“Katie, when we go back to London…I feel stupid asking this.”

“Don’t feel stupid, ask me anything, Alex.”

Alexis smiled at her new nickname. “I like that you’ve started to call me Alex. My best friend in the army, Angus, used to call me that.”

Katie took their clasped hands and kissed Alexis’s knuckles. “I want something that nobody else would ever call the tough, scary Debrek Duca. Ask me what you want.”

Alexis felt like a jealous fool, but the thought that another vampire—one under her, one of her foot soldiers—would sink their fangs into the woman she loved tortured her. But she had no say in that. It was Katie’s body and only she had a say in what she did with it. Consent meant everything, even if she had tested that tenet’s limits recently.

“I wondered if you would be going back on the blood rota. It’s up to you of course, and I don’t—”

Katie silenced her with a kiss. “Of course I won’t. I’m yours for as long as you want me.”

“Thank you. I really don’t want to share you.” But Katie’s words reminded her of Katie’s mortality, and her heart sank. This was the terror that kept her love buried for so long. She turned over on her side to face Katie. “Will you promise me something?”

“What is it?” Katie replied.

“I’m not trying to be controlling or to boss you around, but will you promise me you’ll be really careful? Don’t take any silly risks. You’re mortal, and everything is in flux just now—vampires distrusting each other, some European covens working with vampires, whatever fight is coming with the Principessa—don’t let me lose you. Please?” Alexis begged.

Katie stroked her face. “I will do my best and not take any silly risks. I promise you, and if death comes to me, I will have done my best to avoid it.”

“Thank you.” Alexis kissed her forehead.

Katie went quiet as if she was thinking hard.

“Is something wrong?” Alexis asked.

“With everything going on with the Dreds, there’s something you need to know.”

Alexis was suddenly on alert. “What?”

“It’s about Daisy.”

Chapter Sixteen

“I’m trying to find out, Madam Anka.” Drasas paced up and down at the back entrance to the Dred castle. Madam Anka had called seeking an update on Victorija’s situation.

“I need Victorija better. She is a born vampire, and I need her power, and if you hope to have any at all, you will find out who she was blood bonded to.”

Drasas looked around for anyone listening in to her conversation. “I’m trying, but I wasn’t with her every second when she fed in Britain. It could be anyone.”