Page 55 of Midnight Enchantment

Creeping up to the living room window, he peered inside. Ava and Liliana knelt on either side of the coffee table, a thin black leather book between them. It reeked of dark magic and ancient evil. Where on earth had they found that accursed book?

The blood-demon stirred to life within him.Mine, he hissed.

Lily stared at Ava across the coffee table, her nerves humming with tension, her brow furrowed and damp with perspiration. “Maybe we should just throw it away.”

“I’ve got five thousand dollars invested in that little black book,” Ava said, regarding the item in question through narrowed eyes.

“It’s evil!” Lily exclaimed. “Can’t you feel it?”

“Books can’t be evil, child. Although I’m sure whatever spells or incantations are inside are capable of doing great harm in the wrong hands.”

Lily bit down on her lower lip as Ava picked up the slim volume. When Ava tried to open it, bright purple sparks danced up and down her arm.

With a startled cry, Ava dropped the thing on the table. “What the hell! I’ve never felt anything like that in my life.”

“Throw it away!”

“I can’t do that. What if Varden got hold of it? Or Claret?”

“What makes you think they could open it?”

“I don’t know that they could, but are you willing to take that chance?” Ava stared at the book. “It’s obviously not witch made,” she murmured, thinking aloud. “I suppose it could be vampire made, but I think it’s more likely demon made.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “I never thought of that.” The mere idea sent a cold chill down her spine. There were all kinds of demons, though they were rare. Most were really imps who caused mischief—flat tires, broken water pipes, computer glitches. A few were violent, like the ones mentioned in the Bible. They inhabited humans and drove them mad. The blood-demon was a law unto itself. Where it had come from no one knew.

Lily glanced at Ava. “Do you think it holds the key to destroying the blood-demon?”

“Possibly. Or someone might have imprisoned another one within its pages.”

“Oh, Lord, I hope not.”

Moving tentatively, Ava picked up the book again. “I’m going to lock this thing up until we decide what to do with it,” she said, gaining her feet. “You’re not planning to go out, are you?”

“No way.”

“Good. When I come back downstairs, we’ll make s’mores. Nothing like chocolate to soothe one’s frazzled nerves.”

Raedan frowned as he listened to the exchange between Ava and Lily. Ava had been right. The book had been demon-made and only a demon with the necessary powers could open it. At the blood-demon’s command, he had been poised to burst into the house and grab the book from Ava’s hands had she been able to open it. He didn’t know what kind of information it contained—the demon had never seen fit to share it with him, but he was certain the book contained the evil incantations and spells necessary to create a blood-demon.

And the secret to how to destroy one.

Lily couldn’t sleep that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw those hideous purple sparks race up Ava’s arm, felt the evil that lurked between the leather covers of that black book. Where was Raedan? If Ava was right and the book was demon-made, would he be able to open it? And if so, would he be able to banish the blood-demon? And if he did, would it destroy him, too?

Head throbbing, she pulled the covers up to her chin, only to lie there, wide awake and staring at the ceiling.

“Raedan,” she whispered. “Where are you?”

She heard no answer. Instead, the quiet strumming of a guitar filled her mind and lulled her to sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“You found her?” Varden’s voice rose. “You’re sure it’s her?”

“Yes, master.”

“Let’s go.”

“You wish me to take you there?”

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