“Whatever it means, Bhal, I can’t explore it. Her life is more important to me than my feelings.”

“Maybe if you spoke to the Grand Duchess—”

“No,” Byron said firmly. “Keep a close eye on her. I’ll be in touch.”

Byron ended the call and opened the photographs on her mobile phone. She skipped to the pictures of them on the beach. Her body, her heart, her blood, every fibre of her being called for Amelia, and she couldn’t have her.

Byron stared at the picture of them in a tight embrace, and felt her anger rising. She threw the phone against the wall. It hit so hard, it smashed a hole through the plaster. Byron looked down at her shaking hands and had the sensation of the monster, the darkness inside her, spreading through her veins. She was shaking apart inside, and she needed blood.

There was a knock at her office door. “Come.”

Katie came through the door with a concerned look on her face. “I heard a crash. Is everything okay, Principe?”

Byron’s gaze went straight to Katie’s pulse point, and her teeth erupted. Feed. She reminded Byron so much of Amelia, that when her eyes were clouded with the need for blood, it was dangerous for her to be around the human woman. I want to drain you.

“I need to feed.”

Katie walked in and undid the top button of her blouse.

“No, not you. Get me someone else, now!”

Katie looked a little hurt. “I can help—”

Luckily Alexis walked into her office at the right time. “Principe—”

“Get Katie away from me.”

Byron was fighting her hunger hard. The monster inside her wanted, no, was demanding Amelia, but since she didn’t have her, Katie would do. She knew if she started to feed on Katie she might not stop.

Alexis took Katie by the arm and pulled her away. “Katie, move now.”

Katie looked angrily at Alexis and stormed off.

“Duca, I need to feed, and don’t send a female.”

“Of course. Byron, there is something happening to you, isn’t there? I’ve seen you change since—”

“Get me food!” Byron roared, and then immediately held her head in her hands. She never referred to humans as simply food.

“I’m sorry, Alexis,” Byron said with desperation in her voice.

“Let me help, Principe.”

“You can. My hunger and my darkness are getting harder to control. Don’t let me feed from Katie. No matter what the consequences are. She and her parents mean too much to my family. Promise me, Alexis.”

Alexis walked up to her desk, and said with complete certainty, “Principe, I will die before I let you feed on Katie. I promise you that.”

Byron breathed a sigh of relief knowing Alexis understood the darkness she was fighting. As Alexis was leaving, Byron said, “I should have taken my own advice, Duca.”

Alexis turned back and said, “What was that?”