Page 30 of Midnight Enchantment

“But … everyone knows only Hungarian vampires can successfully mate with humans. And even then, it doesn’t always work.”

“As I said, this one is determined to try.”

Her appetite gone, Lily pushed her plate away. “Are Transylvanian vampires stronger than our kind?”

“Hungarian or Transylvanian, a vampire’s strength grows more powerful as they age. But a vampire’s sire also affects their power. The stronger the sire, the stronger the fledgling. Your grandfather was sired by a powerful vampire and that strength has been passed down through your family. Transylvanian vampires, old or young, turn mortals indiscriminately, with no thought of power. But a few of them have been turned by old ones. And some, like Claret, have gained power merely by surviving.” Or by drinking Hungarian blood..

“And Raedan?”

“He is unique, one of a kind. Perhaps the strongest of them all.”

Lily sipped her coffee, her thoughts chaotic and tinged with fear. A vampire was hunting her, not for her blood, but because he hoped to mate with her and produce a child. It had never occurred to her that any of the Transylvanian vampires would want children. They seemed to have no interest in home or family or anything other than blood and death. Personally, she had never given children much thought, either. She had just assumed that the day would come when she would marry and have a child or two like the rest of her family.

She frowned, struck by a new thought. Could Raedan father a child? Not that she was thinking about marrying him or anything. But was that possibility the reason everyone was so upset about her dating him? No sooner had the idea occurred to her than she saw her newly won freedom being taken away from her again “for her own good.” How she hated those four words! She had heard them her whole life.

Lily looked up to find Ava watching her. “Am I being sent home?”

“Not at the moment.”

“But?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if your father came after you. I’m sorry, child.”

“I wish I’d never been born,” Lily exclaimed, pushing away from the table.

“Liliana, you don’t mean that!”

“I’m going to my room.”

Knowing Lily needed time alone, Ava made no move to stop her, trusting that the wards she had set around the house would prevent the girl from leaving.

Upstairs, Lily paced the floor, her anger and frustration growing with every passing moment. It was her life. If she wanted to spend it with a vampire-demon, it should be her decision. How was it any worse than her father, a vampire, marrying a witch?

She threw herself on the bed and pounded her fists into the mattress. And when that didn’t help to ease her anger, she scrambled to her feet and went to the window. It wouldn’t open, of course. Ava had seen to that.

Picking up a heavy bookend, she hurled it at the glass. It bounced off the window as if it was made of rubber.

Fighting tears of frustration, she sank down on the floor and buried her face in her hands.

“Liliana.”

“Raedan?” Lifting her head, she found herself staring at a pair of black-clad legs. “Raedan!” She took the hand he offered, let him pull her to her feet and into his arms. “How did you get in here?”

“Through the window.”

She glanced past him, eyes widening when she saw the curtains fluttering at the open window. “How?”

He caressed her cheek with his knuckles. “Why are you so surprised, love?”

“But … Ava … she warded the house … ”

“To keep you in,” he said, lightly tapping his finger against the tip of her nose. “Nothing can keep me out.” He had also cast his own spell to keep the old witch from sensing his presence.

Sighing, Lily rested her cheek against his chest. She had known him such a short time, knew so little about him, how could being in his arms feel like coming home? When he stroked her hair, she felt like purring.

Putting a finger under her chin, he lifted her head, his dark eyes filled with an emotion she couldn’t decipher. Her heart skipped a beat as he slowly lowered his head to claim her lips with his. It was the lightest of touches and yet it sizzled like heat lightning all the way down to her toes.

“Liliana, my love, you are driving me crazy.”

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