Page 62 of Midnight Enchantment

“Afraid you’ll take too much?”

“Yes.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I do not want to hurt you, love. Or worse, turn you against your will. But I cannot be sure I will always be able to stop before it is too late, or that I will not take too much. How can I put your life in danger like that?”

“But we have the demon’s book. If we can figure out a way to open it … ”

Raedan shook his head. “He is the only one who can open it.”

“What if that’s not true? What if he’s lying? Surely two witches, a vampire, and a warlock should be able to unlock whatever magic binds the book.”

“Perhaps. But he will know what we are going.”

Lily frowned. “Doesn’t it ever sleep?”

“Usually when I do, though he is at rest now.”

Lily smiled faintly. Then they would just have to work on a spell during the day, when Raedan and the blood-demon were at rest.

Raedan went still as the blood-demon stirred within him.

Could it be? Is that the woman’s blood I smell?

Not now, demon.

You swore an oath, vampire. Feed me.

“What is it?” Lily asked as Raedan went suddenly still. “What’s wrong?”

His gaze moved to the pulse throbbing in her throat. “He is thirsty.”

Fear danced in Lily’s eyes as she stared at him.

“Not to worry. I will not give him what he wants.” No sooner had Raedan said the words than pain shot through him, hot, agonizing pain that burned through his veins like the flames of perdition. With a low groan, he doubled over, hands fisted, jaw clenched, his whole body rigid as the pain went on and on.

Blood!

He had to get out of here, Raedan thought, but when he tried to stand, his body refused to obey and he fell to the floor, a solid mass of misery. “Lily,” he growled. “Get. Out.”

Get out? How could she leave him in such agony? Dropping to her knees beside him, she held her arm out in front of him. “Drink, Raedan! Hurry!”

“No!”

“Please! I can’t bear to see you like this.”

When he still refused, she ran into the kitchen, pulled a knife out of a drawer and ran back into the living room. Kneeling again, she clenched her teeth, then dragged the tip of the blade across her wrist. Bright red blood immediately oozed from the shallow cut as she thrust her arm in front of Raedan again.

Lily’s blood. Hot. Fresh. Groaning, he took hold of her arm and sank his fangs into her flesh.

“What’s going on here?” Ava’s voice, filled with revulsion and alarm.

Lily looked up, tears flooding her eyes, dripping on Raedon’s hair. “The demon is torturing him. I have to make it stop.”

Ava looked up at Mason. “Shouldn’t we do something?”

The warlock shook his head. “I don’t think that would be wise just now.”

After what seemed an eternity to Lily, Raedan’s body relaxed. A moment later, he ran his tongue over the shallow cut in her arm. It healed immediately, leaving no trace. When he lifted his head, his eyes were filled with regret. And gratitude. “I am sorry,” he murmured. “So damn sorry.”

“Are you all right now?”

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