“Thank you for your service,” Alexis said to her blood servant and rushed out of the blood room again.

It was like cold water had been tipped on Katie. She was frustrated, angry, and annoyed.

Why couldn’t she just be honest?

Chapter Four

Byron snagged a glass of champagne from one of the servers. Amelia was up on a small platform giving a speech for the crowd gathered at the opening of her new tailoring shop. Models dressed in suits designed by Amelia stood on either side of the stage.

Her uncle’s shop next door was called Grenville and Thrang, and so to keep the tradition, Amelia simply called this shop Grenville, Thrang, and Debrek—For Women.

There was an excellent crowd out for the opening. Byron was pleased that their friends and a great number of acquaintances from the paranormal community had turned out tonight to support the opening of Amelia’s new venture.

Byron was so proud of Amelia. This was her baby, and she, with Daisy by her side, put her heart and soul into it. Jaunty, her uncle, had helped as much as he could too. Byron had done everything she could discreetly, but she didn’t want to be seen using her influence. Still, she made sure every fashion journalist worth their salt was there, as well as the LGBTQ media and social media influencers. Her sister Sera was entertaining one of those influencers at the moment with her smiles and chit-chat. Honestly, her sister found a woman to charm every place they went.

Amelia had been so nervous about this speech. She had practised it over and over for Byron, and Byron tried to give her pointers as she was used to talking to large groups of people. But as she’d reassured Amelia, everything was perfect on the night. She had looked extremely nervous at the start but soon got into her groove and relaxed.

“And so, ladies and gentlemen, what I hope to create here is a safe place for women to explore bespoke tailoring and all it has to offer. Thank you.”

The crowd broke into applause, and Amelia smiled with relief. Byron caught her eye and mouthed, I love you.

Then a voice she didn’t recognize said, “I understand you are looking for information, Principe.”

Byron looked to her side and saw a small man with round wire glasses and a suit and hat that had seen better days.

“I might be. Who are you, sir?” Byron asked.

He bowed his head and said, “Enoch Ratner at your service, Principe.”

Byron spotted Alexis making her way over, to get rid of her new friend no doubt, but she waved her back.

“You have information for me, Mr. Ratner?”

“At a price. Of course I would normally give you anything I had free of charge, Principe, but times are hard.”

Byron took her wallet out and extracted a large sum of notes but held on to them. “Tell me, then.”

“There’s a witch, runs a bookshop with her granddaughter. It’s called The Portal.”