by Jenny Frame
“Any problems?”
“None,” Byron said.
She passed a set of keys to Alexis. “These are yours.”
Alexis took them and nodded.
When Byron had told her the plan to only take Amelia, Katie, and herself into the forest and leave the guards at the coaching inn and hotel in the village, she had been dead against it for security reasons, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized that it would give her the chance to look after Katie and try to make up for her mistakes.
“Thanks, I’ll take good care of her.”
Byron smiled and slapped her on the shoulder. “I know that. Let’s get going.”
Behind Byron she saw a middle-aged woman standing outside the witch and witchcraft shop.
“We have company,” Alexis said.
Byron turned to look. “So we do.”
“Do you recognize her?”
Byron shook her head. “No, but it’s a long time since I’ve been here. They can detect a vampire at a hundred paces, can’t they?”
“Do you think that shop is run by real witches or witch enthusiasts?”
“That woman is a real witch—I can feel it. Okay, let’s go. We need to get Katie settled. It’s been a long journey for her.”
They travelled into the forest, and the trees became denser as they went. This was a perfect place for witches to have a coven. Deep cover on ancient ground, a perfect match for magic and mayhem. The Rolls-Royce went down a side track, not especially easy for a car such as that.
Finally two log cabins came into view, and the line of cars parked up. The rest of the guards would be staying at the hotel under Bhal’s command.
The car came to a halt and Alexis jumped out and opened Byron’s door. Byron stepped out and looked down at her expensive leather shoes, now covered in mud and God knew what else.
“Welcome to the country, Principe,” Alexis joked.
“Indeed,” Byron replied.
Amelia joined them and laughed. “It’s the perfect chance for you to try the new country clothes I got you.”
Byron rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait.”
Alexis looked over at Wilder helping Katie out of the car, and before she could say anything, Byron said, “Go, Duca. Look after her.”
“Thank you, Principe.”
She hurried over to the SUV. “I’ll take it from here, Wilder.”
“Yes, Duca.”
Alexis took Katie’s arm, and she shot Alexis a look. “You want to help me too now?”
All the other guards were looking at them, so she decided to wait until they got inside.
Alexis said to the guards, “You’re dismissed. Go and check in at the hotel and keep your heads down with the locals.”
“Yes, Duca,” they shouted, and the line of cars began to back up and leave.
“Why aren’t you going with them?” Katie asked her.
She was clearly annoyed about her disappearance over the last week. “Didn’t the Principessa tell you?”
“Tell me what?” Katie said.
Faced with Katie’s clear annoyance, she lost some of her usual confidence. “I’m staying here with you. To look after you.”
“You? You want to help look after me? You stop visiting me and don’t even check how I am, and now all of a sudden you want to help take care of me?”
Alexis felt so awkward and put on the spot. Luckily, Amelia came over to them and put her arm on Katie’s.
“I can explain—”
Alexis interrupted, “Let’s get you inside.”
“I’ll get the bags,” Byron said.
Alexis snapped her head around. The Principe should not be carrying luggage. “Just leave it, Principe, and I’ll come back out and get it.”
“Relax, Duca. I can carry a bag from time to time,” Byron said.
Amelia laughed. “Yes, we need to put her to work for a change. Come on, Katie.”
Alexis had no choice but to follow, holding Katie by the elbow.
They walked up onto the porch, and Alexis did the honours, unlocking the door and holding it open.
The cabin was simple and cosy looking, even without the fire going. They walked into an open plan living area and kitchen off to the side. The living area had a comfortable couch facing a fire, and the kitchen was just to the side. At the back of the living room was a corridor, which led to what Alexis presumed were bedrooms.
“This is nice, isn’t it?” Amelia said.
“It’s really sweet. Thanks for bringing me along,” Katie replied.
“Couch or bed?” Amelia asked.
“Couch, I’m sick of lying down.”
Byron came in with the bags. “I’ll put them into the bedrooms.”
Katie got settled on the couch, and Alexis stood awkwardly, unsure of what to say or do. Then the fire caught her eye.
“I’ll light the fire.” She kneeled down and arranged the logs from a basket beside the fireplace. She was so glad to be facing away from Katie. Katie was clearly annoyed with her. If she was annoyed at her not visiting for a week, then what was she going to think when Alexis admitted to nearly turning her?
After chatting for about ten minutes, Amelia and Byron started to leave. Byron said, “If you need anything, just call me, but I’m sure Alexis will look after you.”
Alexis could hear Katie sigh under her breath. But she ignored it and walked the Principe and her wife to the door. When the door shut, and they were alone for the first time, Alexis felt nerves fill her.
How on earth did she think she could ever do this? The last person she had looked after when she was ill was her mother, and then they had a housekeeper to help.
But despite her nerves and worry, she was determined to take care of Katie. It was her duty to try to make things right as best she could.
Alexis gulped and said, “I’ll just finish making the fire, and then I’ll get you a cup of tea. Okay?”
Katie hugged her blanket from the car and nodded. This was awkward.
* * *
Katie watched Alexis making the fire with ease, as if she’d done it a thousand times. She couldn’t believe she was here with Alexis like this. This kind of behaviour, looking after someone, was not usual for Alexis, although since her attack she thought Alexis had softened, visiting her every night. But then she disappeared. What was going on with her?
“You seem to know what you’re doing,” Katie said.
Alexis looked around. “What, you mean the fire?”
“Yeah.”
“Remember, we didn’t have heating when I was a young woman. I’ve lit fires like this for years,” Alexis said.
“I can’t imagine you living in the past,” Katie said.
Alexis got up and turned to Katie. “What do you mean?”
“Every time I try to picture you back then, it just doesn’t work. I mean the type of strong, tough, butch soldier, in a time of petticoats and corsets. It was such a restrictive time.”
“I got away with breeches most of the time when I lived at home with Mama, but if anyone came to stay, or Father came for dinner, then I had to suffer the whole corset and big dress affair.”
Katie was surprised that Alexis mentioned her family again. Alexis was so closed off and guarded Katie almost thought she didn’t have a family.
Wait, Father came to dinner? That was a strange thing to say.
* * *
Byron could feel Amelia’s tension as she lay with her head on Byron’s shoulder.
“What are you thinking?” Byron stroked Amelia’s long brown hair.
“I’m thinking about too much.” Amelia sighed.
“Well, pick one thought, and tell me about it.”
“Why we’re here, I suppose. How we’re going to find out any information about my past, and if we find the truth, I’m frightened of what the truth might be.”
“First of all, remember Magda said the knowledge of your past would find us, and two, whatever the truth is, we’ll get throug
h it because we are a team, and we can face anything.”
Amelia turned around so her head was now on Byron’s chest. “I’m so lucky to have you, Byron. You don’t just make me feel safe, but you make me feel like I can face anything. When I met you…”
“What?” Byron asked.
“I was full of anxiety, generally felt afraid of what people would think of me. My parents told me I wasn’t good enough for so long that I started to believe them. You make me feel good enough.”
“I’m glad you feel like that, but I’m the lucky one,” Byron said. “You always were good enough—you just had to see yourself through my eyes. A beautiful woman who makes my blood run hot, and now a businesswoman in your own right.”
Amelia smiled. It meant so much to her to open her own shop, making her own money and giving jobs and apprenticeships to young women entering the tailoring business. Now she wasn’t Amelia Debrek the wife of the billionaire businesswoman, she was the businesswoman.
“I hope Uncle Simon is okay.”
Since Amelia was going away so soon after opening, she didn’t want to leave Daisy on her own. Uncle Jaunty was busy running his tailor shop next door, so his husband Simon was insistent on helping out.
Byron had been friends with Jaunty for years but had never met Simon until she and Amelia got together. She and Jaunty had built a mutual respect and trust, but Simon took nothing on trust. He was at first highly sceptical of Byron as a suitor for Amelia, whom he thought of as his daughter, but Byron respected that. Anyone who put Amelia first and had the strength of character to go up against a born vampire was to be admired in her book.
“Simon will be fine. He’ll be fussing around Daisy and having a whale of a time.”
“So, what is the plan for tomorrow?” Amelia asked.
Byron rolled them both over so she was on top of Amelia. “I’ll take you to all the places that are related to the New Forest coven and see what happens, but don’t be scared. I’ll be with you.”
“I won’t. How do you think Alexis and Katie are getting on?” Amelia asked.
“Alexis is probably tiptoeing around Katie, afraid she’ll say the wrong thing.”
“Do you think she’ll tell her about that night?” Amelia was referring to Alexis nearly turning her.
“Yes, she may be frightened, but Alexis is as honourable as they come,” Byron said.
Amelia ran her fingers through Byron’s hair. “Was she like this the first time she was in love?”
“The Alexis back then was a very different person. She was open, optimistic, too optimistic perhaps. When she met Anna, a witch in a local coven, she fell head over heels. I’m not proud of the fact that I counselled against the relationship.”
“Why?” asked Amelia.
“Because as an immortal, you are always going to have a broken heart when the human or witch grows old and passes away. She was besotted by Anna, and she had to be prepared to watch her age and die. Alexis already had her fair share of pain,” Byron said.
“And was that how you felt when you met me?”
“Initially, but then I saw things from Alexis’s point of view. Love was worth the risk of losing someone. Luckily things changed, and our blood bond will keep you alive as long as I am.”
“I think they both look lost,” Amelia said.
“Let’s hope they find each other.”
* * *
Katie woke from her slumber to the smell of cooked breakfast. She hadn’t been eating much, but the smell was making her mouth water. She got up slowly and put on her dressing gown.
With the aid of a walking stick to support her weak legs, Katie made her way out to the living area of the cabin and followed the smell. She came out to the open-plan living area and caught the sight of Alexis making food at the cooker.
Alexis was wearing jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt. Katie was immediately attracted and intrigued. She hadn’t ever seen the Duca so casual before.
Alexis turned around and said, “Oh, you’re up already. I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.”
What? Had she entered some sort of other dimension where Alexis was open, helpful, and nice?
Katie was too shocked to say anything. Alexis hurried over to her. “Let me help you sit down.”
“Breakfast? You can cook?” Katie asked.
“I wouldn’t go that far, but every soldier can knock up bacon, eggs, and sausages.” Alexis went back to the kitchen and lifted a plate and brought it back to Katie. “Eat up. There’s bacon, eggs, sausages, fried bread, and beans.”
Katie looked down at the plate and then up at Alexis. She gazed at her silently. What on earth was happening here. The cold, stoic soldier and vampire had made her a cooked breakfast?
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”
“No, it looks lovely. Thank you,” Katie said.
“Eat up then. It’ll help get your strength back.”
“Are you eating?” Katie knew that vampires liked to eat for the pleasure of it sometimes, even though they didn’t need food for survival.
“No, I’ll probably eat dinner later, but now I thought I would try the herbal tea you like so much,” Alexis said.
“My herbal tea? Did Amelia organize the food and drink for the cabins?”
Alexis returned with her cup of steaming hot tea and sat down. “No, I made sure everything we needed would be here on arrival, including your teabags.”
Katie was touched that Alexis remembered her tea. She seemed to notice her in the smallest of ways, like which brand of tea she liked. Alexis was watching her, eagerly awaiting her verdict on breakfast. She picked up her knife and fork and tasted her food. “Mm. Really tasty. Thank you, Alexis.”
What happened next rocked Katie to the core. Alexis smiled, openly and brightly. So brightly that Katie could feel the warmth invade her heart.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Katie then felt frustrated. Why was Alexis behaving like this when she ignored her last week? This was just weird. She put down her knife and fork and lifted the warm cup of tea Alexis had given her.
“I thought after breakfast,” Alexis said, “we could sit out on the porch so you could get some fresh air. There’s a nice rocking chair, and I can get you some blankets—”
“Okay, stop.” Katie couldn’t listen to any more weirdness. “Why are you doing this?”
Alexis furrowed her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
Katie indicated her plate. “Cooking me breakfast, looking after me, when last week you wouldn’t come near me.”
Alexis cleared her throat. There it was. The question she knew Katie would ask eventually. Katie had clearly been annoyed by her behaviour. What could she say? That she couldn’t face Katie’s parents knowing that she had tried to forcibly turn their daughter, that guilt was eating away at her very soul?
“Your parents were here.” Alexis hoped that would be enough to stop Katie’s enquiries.
“And that stops you visiting how? I mean, I’m used to being ignored by you. You’ve ignored me since I came home from university and started working for Byron, but after the attack…” Katie hesitated, then looked down at the table sadly. “I thought we had a better understanding. You came to visit me every night, and I thought we could be friends at least.”
Friends? If only Katie could see inside her heart. She had to cover for her actions somehow.
“I didn’t want to get in the way. Your mum was there every night, and she probably wouldn’t approve of me being your friend,” Alexis said.
“Why? You worked alongside them for years when they were the Debrek butler and head housekeeper.”
“Yes, and they only knew me as the Duca. A single-minded, work focused, dismissive, cold vampire. They’d probably think I’d upset you, and I doubt they’d believe the other side of me you’d seen.”
“I’ve seen another side?” Katie questioned.
In her mind Alexis could see the hot kiss they had shared before she ran, and the bl
oody 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.