Page 64 of Midnight Enchantment

“Liliana! What a question!”

“Is he?”

“Not quite, but close enough that it doesn’t matter.”

“So, I guess that’s not how he really looks, either.”

“You know how men are. Some get better looking as they grow older.” Ava placed their sandwiches on paper plates, added some chips, and carried them to the table. “How are things between you and Raedan?”

Lily shrugged. “As good as they can be, all things considered.”

“Have you thought about what staying with him will be like, for you?”

Lily nodded. “All the time.”

“Do you think it’s worth it?”

“I don’t know. I guess only time will tell. After all, we really haven’t known each other very long. But I love him, Granny. I can’t help how I feel.”

“I know, dear. I can see it your eyes when you look at him.”

Lily glanced frequently at the time as the sun dipped in the west. She had expected Raedan to arrive as soon as the sun went down, but an hour passed and then another and there was still no sign of him. Where could he be?

Raedan sat at the bar in one of the many nightclubs along Bourbon Street, a glass of wine in his hand as he perused the men and women around him. The place was crowded with tourists from all over the country. He noted that he wasn’t the only vampire in the club. And then he grinned faintly as he recognized the Master of the City. She was a pretty thing, with her fiery red hair and a voluptuous figure shown off tonight by an off-the-shoulder gown of forest green. He had not seen her since she had confronted him one night soon after he arrived in New Orleans. He knew the very moment when she caught his scent. Her head snapped up, her eyes—so dark a brown they were almost black, narrowed as she searched the crowd. When their gazes met, he smiled at her.

Lifting one brow, she sashayed toward him. “Are you going to tell me your name this time?”

“Raedan. And you’re Claret, Master of the City.”

“Indeed.” She frowned as she drew in his scent. “What are you?”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re more than just vampire.” She cocked her head to the side. “You’re not a witch, but the scent of witch magic is all over you. How is that possible?”

“Perhaps because I spend a lot of time with witches.”

Claret took a deep breath. “A Falconer witch. Liliana!” Her eyes widened. “You destroyed Varden, didn’t you?”

“He needed killing,” Raedan growled, and felt his rage surface anew as he remembered what the vampire had done to Liliana. “It gave me great pleasure to destroy him.”

She made a vague gesture with one elegant hand. “He was quite insane. A danger to one and all.”

Finishing his drink, Raedan placed the glass on the bar top. “A pleasure to see you again,” he said.

“Do you know Quill?”

“We’ve met.”

“Tell him hello for me should you see him again.”

“I shall.” Wondering how in hell Claret knew Quill, Raedan left the club.

Moments later, he was standing on Ava’s front porch. It was Ava, herself, who opened the door. She frowned when she saw him. “What were you doing with Claret?”

“You know her?”

“We all do,” she said, taking a step back so he could enter the house. “Like most Transylvanian vampires, she craves Hungarian blood.” She looked at Raedan thoughtfully as she closed the door. “Do you?”

---