Anka suddenly pulled her hand away, and Drasas hated the loss. She wanted more.

“I represent a group that believes the time for living in the shadows is over,” Anka said. “There was a time when the high priestess and other paranormal creatures were worshipped by humans, and now we are nothing.”

“Who is in your group?” Drasas asked.

“Oh, small groups of dark witches, some werewolves, many shapeshifters, and more flock to us every day. We wish to bring a new age of darkness to the earth. One where we are the masters.”

“How can I help?”

“I would like a powerful vampire clan to join our numbers. One without the sickening ideals of the Debreks,” Anka spat.

“I agree with that wholeheartedly, but why come to me and not Victorija? She is a born vampire.”

“Ah, yes. A born vampire, the most powerful vampires in the world,” Anka said.

Drasas felt a pang of jealousy. She would never experience the fear of others that kind of power caused. She would always just be an ordinary turned vampire.

“I’ve heard that Victorija has been indisposed lately and that you have been virtually running the clan.”

Drasas sat a little taller in her seat. “Yes, I have been. Ever since my Principe visited the UK and killed her grandmother, she’s been different. She can’t satiate her hunger and has no interest in striking back at the Debreks.”

“The Debreks,” Anka said with disdain. “They behave like the human world they are part of. They don’t deserve the power that the Debrek bank brings.”

“I’ve been telling my Principe that we need to strike against them while they are distracted, but she won’t listen,” Drasas said.

“Well, how about this. I visit your Principe, help you find out what’s wrong with her, and help you—I mean, help your clan step out of the Debrek shadow.”

Drasas got the feeling she shouldn’t be planning this without Victorija’s knowledge, but the Principe was ill, something was weakening her, so she had to step in.

Anka touched Drasas’s cheek, and she shivered. “I can make you great, Drasas. Imagine dark witches fighting alongside your vampires. It could be great.”

Anka had Drasas in the palm of her hand. She knew this was the perfect way into the Dred clan.

“I could be great…” Drasas said.

“Off you go then. I’ll visit you and Victorija soon.”

Once Drasas left her, Asha stepped out of the shadows. “Is she everything you thought she would be, Madam?”

“Oh yes. All that and more.” She looked down at the gold ring with a purple stone on her finger. “I’ve collected werewolf, witch, and fae power, and now I need a born vampire’s power. I need Victorija for that, but I’ll control Drasas, and she’ll make it so easy.” Anka laughed.

Chapter Seven

Katie walked through the entrance hallway of the Debrek mansion. It was eleven o’clock and everything was quiet. Once Byron and Amelia retired to their room, most of the staff finished for the night, apart from a security team patrolling the house.