Page 93 of Midnight Enchantment

“I don’t know how she’ll ever get over this.”

“She comes from good stock. Her heart will mend, in time.”

“I hope so,” Ava murmured as she stroked Lily’s brow. “Heaven help me, I hope so.”

Feeling weak and in pain, Raedan headed for Bourbon Street. He didn’t know if it was the concoction burning through him causing him such agony or if it was the demon’s last, frantic efforts to survive. All he knew was that he needed blood, he needed it desperately, and he needed it now.

It was an hour until dawn when he staggered into the bar favored by the Master of the City. He found her in her favorite booth, drinking from a slender young man. Tonight, she wore a gown of deep purple taffeta that revealed a generous amount of tawny cleavage.

Claret looked up, blood dripping from her fangs, when he practically fell onto the seat opposite hers. “What happened to you?” she exclaimed.

“No time to explain. I need blood.”

“This one has some left. Help yourself.”

Raedan shook his head. “Your blood.” Vampires rarely shared blood with one another, but tonight something told him nothing else would do.

“Mine?” She stared at him as if he had lost his mind. “I don’t share my blood with anyone.”

“I need the blood of a vampire, and you are the only one I know.”

Leaning forward, she inhaled sharply. “What is that smell?”

“Dragon’s blood. Liliana’s blood. Nightshade.”

“It reeks.” She drew another breath, a frown creasing her brow as her gaze met his. “There is something different about you. What is it?”

“I tried to destroy the blood-demon tonight. I am not sure I succeeded.”

“And you need my blood why?”

“To strengthen my own.”

“What will you give me in return?”

Raedan groaned low in his throat. “Dammit, woman, I do not have the time or the strength to play games. Are you going to help me or not?”

“I will expect some Hungarian blood in return. Dominic’s will do. Quill’s would be better.”

“Fine.”

With an aggrieved sigh, she thrust her arm across the table toward him, then quickly withdrew it. “Wait! How do I know this isn’t just some sneaky way to transfer the demon to me?”

“I can no longer feel it. I can only assume we succeeded in destroying it.”

She regarded him through narrowed eyes a moment, then offered him her arm again.

Raedan grasped her wrist in both hands and sank his fangs into her flesh. She was an old vampire, though not nearly as old as he. Still, her blood was powerful. He felt it move through his veins like heat lightning, healing the wounds left behind by the demon, strengthening his own power. He didn’t know what had driven him to search for vampire blood, all he knew was that no mortal could have given him as much as he needed and still survived. He closed his eyes as he felt Claret’s blood mingle with that of the dragon, Liliana’s, and his own, sighed as the combination seemed to eradicate the last vestiges of the demon’s hellish power.

“Enough.”

One last taste and Raedan lifted his head. “I owe you a life debt.”

“Indeed. I’ve told you what I expect in payment. I will accept nothing less.”

“I will see that you get it,” he vowed. “Again, my thanks.”

With a queenly wave of dismissal, she tuned back to her prey and buried her fangs in his throat once more.

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