“Of course I do. I was brought up not far from there,” Amelia said.

“I’m sure you have been there too, vampire?” Magda said to Byron.

“Yes, a few times in my travels.”

“Excellent. Go to the New Forest. It’s a place long associated with witchcraft and the occult. An ancient coven met there, and there are witches’ cottages where they lived and worked. When you’re there, open yourself up, listen, feel the energy. There’s an ancient magic drawn from the sacred land of the New Forest. If you do that, come back, and I will instruct you in witchcraft and magic.”

Amelia felt in that moment that if they went there, nothing would ever be the same.

* * *

Drasas was nervous. She had agreed to meet Madam Anka, but she couldn’t fight the feeling she was doing something behind Victorija’s back. After Asha delivered Madam Anka’s message, Drasas did as Asha suggested and researched the witch.

What she found were whispers of legends, a woman who wielded great power, a woman who drew her power from the ancient Celtic dark gods but hadn’t been heard of in a long, long time. Drasas was intrigued and so agreed to meet her at a local park.

She went on her own and made sure no one knew where she was going. Drasas wandered over to a bench by the duck pond and sat down. The park was full of happy, smiling families, humans running, humans feeding the ducks. It was sickening.

“Hello, Drasas.”

Drasas felt a shiver down her spine. That voice was like honey. She turned to the side and saw the woman to match the voice.

“Madam Anka?” Drasas croaked.

Anka smiled and held out her hand to shake hers. She had light brown skin and dark hair tinged with blond highlights. Drasas took her hand and gasped. Anka’s eyes changed to yellow for a split second, then returned to normal.

Drasas’s heart was pounding. This woman had such a powerful, sensual aura, and it was enveloping her.

“Please call me Anka.”

Anka’s bone structure, her dark make-up, and those eyes all drew Drasas in.

“Thank you for meeting with me,” Anka said.

“My pleasure, Anka. How can I help you?”

Anka lifted her hand and indicated to all the humans around them. “Look at them, Drasas. What do you see?”

“Pathetic, weak humans,” Drasas said.

“I see we are of the same mind, Drasas, and yet who is hiding in the shadows? Vampires, witches, fae, werewolves, all of us who are the most powerful creatures in the world are skulking around, when those humans should be worshipping at our feet.”

Drasas turned around and said excitedly, “Yes, exactly my feelings.”

Anka placed the tips of her black polished nails on Drasas’s leg and stroked her thigh up and down. A fire was ignited in her sex with the barest touch. Drasas had sex on offer whenever she wanted from the vampires under her command and any human she fancied, but nothing had ever felt as exciting as that barest touch from Anka.