Page 101 of Enchant the Dawn

“Glad you see things my way,” Quill remarked.

“I guess you’re right,” she admitted. “We shouldn’t go. We’ll send Lily instead.”

“Do you know where Dominic is?”

“No. Try as I might, I can’t find him. He’s closed his mind to me.”

“Yeah,” Quill said ruefully. “Me too. Not a good sign.”

“Sooner or later, Liliana will find him,” Callie said confidently.

“Are you sure it’s safe to send her on her own?”

“Ava will look after her.”

“I guess it’s settled, then. Come on, let’s go find our girl and tell her to pack a suitcase. She’s going to America.”

Chapter 41

Being part vampire wasn’t as bad as Maddy had feared. She didn’t have a constant craving for blood. She slept just fine, although there were occasional nightmares in which she re-lived what had happened in the Knights’ stronghold—the savage expression on Dominic’s face when he attacked her, the horror she’d felt when he bit her—but those times grew farther apart with each passing day. Hopefully, they would eventually fade from her memory altogether.

She found a part-time job at the local library, just to have something to do. She rather enjoyed working there, returning books to the stacks, reading to a group of children a couple of times a week, and occasionally working at the front desk. She felt the need to be surrounded by people who weren’t vampires or witches, just normal human beings.

Nights were the worst. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking about Dominic. All she had to do was close her eyes and his image sprang to life—tall and dark and devastatingly handsome. Sometimes she could almost hear his voice calling her name. It never failed to bring tears to her eyes. Perhaps she shouldn’t have left him. And yet, how could she stay? What if he had another overwhelming urge to feed on her again? What if the next time he couldn’t stop?

Ava had decided to stay in New Orleans after seeing Maddy home. She called from time to time, usually just a brief hello, how are you doing? Maddy appreciated Ava’s concern, but her calls always led to memories of Dominic.

Memories she would rather forget. Honesty forced her to admit that what had happened was as much her fault as his. If only she had listened to him and stayed in Portland instead of following him to Cornwall.

* * *

Maddy had been home for almost three weeks when Ava called and invited her over for tea.

“I don’t think so,” Maddy said. “Maybe in a week or so.”

“Please, change your mind,” Ava coaxed. “I’ve been where you are. It’s never easy moving on from a failed relationship. But there’s someone here who would like to see you.”

Maddy’s heart skipped a beat. Was it Dominic?

“Shall we say three o’clock?”

Maddy bit down on her lower lip. What if it was Dominic? Was she ready to see him again? Knowing she’d regret it if she refused, she said, “All right. I’ll be there.”

* * *

Maddy’s nerves were on edge when she arrived at Ava’s house and rang the bell.

Ava answered the door a moment later, a smile of welcome on her face. “It’s so good to see you,” she said, “although you’re looking a little flushed. Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m fine.” Maddy glanced past Ava, hoping to see Dominic. Swallowing her disappointment, she followed Ava into the living room.

Ava gestured toward the sofa. “Sit down, dear.”

Maddy perched on the edge of the couch, her pulse racing at the sound of footsteps. Only it wasn’t Dominic who entered the room carrying a tea tray, but a lovely young woman who could only be his twin. The same black hair, the same dark gray eyes, the same features, except softer and more feminine.

“Maddy, this is Dominic’s sister, Liliana.”

The girl smiled at Maddy as she set the tray on the coffee table. “I’m so happy to meet you,” Lily said.

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