Page 39 of Midnight Enchantment

“That doesn’t make sense!”

Ah, Liliana, you are so young.

“I’ll get older.”

His laughter sounded in her head.

“I’m going back to America to stay with Ava. Please come with me.”

You must stay here! Have you forgotten there is a vampire hunting you? You will be safe here, among your own people.

“You could protect me.”

Her words, softly spoken, struck a nerve.

Raedan took a deep breath, blew it out in a long, shuddering sigh. In that, at least, she was right. No one could protect Liliana the way he could. And it was the perfect excuse to stay close to her.

“Raedan?”

Silence.

“Are you still there?”

Yes.

“You’re going to stay, aren’t you?”

A low growl rose in his throat. She’d won and she knew it. He could hear it in the tone of her voice.

“Raedan?”

Lily’s eyes widened in surprise when he suddenly materialized in her bedroom. They stared at each other across the width of the room, and then she was in his arms and he was crushing her close, murmuring that he loved her, that he would never let her go.

She stilled as someone knocked at the door.

“Lily?”

She looked up at Raedan, speechless.

“Open the door, daughter. I know he’s in there.”

“Why didn’t you mask your presence?” she whispered.

“I intend to talk to your father.”

“Are you out of your mind?” she exclaimed.

“Ava Liliana! Open the damn door.”

There was no point in refusing, she thought. Her father would just turn into mist and slip under the door. She had found that amusing when she was a child. Taking a deep, calming, breath, she smoothed a hand over her hair before turning the lock.

Quill glared at Raedan. “I was hoping we’d seen the last of you.”

“She’s safer with me. Or have you forgotten there’s a vampire hunting your daughter whose motives are far worse than mine?”

Quill muttered a pithy oath. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. Which is why she needs to stay here.”

“And if he follows her?”

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