“I’d love to. You know me—I never want to miss a party—but I’m flying out to New York at four a.m. It’s my friend’s art exhibition tomorrow night. The only way Byron’s letting me out of the country since our little fight with the Dreds is if I take the Debrek plane and I stay with our cousin Angelo. Everything’s been set, so if I miss my flight time, I’m in trouble.”

“Oh, well, another time,” Katie said as they walked up the steps.

Alexis was frozen on the spot. Katie was going out to The Sanctuary with Daisy. Two humans alone in a club full of paranormals, with things the way they were? She felt utter fear grip her heart.

“Duca?”

Alexis realized someone was trying to get her attention. It was Bhal, who was standing with Wilder.

“Sorry, Bhal. Could you give the orders? I need to speak to Katie.”

“Aye, no problem.”

Alexis ran up the stairs and into the entrance hallway. Katie was saying goodnight to Sera, and then Sera walked upstairs to her room.

Alexis’s fear was turning into anger. How could Katie be so reckless, going to a paranormal club alone after everything they’d been through recently?

“Katie?” Alexis said sternly.

Katie turned around and sighed when she saw it was Alexis. “Yes?”

“Can I talk to you?”

“You are, aren’t you?” Katie said sarcastically.

Alexis looked around and saw the entrance hall was filling up with the guards.

“A private word.”

“If you insist.”

Alexis led them into the drawing room and shut the door.

Katie said, “What have I done wrong this time?”

“I heard you were planning to go out to The Sanctuary,” Alexis said.

“Listening in to my conversation, were you? Yes, I am. I’m getting ready and meeting Daisy there in an hour.”

Alexis wasn’t going to sugar-coat her response. Katie just had to be told it wasn’t safe. “There is no way I’m letting you go to The Sanctuary. There’s been case after case in the last few months of vampires attacking at will. Most likely the Dred vampires causing trouble in our home city.”

Katie looked furious. “Excuse me? You aren’t letting me? Who the hell do you think you are?”

“I’m the Duca of the Debrek clan, and when I give an order, it’s followed,” Alexis said matter-of-factly.

Katie stabbed a finger into Alexis’s chest. “I’m not one of your vampires or Bhal’s warriors. I answer to Byron and Amelia and no one else. You don’t and will never have any say in my life, Alexis Villiers.”

Why did Katie have to be so insubordinate?

“Listen, there are vampires turning humans and killing them with impunity, and witches who hate vampires out there. Our world has never been more unstable in at least a hundred years, and you want to go out dancing. Alone?”

Katie looked her straight in the eye and said, “Why do you care if I’m safe or not?”

Alexis wasn’t expecting that question. Her anger was making her flustered. “I’m responsible for the safety of the whole Debrek household.”