“And Josie?”

“Escaped once she recovered enough from her injuries. Everyone was distracted by gathering around you. But she won’t get near you again, I promise.” Amelia noticed Katie was shaking badly. “Are you okay?”

“I’m so cold.” Katie’s teeth were chattering too.

Amelia picked up her phone and dialled. “I’ll get your hot water bottles refreshed. Norah is looking after the house management while you’re not well. Hi, Norah? Could you refresh Katie’s hot water bottles? Thanks.”

Amelia got up and took a blanket from the armchair on the other side of the room. “In the meantime, this will help a bit.” She tucked the fleece blanket around her. “The doctor said being cold is a side effect of being brought back from the edge—”

“Of death?” Katie finished for her.

Amelia nodded. “Yes, but don’t dwell on that. You’re here now, and we’re going to look after you. Byron will come and see you soon. Is there anything you’d like?”

“Hot tea please, oh, and could you ask Bhal and Alexis if I could see them. To thank them?”

Amelia smiled. “Of course I will.”

She didn’t know how Alexis would react to that. She was so emotional after what happened last night.

“Alexis was right,” Katie said.

“Right about what?”

“About The Sanctuary being too dangerous for humans alone, at the moment. I caused all this because of my stubbornness, by not listening to Alexis.”

“No,” Amelia said firmly, “it happened because you have a kind, loving heart and wanted to save someone who had been attacked and turned by a rogue vampire. You weren’t to know that Josie would struggle to cope with her blood hunger. You’re a kind soul, Katie.”

* * *

Alexis got a message from Byron to come down to her office. After last night she didn’t even know if she would still be the Debrek Duca. She had broken their most sacred rule, or at least tried to.

She hesitated on the top landing and looked along to Katie’s room. There were members of the household staff coming and going, taking care of Katie as she should have done. Her security measures had failed and allowed Josie to escape.

She didn’t blame the guards on Josie’s holding room. She had slipped out while the guard was changing shift.

Alexis blamed herself. She should have been there, guarding that vampire every second, and protecting the woman she loved. There was no point hiding it or burying it deep down any more—she loved Katie Brekman, and she’d nearly lost her.

God knew what Katie thought of her now—probably despised her now that she knew what Alexis tried to do. Alexis despised herself for it. She shook her head and carried on downstairs to Byron’s office.

Alexis took a breath, knocked, then entered. Byron was working on her computer, her lit cigar burning in the ashtray. Without looking up Byron said, “Sit down, Duca.”

This was it, she was going to lose her place in the clan, and her life would have no meaning.