Page 1 of Midnight Enchantment

Chapter One

Ava Liliana Falconer strolled along Bourbon Street, pausing now and then to peer into one window or another. There were so many interesting places to visit in New Orleans, known far and wide as the Voodoo capital of the world. There were museums and old cemeteries, antebellum mansions and gardens. Not to mention the stores and shops where you could buy all manner of fascinating things, like voodoo dolls and tarot cards, shrunken heads and monkey paws, spell books, charms, and “gris-gris” bags. And books on magic—both light and dark—as well as volumes on the occult, and all manner of mysterious and mystical arts.

Having a vampire for a father and a witch for mother, Lily was no stranger to the supernatural world, and was, in her own right, a rather powerful witch, though her powers were not half as strong as those of her mother, or her great-grandmother, Ava Magdalena. But she was no slouch, either.

The lyrical strains of a guitar drew her toward a nightclub at the far end of the block. She made her way cautiously along the crowded sidewalk. Only months ago, the Knights of the Dark Wood had been hellbent on exterminating the vampire side of her family. Of course, the Knights weren’t adverse to killing witches, as well. And although that had changed, thanks to her great-grandmother’s magic, New Orleans could still be a dangerous place for a young, unescorted woman.

Lily paused outside the club, all her senses alert, but she didn’t detect anything more dangerous inside than the unmistakably earthy scent of pot, something she had never experimented with, although a girlfriend in high school had once dared her to try it. But magic and marijuana didn’t go together.

Taking her courage in hand, Lily stepped through the arched doorway. She found a small table near the raised dais where the guitar player sat, felt the notes of his song surround her. He had hair as black as her own, though not as long. When he looked at her, she saw that his eyes were a deep, deep blue, mesmerizing in their intensity. For a moment, it was as if there was no one else in the room, only the two of them caught up in a brief, mystical moment of time.

Rattled by the strange sensation that had passed between them, Lily looked away and the moment was gone.

When she dared to glance his way again, his smile told her he was just as aware of what had passed between them as was she.

Muttering, “This is just too weird,” Lily stood and practically bolted out of the club. Outside, she breathed in the cool night air, practically jumped out of her skin when a deep voice behind her said, “Why did you run away?”

Gathering her composure, Lily turned and came face to face with the guitar player. “Excuse me?”

“Why did you run away?”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

His gaze met and held hers. “I’m sure you do.”

With a wave of her hand, Lily said, “Stop it!” And smiled when her power arced between them, driving him back a step.

He stared at her, one brow arched in surprise. And then he chuckled. “Witch woman.”

“Vampire man.”

His deep, masculine laughter sent a shiver of awareness down her spine.

“Well met, milady,” he said, admiration in his voice. “How are you called?”

“That’s none of your business,” Lily said curtly. “Good night, sir.” Turning on her heel, she walked briskly down the street.

If she had hoped to elude the maddening creature, she was sorely mistaken. In an instant, he was beside her, matching her stride for stride, his hands tucked in his pants’ pockets.

Liliana stopped abruptly. “Why are you following me?”

“Why are you running away again?”

She glared at him. “Because I don’t like you. Now leave me alone before I turn you into a newt!”

“A newt?” He threw back his head and laughed.

With an exasperated sigh, Lily began walking again.

And again he fell in beside her. She tried to ignore him, but it was impossible. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with an easy aura of self-confidence that bordered on arrogance.

Not wanting him to follow her home, Lily changed direction and ducked into an occult book store.

Of course, he followed her inside.

Pretending to ignore him, she browsed the shelves, always conscious of the tall, dark stranger behind her. His presence was overwhelming, his scent tantalizing. When she reached the back of the store, she whirled around to face him. “What do you want?”

“Your name.”

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