“Is that—”

Daisy covered over the bite again and nodded. “The bite Victorija gave me when the Dreds kidnapped Amelia? Yes.”

Daisy had found Amelia in The Sanctuary, under the influence of Victorija’s compulsion. She’d tried to help Amelia escape and to hold the Dreds off until Byron got there.

“The bite’s never healed, and I keep getting spasms of pain from it. It’s getting worse with every day that passes.”

“Tell me exactly what happened when she bit you,” Katie said.

“I got Amelia to the bathroom over there, and then Victorija and her Duca, Drasas, found us. I tried to protect Amelia. Victorija held me up by the neck, and I bit her trying to defend myself. She bled, and then Byron arrived at the club, and Victorija wanted to drink my blood before she retreated. She was angry, you see. She couldn’t compel me. Victorija bit me, then stumbled back, looking at me funny.”

Katie was shocked. “Oh God, you must be bonded by blood to Victorija.”

“That’s what I was frightened of. Byron’s vamps said it would heal quickly, and it hasn’t. It just keeps getting redder and sorer, but I can’t believe that I could be bonded to an evil vampire.”

“Daisy, do you know that not any human—or even any vampire—is compatible with a vampire for a blood bond?”

“What does that mean?” Daisy asked.

“It means that your DNA and only yours is compatible with Victorija’s blood. She can’t pick and choose who is blood bonded to her.”

“That means…” Daisy looked terrified.

Katie moved her seat closer and squeezed Daisy’s hand. “Remember what happened to Byron? The blood of the bonded is like a drug to the vampire. No other blood will sate their need. Every time you feel pain in your bite, that is Victorija’s body crying out for your blood.”

“Oh, shit,” Daisy said.

“Daisy, you have to tell Byron and Amelia because when Victorija realizes what’s wrong with her, when the Dreds find out, they will come for you and use you for your blood. She can’t survive without it.”

Daisy touched her hand to her head. “What, wait, I need to process this. Give me a little time to do some research and work out what this means, find out if there’s a way to break this so-called bond. Then I promise I’ll tell them.”

Katie was reluctant. She knew Amelia would be angry that she kept this to herself, but if Daisy needed just a bit of time to get her head around it… “Okay, but just a short time. A few days.”

“A week?” Daisy countered.

Katie sighed. She was going to get into big trouble over this. “Okay, but that’s all, and you be careful.”

Slaine approached them with a tray of drinks. “Here you are, ladies. Compliments of the two witches in the corner.”

“Did they say why?” Katie asked.

“They just said to thank Daisy,” Slaine said.

“What for?” Daisy asked.

Slaine shrugged. “They never said. Enjoy, ladies.”