Page 2 of Midnight Enchantment

Lily shook her head. One of the first things she had learned at her great-grandmother’s knee was that names had power.

“I will give you mine if you give me yours.”

“I don’t want it,” she said, primly.

His smile was devastating.

Lily’s heart began to pound a quick tattoo when he backed her against the wall, his hands flattened on either side of her head, his big body far too close, his breath fanning her cheek. She shivered when she felt his mind brush hers. “Stop that!”

“Why are you afraid of me, Liliana?”

Just as she had feared, he had the power to read her mind. Swallowing hard, she said, “I’m not afraid.”

“Yes, you are.” He took a deep breath. “I can smell the fear on your skin, hear the rapid beating of your heart.” Closing his eyes, he leaned closer. “Smell the blood flowing rich and red in your veins like the finest wine.”

Terror rose within her. Frantic, she tried to summon her magic, but fear held her fast in its grip so that all she could do was stare at him, helpless, and more frightened than she had ever been in her life.

“You have nothing to be afraid of,” he murmured. “I will not hurt you.”

“Why … why should I believe you?”

“Because I said so.” He lowered his hands and took a step back. “I am sorry I frightened you. I did not realize you were so young. So innocent.” Taking her hand in his, he kissed her palm. “Please accept my apology.”

Liliana closed her eyes and took a deep breath, hoping to still the frantic pounding of heart.

When she opened her eyes again, he was gone.

Ava looked up and smiled when Lily entered the living room, but her smile quickly faded when she caught the faint scent of vampire. “Where have you been?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended. “More importantly, who have you been with?”

“I don’t know.” Sinking down in the easy chair across from the sofa, Lily clasped her hands in her lap.

“What do you mean, you don’t know? I can smell him on you. What on earth were you doing with a Transylvanian vampire?”

“I was walking down Bourbon Street when I heard a guitar. Something about the melody drew me inside. The man playing it looked at me and … the strangest feeling passed between us. It was weird and a little scary and … ” She shook her head in wonder. “I’ve never felt anything like it before. It rattled me and I left. But he followed me.”

Ava’s eyes widened. “Did he bite you?”

“No! No. Nothing like that. It was like he was looking for someone and thought it might be me. Does that make any sense?”

“Not a bit. What’s this guy’s name?”

“I don’t know.”

“Listen to me, young lady,” Ava said sternly. “You stay away from the Transylvanian vampires or I’ll send you home quicker than you can say abracadabra. Do you understand me?”

Lily nodded.

Ava’s gaze moved over her great-granddaughter’s face. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“No,” Lily murmured. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be all right again.”

Lily tossed and turned all night long. Every time she closed her eyes, the vampire’s image rose in her mind. He wasn’t handsome in the usual sense of the word, but he was gorgeous nonetheless, his features strong and masculine and compelling. And his eyes—she had never seen eyes like that. Not just that deep, deep shade of blue but the intensity of his gaze. She’d had the feeling that with one glance, he had discovered everything there was to know about her, every hope of her heart, every secret desire.

It had been most disconcerting. Worst of all, she wanted very much to see him again.

Chapter Two

Late that night, Raedan prowled the residential streets of the city. Houses rose on either side of him, their windows dark, the occupants having gone to bed hours ago. How pathetic their lives were, their days spent in mundane jobs, ruled by the need for nourishment and shelter, the financial means to feed and clothe their young, haunted by the ever-present specter of illness and death.

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