Bhal indicated towards the dance floor. “Be careful though. If you don’t grasp your chance, someone else will, and you’ll be full of regret.”

Pain or regret? She couldn’t stand to have her heart broken again, so she would just have to live with her regrets.

* * *

Katie almost floated back to the table escorted by her new friend Greda. They were soon joined by Daisy, who came back from the dance floor too and took a seat.

Ever since Katie had met Daisy through Amelia, they had become great friends. Daisy worked at Amelia’s family’s suit tailoring business but in her free time was a paranormal hunter.

Through her YouTube channel, Daisy and her small band of like-minded friends ghost hunted and interviewed whistle-blowers who said they had information on the paranormal world. But when Amelia had fallen in love with Byron, Daisy had finally found the paranormal world she had always believed in. Unfortunately, she now had to keep it secret herself, in order to keep her friends safe.

“They say never trust a shapeshifter, but Greda was lovely,” Katie said.

“I could say the same about any paranormal in this room,” Daisy said.

“I suppose it might seem that way, but I’ve been brought up in this world. It’s normal to me.”

“I can’t believe those are Byron’s parents,” Daisy said. “Her mum is bloody gorgeous. If it wasn’t for the grey streaks in her hair, you would never believe she was her mum.”

Katie looked over to the middle of the dance floor where Michel and his wife Juliana were dancing alongside Byron and Amelia. Michel’s hair and beard were carefully streaked with grey to take attention away from his much younger appearance, and Juliana was elegance personified, perfectly befitting vampire royalty.

“They are so nice too. They might look intimidating, but they couldn’t be nicer to my parents and me,” Katie said.

Out of nowhere Daisy grasped the table and closed her eyes.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“Just feeling a bit dizzy. I think I might be coming down with something.”

Katie beckoned a waiter over. “Can you get me a bottle of cold water, please?”

“Yes, miss.”

Katie covered Daisy’s hand with hers. “Do you want to go upstairs to your room?”

“It’s okay. It usually passes in a minute,” Daisy said.

Katie was concerned by that answer. “Usually? How long has this been happening?”

“Not long.” The waiter returned with the water. Daisy clasped her hand to her silk neck scarf that perfectly suited her 1950s style dress.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Katie asked.

Daisy nodded. “Absolutely. Don’t worry about me. Worry about the scary Duca.”

“What? Why?”

“She hasn’t taken her eyes off you. Every time you dance, her eyes are glued to you. I think she maybe wants to eat you,” Daisy joked.

Katie laughed. “Hardly. She can’t stand me, and I’m the last person she’d want to eat.”

She turned around and tried to find Alexis, and there she was, standing at the bar, gazing over. When she saw Katie, Alexis turned quickly and spoke to Slaine.