Amelia held Byron’s hand tightly as they walked up the path to her parents’ front door. Behind them, Bhal and Wilder followed, leaving the rest of the guards at the cars. The nerves in Amelia’s stomach doubled as they got near the door.

What would she say, would she manage to keep it together? Her parents always managed to make her doubt herself. She looked down at the Grand Duchess’s ring on her wedding finger.

You’re strong now. They can’t hurt you.

Suddenly Byron stopped and pushed Amelia’s hand away from the door.

“What are you doing?” Byron pointed to the broken lock on the front door. “Oh no.”

“Wilder? Stay here with the Principessa. Bhal, you’re with me.”

“Yes, Principe,” Wilder said.

“But Byron—” Amelia tried to stop her.

Byron gave her a serious look. “Please, Amelia. We need to check that it’s safe first.”

Amelia finally relented and walked back to the car with Wilder. Byron could smell the unmistakable odour of fresh blood and heard a low moaning noise.

“Blood, inside,” Byron whispered to Bhal.

Bhal nodded and drew the large Celtic sword from her back. “Let me go in first, Principe.”

Byron nodded and watched as Bhal pushed open the front door slowly. She followed Bhal in and pointed her in the direction of the blood. When they got to what looked like the drawing room door, Bhal held up three fingers and counted down.

On one, Bhal kicked open the door, and what they found shocked even Byron. Two people, who she presumed were Amelia’s adoptive parents. The male had his entire throat ripped out and was as still as the grave, but she could see and hear the woman’s shallow breathing, despite her injuries.

Byron sped over and dropped to her knees beside her. “Mrs. Honey?”

Byron’s eyes must have turned red, as she had been expecting a fight, because Amelia’s mother looked absolutely terrified.

“Vampire?” She wheezed.

“I am, but I’m a friend of Amelia’s. She wanted to come and visit you. What happened?”

“Vampires, witches, they came looking for us. What’s your name, vampire?”

“Byron Debrek.”

Mrs. Honey grabbed her arm. “Don’t let them get her. The witch said you would come one day, that you would protect…”

Byron was starting to get even more fearful now. She had to know who they were. “Bhal? Check on Amelia and Wilder at the car.”

“Yes, Principe,” Bhal replied.

Byron turned her attention back to Amelia’s mother. “Who are they? Why do they want Amelia?”

“She’s…descendent,” Mrs. Honey rasped.

“Descendent? What does that mean?”

“Safe…” Mrs. Honey said.

“I will, but what does descendent mean?” Byron asked.

“Tell her we always loved her, and find Sybil…”

Then she went limp. Mrs. Honey was gone. It was then that Amelia rushed into the room and screamed at the sight.

* * *