Josie slumped against the wall. “Who are you?”

“Byron Debrek. Leader of the Debrek clan.”

Josie got up and sat on the chair. “Is this how you treat all the people you help?”

“Your behaviour couldn’t have been exemplary if you made my Duca react like that. My people tell me you won’t accept the blood we have provided for you.”

“I want the girl from last night. I need her blood.”

Byron straightened her tie. “That will not be possible. This hunger will get better if you let us help you, and we will give you safety and purpose within the Debrek clan. But it’s up to you to take it. It’s a dangerous world out there for a new vampire, but you have to want your place with us. The Debrek clan is run with respect and consent above all. Is that something you would like to be a part of?” Josie just stared at the ground. So Byron said, “I’ll leave you to think about it. Duca? You’re with me.”

* * *

“I know it was stupid, but…” Katie sat on the end of Amelia’s bed talking about last night.

Amelia was sitting at her dressing table. “But what?”

“I just can’t walk away from someone in pain,” Katie finished.

“No one is asking you to. I couldn’t either, but call Byron or Alexis or Bhal, even, and they will take care of it for you. Do you know what it would do to Byron if anything happened to you?”

“No, I never thought about it.”

Amelia got up and sat beside Katie on the bed. “She would be devastated. You know how much she loves your family, and now that your mum and dad are away working for her parents, she feels it’s her reasonability to take care of you. Not to mention how hurt our Duca would be.”

“Alexis?” Katie snorted. “She took great pleasure in telling me what an idiot I was.”

“She was concerned, Katie, as we all were. She asked Byron to remind you that you were mortal, unlike most of us, and if anything happens to you, there’s no second chances. I agree with her. I think she really cares, Katie.”

“She has a funny way of showing it, but I take your point. Tell the Principe I’ll be more careful,” Katie said.

Amelia hugged Katie. “Thank you. We all love you and care about you.”

* * *

Later that day Amelia and Byron travelled to the bookshop that the informant had told them about. The Portal was London’s oldest occult bookshop, and Amelia had to admit that she was nervous, and somewhat scared.

Ever since the Grand Duchess told her she was half witch and that her parents weren’t her true parents, Amelia had been desperate to find out about her past. But she was also scared about finding out the truth. It would change everything she felt certain that she knew about herself.

Amelia grasped Byron’s hand tightly as they walked up to the bookshop door.