In her mind Alexis could see the hot kiss they had shared before she ran, and the bloody finger Katie had pushed into her mouth.

“Yes, you have. Listen, I’m sorry I stayed away last week. Maybe I was wrong, but it wasn’t my intention to upset you.”

“Fair enough.” Katie picked up her fork and continued to eat.

Alexis had gotten away with it for now, but the bigger thing, what she had nearly done to Katie, was not going to stay hidden forever.

* * *

Byron walked into the living room, and Amelia frowned when she looked up from the book she was reading.

“I left your clothes hanging up for you, and it wasn’t a tweed suit.”

Byron had agreed back in London to wear something more appropriate for walking in the forest, jeans and walking boots. Amelia bought a few different kinds of jeans to bring with them, and had left an outfit hanging up for Byron while she had a shower, but when it came to it, Byron couldn’t wear it.

“I just couldn’t do it. I’ve never worn a pair of jeans in my life. I wouldn’t feel appropriately dressed, and besides”—Byron straightened her knitted red tie—“a gentleman always wears a tweed suit in the countryside.”

Amelia laughed and shook her head. “I despair of you, vampire.”

“What are you reading?” Byron asked.

“A history of witchcraft in the area. It’s strange—I come from a village just thirty minutes from here, and I didn’t know anything about the witches here, besides what my mum and dad told me.”

Byron sat on the arm of the armchair. “That they were devil worshippers?”

“Yeah, it used to scare me, but now that I realize I have witch ancestry, I can’t wait to find out more.”

“Then let’s go. I’ll take you to all the places I can remember,” Byron said.

Amelia stood and put her book in her shoulder bag. “What if nothing happens?”

“It will. Magda said you would get some insight, and I believe her. There’s no love lost between vampires and witches, but I don’t think they were lying to us. Let’s go and see what happens, mia cara.”

* * *

Alexis finished speaking to Byron and walked back to the cabin, where Katie was sitting on the porch.

“Everything all right?” Katie asked.

“Yes, Byron and the Principessa are going to visit some of the witch sites.”

“And you’re not going with them?” Katie asked.

“No, the Principe wants to be alone with the Principessa.”

“You normally don’t give in so easily, Duca. Normally you fight tooth and nail to make sure Byron takes security with her.”

“I trust that she is safe enough walking around the forest paths. Besides, Byron isn’t my only focus on this trip. I’ll go and get you a blanket.”

“Wait a minute,” Katie said. “What is your focus?”