Byron laughed. “What am I meant to do, Alexis? Turn up after six months and say, Sorry about breaking your heart and everything, but can I drink your blood?”

“I take your point.” Alexis got up and poured them both a drink. “One thing is for sure, Byron, you need her blood or you will begin to lose who you are.”

Byron took the glass of whiskey and sipped it. “I need to handle this carefully. I don’t know if she will even talk to me. Bhal says she has been very hurt these past months.”

Alexis said, “We should take Katie to London. She and Amelia bonded well, and if there’s one thing Katie can do, it’s talk. Maybe she could help pave the way.”

“Good idea. This stays between you and me, Duca. If Victorija was to realize Amelia’s extra importance—”

“It wouldn’t be good,” Alexis finished for her.

“We’ll reopen the Debrek London mansion, and base ourselves there,” Byron said.

Alexis looked at her with shock. “Are you sure?” It had been a long time since they had set foot in there, and a lot of terrible memories lived in that house. It was there that, by Victorija’s hand, both Byron and Alexis had lost women they’d cared about.

“Yes.” Byron put her hand on Alexis’s shoulder. “I know it will be hard for both of us, you more than anyone, but it’s time to move on, and we need somewhere secure for Amelia to come to, if she’ll see me.”

Alexis gulped hard, but said nothing. Byron knew she had shut down her emotions a long time ago, after that fateful night at the London house. Maybe this would be good for all of them.

Chapter Fourteen

The next day Amelia was excited for the first time in ages. After work, an attractive woman was taking her out. It was nice to feel optimistic for a change. Victorija had arranged to meet her straight from work, so Amelia was getting ready in one of the changing rooms, while Daisy helped tidy up.

Amelia realized she’d need Daisy to zip her into her dress. As she looked in the mirror, she remembered the last time she had worn a dress like this. It was in Monaco, and Byron had been the one to do the zip.

She closed her eyes and remembered Byron, who had just gotten dressed, but with her tie still hanging loose around her neck, walking over to her with that hungry look she always had on her face.

How could Byron have felt that way about her and just left? Amelia had tried to work it out in the months that had passed. Had it been an act? Did she really not have that desperate need for her?