Page 29 of Enchant the Dawn

“I’ve never seen any.”

“Me, neither. Of course, witches are really just people with supernatural powers. It’s not like they change into monsters.” With a shake of her head, she said, “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Let’s dance.”

“Good idea.”

She fit into his arms as if she had been made to order, Dominic thought. Her warm, womanly fragrance enflamed him, the tantalizing scent of her blood teased his senses even as it awakened his hunger. He spoke to her mind and then bit her lightly, just enough to break the skin, just enough for a single taste. It sizzled through him, more potent than 100 proof whiskey, more desirable than anything he had ever tasted. Though sorely tempted to take more, he sealed the tiny puncture, then lifted his head and quickly wiped the memory from her mind.

When she smiled up at him, he knew he was lost.

It was after midnight when Dominic took her home. He kissed her deeply before saying good night, acutely aware of her gaze on his back as he walked to his car.

He was in more danger than he had ever been in his life, Dominic mused as he turned to wave at Maddy.

And so was she.

* * *

Maddy felt giddy as a schoolgirl as she closed the door and floated up the stairs to her room. She hadn’t lived at home for five or six years, but her mother hadn’t changed anything. Posters of her favorite rock stars still hung on the wall over her double bed. A stuffed teddy bear her father had given her for her fifth birthday sat on her pillow. Her high school yearbooks remained on the bookshelf, along with novels and textbooks she had left behind, and a couple of old Barbie dolls.

Maddy kicked off her shoes and fell back on the mattress. Like it or not, she was falling head over heels for Dominic, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. What if things got really serious? Did she want to marry into a family of witches? What would her sister think? What would her parents think? But the real question was, what did she think? And the answer was—it might be fun to have a sister-in-law who was a witch.

And then she frowned. Maybe not so much fun to have a mother-in-law who was a witch, though.

It was her last thought before sleep carried her away.

* * *

Dominic released the woman in his arms from his thrall and sent her on her way, thinking as he did so that drinking from her was not nearly as satisfying as the small sip he’d had of Maddy’s blood. Maddy. Since the night he’d met her, she had been constantly in his thoughts.

He was near home when Claret suddenly appeared beside him.

“I knew I’d run into you again sooner or later,” she purred as she linked her arm with his.

“Is that right?”

“You’ve been avoiding me,” she accused.

“I haven’t been thinking of you at all.”

She glared at him. “That’s not a very nice thing to say.”

“Maybe I’m not very nice.” Dominic tensed when her hungry gaze moved to his throat. It wasn’t his company she wanted, but his blood. His preternatural senses kicked into overdrive as four vampires and a lone human suddenly surrounded him.

With lightning speed, they rushed him, driving him to the ground, while the human grabbed his arm and locked a silver manacle in place, thwarting Dominic’s ability to transport himself to safety. Kneeling beside Dominic, the man locked the other shackle around his own wrist.

Claret dropped to her knees beside him, her eyes blood red as she sank her fangs into his throat.

Dominic clenched his jaw as she drank. He had expected her to take a few sips and let him go. But she continued to drink. He struggled as he felt his strength leaving him, and still she drank. And drank.

At last, she lifted her head and licked his blood from her lips.

“Our turn now,” one of the vampires said, his eyes hot as he moved closer.

“He’s mine!” she snapped. “And I’m not sharing.” Her gaze settled on each one as they began to murmur among themselves. “Do any of you have a problem with that?”

“Damn right!” another hissed. “Who do you think . . . ?”

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