Magda chuckled and stood up. “No, it’s a baby thing.”

Amelia’s stomach dropped, and she stood up quickly. So quickly that she felt a wave of dizziness and grabbed onto Magda. “What—what are talking about?”

“Can you not feel it? I did as soon as I touched you,” Magda said.

Amelia’s mouth went dry. The Debreks were the only vampire clan who could reproduce and the others coveted that skill, as every new generation became stronger than the last.

“I knew that the Debreks could have children but…I mean, we never discussed or planned when it would happen.”

Magda took her hand and rubbed the back of it. “Lucia was the Debrek life force until she died, and now it is you. Byron’s blood already flows within you from your blood bond, and from what I understand Debrek conceptions happen when you are the closest to each other’s love and touch the beyond. I would suggest you think back to your visit to the New Forest.”

When she and Byron had made love that night in the cabin, Amelia opened up her very soul to the beyond, the other side. It had been unlike anything she’d ever experienced, past or since. It must have been then if what Magda said was true, but deep down she knew it was.

“After all, it was a deal that the Grand Duchess made with her coven, with the ancestors, to allow her and her husband Cosimo to conceive all those long years ago. That night you were in direct contact with the ancestors.”

Amelia put her hand on her stomach protectively. “Magda, I’m supposed to be fighting a great evil. How can I—”

Magda must have seen the trepidation in her face. She gave her a hug and said, “Don’t worry, everyone on the side of good—werewolf, witch, fae, and vampire—will stand behind you.”

“But it won’t be safe.”

“When is the paranormal world ever safe?”

Amelia went over to her bag and got out her phone. She dialled a number and said, “Doctor? It’s Amelia Debrek. Could you see me at short notice?”

* * *

Katie felt cold and had the sensation of ants crawling under her skin. The worst thing was the deep hunger, worse than any need she’d ever had for food or water, but she felt safe in Alexis’s arms. She’d carried her like a baby all the way back to the Debrek house.

When they walked into the hallway, there was a crowd of vampires, warriors, and human staff waiting to see how she was. Byron rushed to their side and stroked her hair.

“Are you all right, Katie?”

Katie could only answer truthfully. “I don’t know. I’m so hungry.”

Byron looked at Alexis pointedly.