“Don’t be nervous. I’m with you,” Byron said.

Byron held the door open for Amelia and the bell on the door rang. They walked in and looked around at the shop. It was a typical old, dusty independent bookshop, which didn’t look as if it had many customers. There was a counter and till at the other end of the shop.

Amelia and Byron walked up there and found an older black woman with salt-and-pepper coloured ringlets, and a young woman beside her, who was currently scowling.

“What do you want, vampire?”

“Piper, no,” the older woman said.

Byron straightened her tie and said, “I’m Byron Debrek. I contacted you about some information we needed.”

“Yes, yes. My name is Magda, and this is my granddaughter Piper.”

“Charmed,” Byron said somewhat sarcastically. “This is my wife, Amelia Debrek.”

Magda suddenly looked very interested. “Tell me, what was your maiden name, Mrs. Debrek?”

“Honey, Amelia Honey.”

Magda looked to her granddaughter in some kind of silent communication, then held her hand out to shake Amelia’s in greeting.

Amelia took Magda’s hand, and she felt a warm shot of electricity go up her arm. Magda herself shuddered.

“Welcome, Amelia.”

Magda turned to Piper and said, “Bring some chairs for our guests.”

Piper rolled her eyes but did as she was asked. Byron declined the chance to sit, but Amelia hopped up on a stool.

“You knew Rose, vampire?” Magda said.

Byron shifted uncomfortably. Amelia knew who Rose was—a former lover—and it was natural that Byron had many lovers over the centuries, but she didn’t like to think about it too deeply.

“Yes, that’s right,” Byron replied.

Magda smiled. “One of the very best witches in our coven’s history. She left extensive books and papers preserving her thoughts, view, spells, and insights, and in one such notebook, she told us to expect a woman named Amelia.”

Amelia was too shocked to speak, but Byron said, “She did? What did she say?”

“Simply that whoever the high priestess was when Amelia came along was to help her because she had a very special future.”

Amelia looked at Byron. This was what she was afraid of, learning something overwhelming. Byron took her hand and squeezed it.

“How did you find out you had witch blood in you?” Magda asked.

“The Grand Duchess told me,” Amelia said.

Magda chuckled. “The most powerful witch in the world who married a vampire—a bit like yourself, Amelia.”

There were parallels between her and Byron’s great-great-grandmother, Amelia supposed.

The Grand Duchess, then simply Lucia, had fallen in love with Byron’s great-great-grandfather Cosimo. She’d insisted that she would only be with him, and marry him, if he and his clan would vow to only take blood by consent. That became the Debreks’ sacred vow.

“Can you tell me more about my past?” Amelia asked.

“First of all, have you ever used your power?”

“Only a few times, when I’ve been angry or threatened.”

Magda looked at Piper, then back to Amelia. “We’re starting from scratch then. Okay, first of all, do you know the New Forest area in the south of England?”