“You are a powerful witch, Amelia. But you can’t control yourself or that power,” Sybil said.

Byron looked at Sybil. “Please, Sybil. If you could tell her more. She is distressed about this.”

“She?” Amelia said. “Who’s she? The cat’s mother? I have a name.”

Byron knew Amelia was simply frustrated. Amelia’s life had been turned upside down since the minute she’d met Byron, and every time Amelia thought she had a handle on this new world, this new existence, the rug was pulled from under her.

Byron took a breath and said. “Amelia is distressed. Could you please tell her some more?”

“I have my reasons. Go and see your parents, then come back to me. Now, let’s have some more tea.”

* * *

“I know you won’t like this, Alexis, but these are my orders. Bhal and my guards will go with us to Amelia’s parents’ home tomorrow. I want you to stay here and guard Katie.”

After leaving Sybil’s cottage, Byron and Amelia went to Katie and Alexis’s cabin and had dinner with them. Now Byron and Alexis were enjoying a glass of whisky and a cigar on the porch of the cabin.

“I think you’re right, Principe.”

“You do?” Byron was totally surprised—she’d expected a fight over this.

“Yes. Katie needs me. She wouldn’t be ready for travelling there and travelling back, and I can’t leave her here to fend for herself. Especially now. Did Bhal report the intelligence she was hearing?”

“Yes, many of the smaller European covens are joining the Dreds. Why on earth would they do that, after Victorija killed Lillian, the French coven high priestess? It makes no sense.”

“For whatever reason the paranormal map of Europe is changing after a long period of calm. The change has already reached our shores,” Alexis said. “We haven’t encountered forced transitions for many years, but there are more and more at the moment. Like Josie.”

Byron sighed. “Yes, that’s true. Forced transitions cause havoc and pain to the human community and compromise our relationships with the wider human population.”

“I can’t risk Katie being alone,” Alexis said.

Byron smiled. “Sounds as if your priorities are changing.”

“You are still my Principe,” Alexis said.

“I know that, but it’s all right that your priorities are changing, Alexis. It’s natural when you’re in love. You are in love, aren’t you?”

Alexis nodded and looked down at her boots.

Byron put her hand on the back of Alexis’s neck and squeezed it hard. Byron looked her in the eye and said with slight menace, “You know what Katie’s family means to me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then you be honest and don’t hurt her, or I’ll have your head.”