Byron got up, peeled off some money from her wallet, and left it on the bar. She buttoned her jacket, straightened her tie, and walked away from the bar with complete confidence her prey was following.

She walked out into the Monte Carlo afternoon and walked down a side alley of the bar. Angelica arrived beside her, but when she looked at her, she saw Amelia.

“Amelia? You came back to me?”

Now free of compulsion Angelica said, “Who’s Amelia?”

In a flash Byron pushed her up against the wall, and she started to struggle and cry. “Please don’t hurt me.”

But Byron couldn’t see through her lust for Amelia’s blood. She held her by the throat, and said, “I need you so much, mia cara. I’m so very hungry.”

“Please don’t hurt me. I have a child—” Angelica’s worlds turned into a scream. Byron quickly brought her under control and compelled her to calm.

As soon as she was quiet, Byron was about to strike when she heard a familiar voice through her fog of bloodlust.

“Principe, don’t do this. She’s not Amelia. You need to fight for control.” It was Alexis.

Byron looked at her Duca then back to the woman, who didn’t look like Amelia any more, but a stranger.

She released the woman and staggered back. Alexis caught her in her arms, and Byron said, “God, what did I nearly do?”

“You didn’t. We’ll let her go. I have two male attendants in the car waiting for you. You need to feed, but not on her.”

Byron took some deep breaths, and stood up straight. The horror at what she had nearly done made her feel sick, especially remembering the woman’s sad life story. Byron closed her eyes for a second, then stood up straighter, fixed her tie, and willed her vampire features to recede.

“Alexis, thank you for finding me. I’m back in control.”

“Go back to the car and feed, Principe. I’ll take care of the human.”

Byron nodded but her guilt twisted in her gut. “Alexis, her name is Angelica. She has a child. Find out her details, pay off her debts, and make sure she has a very healthy bank balance by the end of the day. Make sure she and her child’s future are secure. I am in her debt.”

“She will be taken care of, Principe. Go and feed.”

As Byron walked to the car all she saw in her head was Amelia. How could she control this unstoppable urge to feed from Amelia? The blood of others only took the edge off her hunger, and the hunger was driving her to darkness.

Byron couldn’t risk another day like today. She had to find a way to conquer this.

Maybe Bhal was right. Maybe she needed to visit the Grand Duchess.

* * *