. You have people coming and going from your office at all times of the day, staff walking around with injuries all the time—it’s…weird. And why don’t I know anything about your past? It’s like you have a double life. Do you have a wife somewhere that I don’t know about?”

This was the argument Byron had always feared would come about. “Don’t be ridiculous. I have no other woman but you.”

Tears started to roll down Amelia’s cheeks. “Then why don’t you trust me? I trust you, Byron. I love you. Do you love me? You’ve never said it.”

Sadness enveloped Byron. Everything was unravelling in front of her. Amelia loved her and that felt wonderful, but it was also terrifying, because if she told Amelia the truth—that she loved her—it would destroy Byron when Amelia rejected her. And she was sure Amelia would reject her when she found out she was a monster that humans feared. A vampire.

The time she had always known might come had arrived. Her heart was breaking at the thought of manipulating her lover, but she had no choice. Byron grasped Amelia’s head in her hands and looked deeply into her eyes.

“Amelia, I want you to forget about everything that happened tonight, and all your confusion, questions, and worries. We will have a wonderful end to our holiday, and you will go home happy.”

She was shocked when Amelia pushed her off. “What are you talking about? You think I’m just going to forget everything that has happened tonight? You’re off your rocker.”

Byron staggered back a few steps, stunned and confused. She had just tried to compel Amelia and she couldn’t. That had never happened before to her. She was the strongest vampire in existence and could compel humans and turned vampires with ease, except…

There was one person the leader of the Debrek clan couldn’t compel, so her father and mother explained, and that was her Principessa, her destined spouse.

She thought of Rose, and her prediction that her Principessa would find her one day.

It couldn’t be. Byron felt out of control. She had to get out.

“I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

When she walked away, Amelia said angrily, “That’s it, run away like you always do. I can’t live like this, Byron. You have to be honest with me.”

Byron didn’t look back, but paused at the door and said, “Later. I’ll try.”

“There may not be a later.”

* * *

Byron walked into her conference room and found Alexis, Bhal, and a moody looking Sera waiting for her. She calmly walked over to where her sister was sitting and stood behind her chair. “Could you give my sister and me a few minutes, please?”