Page 33 of Midnight Enchantment

Ava frowned as she glanced at the clock. It was almost noon and Lily still hadn’t come downstairs. She had heard Lily sobbing in her room last night and while she had no way of knowing for certain, she was sure it had something to do with the vampire-demon. It seemed obvious that the two of them had found a way to be together in spite of the wards she had set around the house. Had something happened last night to put an end to their ill-fated romance? It was the most logical explanation.

Going to the foot of the stairs, she called, “Lily, lunch is ready.”

Silence.

“If you don’t come down, I’m coming up.”

Another long silence and then she heard the door open and Lily’s footsteps on the stairs.

Ava stifled a gasp when she saw the girl’s face. Her eyes were swollen and red-rimmed, her face pale, her hair uncombed. “Oh, Lily, what’s happened?”

“Nothing. I had a bad night, that’s all.”

A bad night? The girl looked as though her best friend had just died.

“I don’t want anything to eat.”

Ava nodded. “I’ll fix you a cup of hot chocolate.”

Not bothering to argue, Lily went into the living room and curled up in the easy chair in the corner.

A few moments later, Ava handed her a cup of hot chocolate liberally sprinkled with miniature marshmallows, and a small plate holding two slices of buttered toast. “You have to eat something, child.”

With a sigh, Lily forced herself to drink the cocoa and eat a slice of toast.

“Talk to me, Lily,” Ava said. “I can’t help you if you won’t confide in me.”

“I’ve been seeing Raedan,” she said, dully. “I think he loves me. And because he does, he’s left me. Again. No doubt for my own good.” She slammed her hand on the table beside the chair. “I’m sick and tired of people making decisions for my own good!”

Ava remained silent, waiting for her to go on.

After stretched seconds, Lily said, “He almost bit me last night. I know it’s not him. It’s the demon driving him.” She looked at Ava through eyes dark with pain. “Isn’t there some way to destroy the demon without hurting Raedan?”

“I have no idea. I’ve never heard of a vampire being possessed. With mortals, sometimes a priest can exorcise a demon, but I’m not certain that an exorcism would work on a vampire. It might do more harm than good.”

Feeling as though all hope was gone, Lily sank deeper into her chair.

“I can make you forget him,” Ava said quietly.

“No! No.”

“I invited Dom and Maddy over for dinner tonight. Would you like me to cancel it?”

Lily nodded. She loved Dom and his wife, she was crazy about the baby, but she wasn’t in the mood for company or anything else. “I’m going for a walk.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“I’d rather go alone.”

“Liliana … ”

“It’s broad daylight! I’ll be fine.”

Knowing that arguing with Lily would only make her more determined, Ava clamped her lips together and nodded.

Chapter Fifteen

The man’s head snapped up when the front door opened and the woman he had been sent to find stepped out. She paused on the porch a moment before descending the stairs and heading for the sidewalk, where she turned to the left.

---