“The same as me, really. He hadn’t seen Mother in twenty years, but it still hit him hard. Do you think everything will be all right with the police?”

“I assume so. What can they say? We know you’re a vampire and probably you or someone you know killed them?” Byron shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll release the bodies soon for burial, and if they don’t, I’ll have a word with the police commissioner. The Debrek name carries some weight.”

Amelia leaned up on her elbow. “I really want to honour their lives, what they did for me.” As Amelia said that, the tears that she wished earlier she could cry for her parents started to fall.

“It’s all right. Let it all out.” Byron pulled her into a hug. “We will give them respect and all my gratitude for keeping you safe. I promise you.”

“Do you think Victorija is involved in this? In killing my parents?” Amelia asked.

“It would have been my first thought. Alexis was sure the vampires she dispatched today were Dreds, and the intelligence we are getting is that the Dreds are becoming more active, turning humans left, right, and centre, and bringing dark witches to their cause, but Victorija has vanished from public view. No one has seen her, and I’m concerned.”

“Why?” Amelia asked.

“Because my cousin likes the world to know what havoc and destruction she is causing. She thrives on others being afraid of her power. Her sudden introverted behaviour makes me suspicious that she has something else going on, or that someone else is using her vampires. Sometimes it’s better the devil you know.”

“Hmm. Maybe killing Lucia had a greater effect than we realized,” Amelia said.

“Lucia never gave up hope on her, even after her death. She was sure there was a way back for Victorija, despite everything.”

They both listened to the noises of the forest outside the bedroom window for a while, and then out of the darkness, Amelia said, “Who was my father, and how will we ever find out if Sybil doesn’t know?”

“I’m sure all the answers you need will come to you.”

* * *

Katie tried to catch her breath, then rolled on top of Alexis. She smiled down at her and stroked a dark lock away from her eyes. They had moved to the bedroom and been making love for some time now. It was better than Katie could ever have imagined.

“What are you thinking?” Alexis asked.

“The first time you drank blood from me. I wanted you so much. You made me feel like a sexual being for the first time. I’d never felt like that before. I used to fantasize about you touching me.”

Alexis grinned. “Even when we fought with each other?”