Page 95 of Midnight Enchantment

She whirled around, a wordless cry of joy rising in her throat as she threw her arms around his neck “Oh, Raedan, I thought I’d lost you forever!”

“You very nearly did.” He held her close, reveling in the warmth of her body against his, the scent of her hair, her skin, the sweetness of her lips as he covered her mouth with his own. It was heaven to hold her in his embrace without the blood-demon screaming in his mind, demanding that he sink his fangs into her throat and drain her dry.

Lily hugged him tightly, tears of joy trickling down her cheeks. He was here. He was alive, and nothing else mattered.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, she asked the question uppermost in her mind. “Is he gone?”

“Yes, love.” He smiled down at her, feeling at peace for the first time in centuries.

“What happened? Where did you go?”

“The demon didn’t die easily. He struggled to break his ties with me, to transfer to another host. To you.”

“Me?” She stared at him. “That’s why you told me not to touch you? Why you disappeared?”

He nodded. “I could not let his evil infect you.”

“I thought the demon only inhabited vampires.”

“Usually, yes. But even though you are not a vampire, you carry your father’s blood. The demon could have survived inside you until he found another vampire host. Your father, or perhaps your brother.”

She shivered, remembering the pain the blood-demon had inflicted on him. “But you’re okay now?”

“Yes, thanks to Claret.”

“Claret! What does she have to do with anything?”

“The demon fought me for hours. I was about to give up the fight when I realized the only thing that might help me was vampire blood. “

“Odd, there was nothing in either book about vampire blood being necessary,” Lily mused.

“I have a feeling it was there, but the demon prevented me from seeing it.”

“Why?”

“Perhaps he was tired of fighting with me and wanted a new host. At any rate, I found Claret at her club and she agreed to help me. For a price.”

“What did she want, I’m afraid to ask.”

“Blood. Hungarian blood.”

“My father’s,” Lily murmured.

“Or your brother’s.”

Lily frowned. “You kept the demon from transferring to me, but why didn’t it infect Claret?”

“By the time I found her, I could no longer feel the demon inside me.” Which had led him to believe it was dead, inert, or no longer a threat. “She almost refused to help me, but apparently she decided the risk was worth the promise of your father’s blood.” His gaze searched hers. “So much has happened in such a short time, my sweet Liliana. Have your feelings for me changed?”

“No. Never. I will always love you.” She bit down on her lower lip. “Have your feelings for me changed?”

“That will never happen. You are my love, my life.” He caressed her cheek with the backs of his knuckles. “Will you marry me now, Liliana?”

“Yes. Oh, yes!”

“Are you sure? Think it over, love. Your parents will not approve. I doubt they will ever accept me.”

“I don’t care.”

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