We wait all day and through the night, hoping against hope that at least some vampires will heed my impassioned plea to join our forces. But as the first rays of dawn streak the sky, it becomes painfully clear—not a single one has come.

I won’t lie; the disappointment stings, even though a part of me expected this very outcome. Squaring my shoulders, I push aside the dejection. We can’t linger here any longer.

With Beatrice no longer welcome among them, labeled a traitor, we’ve decided to drop her off at her home in witch territory before continuing to the werewolf kingdom. Once everyone had finished packing, we set off...