Katie looked over to the two witches, and they held up their drinks in a toast.

“We are popular tonight, aren’t we?” Katie said.

Chapter Five

“It’s your move, Alexis,” Bhal said.

Alexis realized her thoughts had drifted away from her game. After Byron and Amelia retired for the evening, she and Bhal set up a game of chess in one of the upstairs sitting rooms.

They often played chess to unwind and discuss the day and the next day’s security matters. But tonight Alexis’s mind kept drifting to Katie alone at The Sanctuary. She was angry, worried, and frustrated.

“Sorry,” Alexis said, then moved her pawn on the chess board.

“Alexis, why don’t you just tell Katie you care about her?” Bhal said.

Alexis, who was taking a sip of whisky at the time, nearly spat it out. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re angry she went out tonight.”

“I’m only concerned for her and Daisy’s safety, but of course Katie won’t listen. She’s behaving like a child.”

“She’s not a child any more, Alexis. You can’t fool someone as old as me. I’ve seen your eyes follow her everywhere since she came home for holidays from university, and even more so since she began working with the clan.”

“It doesn’t matter how I feel—humans break and break our hearts. I saw the woman I loved dead in this house. Her throat ripped out by the Dred vampires. It destroyed me and it will not happen again. Besides, Katie can’t stand me.”

“I know what you went through. I was there to see your pain and grief, and believe me, I know how it feels to lose someone you love, but you can’t fight love. Maybe she behaves like she doesn’t like you because of the offhand way you treat her. You’re trying to make her hate you, so you have every excuse not to love her.”

Alexis knocked over her king in surrender. “I’m sorry, Bhal. I need some time to myself.”

“Think hard, Duca. Some people aren’t lucky enough to find love twice in their life.”

Alexis didn’t consider love luck. She walked out of the room and made her way back to her quarters. Was she really in love?

* * *

Katie hugged Daisy outside The Sanctuary before she got into a taxi. “Are you sure you don’t want me to wait until you get a taxi too?” Daisy asked.

“It’s okay. Another will be along in a minute. Besides”—Katie pointed to the seven-foot-five doorman of The Sanctuary—“Otto will make sure I’m safe.”

“Okay, well, let me know you get in safely,” Daisy said.

“I will.”

Katie waved as Daisy’s taxi pulled away. She saw a few taxis stop further down the road, so she started to walk towards them. As she passed the alley at the side of the club, Katie heard moaning. She looked down the dark alleyway and wondered whether to go back and get Otto. Someone might be hurt. Alexis’s warnings floated through her mind, but what if this was someone in trouble?