Page 87 of Midnight Enchantment

The dragon dipped his head in acknowledgement, then took to the air as the heavens unleashed a torrent of rain.

Clutching the flask, Raedan transported himself to Ava’s house in New Orleans. Feeling drained in mind and body, he burrowed into the soft earth behind the house. Wracked with pain beyond anything he had ever known as the blood-demon fought for control, he curled in on himself and closed his eyes.

Cradled in darkness, he wondered how much longer he could resist. Wondered if he would ever rise again. If it was not to be, if he was fated to rest here, in the bowels of mother earth for all eternity, at least he would be close to Liliana.

It was his last conscious thought before the dark sleep dragged him down into unfeeling oblivion.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Lily woke bleary-eyed and heart-sick. She had stayed up until dawn, waiting, praying, for Raedan to return, and feared the worst when he did not.Raedan. She called his name, searching for the link that bound them together and found only emptiness.

In the bathroom, she splashed cold water on her face, then stumbled into the kitchen.

Ava and Mason sat at the table, the remains of their breakfast still on the table.

Lily flinched at the look of pity in Ava’s eyes. It was evident that her great-grandmother also thought Raedan had been destroyed by the dragon.

Rising, Mason nodded at Ava and excused himself from the room.

Lily sank into one of the chairs.

With a wave of her hand, Ava cleared the dishes from the table, then reached for Lily’s hand. “There’s still hope, child.”

Lily shook her head. “He’s not coming back.”

“You can’t be sure of that.”

“I tried to contact him. Day or night, he’s always answered me when he could.” Twin tears trickled down Lily’s cheeks. “How am I going to live without him?”

“Life goes on,” Ava said quietly. “Even when we don’t want it, too.”

“I want to go home.”

“To Savaria?”

“No, to your house. I don’t want to see my parents right now.”

It took only moments to gather their things. Ava cast a circle large enough to hold the three of them. When Mason returned, he quickly packed his belongings, then the three of them stood inside the circle while Ava sealed it with her blood. With their arms linked together, Ava chanted the words that carried them home to New Orleans.

When they arrived, Lily went straight to her room and closed the door. Throwing herself face down on the bed, she cried until she was sure she had no tears left, then pulled a blanket over her head and wept some more, until grief and exhaustion carried her away.

“She’s young,” Mason said, slipping his arm around Ava’s shoulders. “She’ll get over it, in time.”

“I hope so, but they shared more than just a few kisses. He drank her blood. She was able to communicate with him telepathically, even though she never drank his blood in return. I don’t know what kind of bond the blood-demon might have created between them, or if his death would sever it. She might grieve for him forever.”

“Perhaps Quill can help.”

“Or Andras. He’s the oldest vampire in the family. If she’s not feeling better in a few days, I’ll call Callie and Quill. Until then, I think it’s best to just leave her alone and let her grieve.”

Lily moved through the following days like a lost soul. She didn’t eat, she rarely slept.

She spent her days curled up on the sofa and her nights outside in the dark because she felt closer to Raedan there. She knew Ava was worried about her, but she didn’t care. Raedan had told her not to mourn for him if he didn’t return, but how could she help it? In the short time she had known him, he had become her whole life.

She looked up at the sound of footsteps outside her bedroom door.

“Lily? May I come in?”

“Yes, Granny.”

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