Page 58 of Midnight Enchantment

Ava stared at his surroundings. He was standing in front of what looked like a tomb in the midst of a tangled mass of dead vines and leaves and crumbling headstones.

“Mason, can you combine your magic with mine?”

“I believe so.”

“Good.” Taking his hand again, she murmured, “Powers of earth, wind and fire, reveal to me what I desire. Show me Raedan’s location.”

His image vanished and a sign post appeared in its place. “I know where he is,” Ava said. “Let’s go!”

The blood-demon led him to an ancient tomb. Raedan shuddered as he imagined his innocent Liliana lying inside, at the mercy of another man. She hadn’t been in Varden’s clutches long. Had he already defiled her? His hands curled into claws as his fangs descended. “Varden,” he hissed. “You’re a dead man.”Demon, open the damn door.

You remember your promise? It will not end well for you, or for the girl, if you betray me.

I remember.

There was a shimmer of power that rocked Raedan where he stood, a grinding sound as the heavy concrete door slowly opened inward. An open coffin sat on the dais in the center of the room. Dozens of stone shelves had been cut into the side. Each held an urn.

There was no light inside save the faint glow of moonlight that shone through the open doorway.

Afraid of what he might find inside, Raedan took a hesitant step forward and peered into the coffin.

Liliana lay inside, her eyes closed, her arms folded over her bare breasts, her hair like a splash of black paint on the smooth white satin.

Six men stood along the back wall, unmoving, their eyes open and unblinking.

Raedan’s heart caught in his throat until he assured himself that she was breathing. “Liliana?” Leaning forward, he kissed her cheek. “Liliana, wake up.”

She stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. She screamed when she saw him.

“Hush, love,” he murmured. “You’re safe now.”

“But you’re not.”

Before he could turn around, Varden lunged forward and drove a stake into Raedan’s back. Raedan staggered forward as pain speared through him. A snap of Varden’s fingers and the six thralls surrounded Raedan, all of them attacking him with silver-bladed knives and sharp wooden stakes.

Liliana stared in horror at the nightmare scene before her. Raedan was covered in blood from head to foot and yet, miraculously, none of the attackers had found his heart.

She was trying to summon her magic when Ava and a stranger appeared in the doorway. Fingers entwined, they chanted softly and, one by one, the six men dropped to the ground, leaving Raedan and Varden standing a few feet apart.

Raedan looked at Varden, a malicious smile on his face. And then, in a blur of movement, he was on the other vampire, his hands curling around Varden’s throat.

How was he still standing? Lily wondered. She had never seen so much blood. Unable to look away, she watched as Raedan broke the vampire’s neck, then picked up one of the wooden stakes. He drove it deep into Varden’s heart and gave it a cruel twist. There was a hissing noise and then a hideous sound she would never forget as the vampire’s body seemed to collapse in on itself and slowly turn to dust. A gust of wind swept through the crypt, scattering the remains.

Raedan stood there, breathing hard, his face as pale as the walls of the crypt, his eyes a hellish red.

Lily stared at him. She wanted to run to him, to hold him in her arms, but before she could move, Ava stepped into the tomb and laid a restraining hand on her arm. “Don’t touch him. Let’s go home.”

“But … ”

“He needs to be alone.” Ava removed her coat and helped Lily into it before leading her out of the tomb.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Lily sat on the sofa, a thick quilt around her shoulders, a mug of hot chocolate cupped in her hands. A fire blazed in the hearth. Earlier, Ava had helped her shower and into her nightgown and robe. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop shivering.

Ava sat beside her. Mason sat on the chair across from the sofa.

“Did he hurt you?” Ava asked quietly.

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