Page 39 of Enchant the Dawn

“Exactly! You saved her life. She could have returned the favor.”

“It wasn’t a matter of life and death.”

“It could have been.”

“But it wasn’t. Anyway, it doesn’t matter now. She’s made her feelings for me perfectly clear.”

“I had an email from your father, wanting to know if we’ve learned anything about the intentions of the Brotherhood.”

“Have we?” Suddenly restless, he paced the floor in front of the hearth.

“To the best of my knowledge, their main goal is the same as it’s always been—to destroy your people, as well as any others they consider unfit to live.”

Dominic grunted. “So, we’re pretty much wasting our time here.”

Ava sank down on the sofa. “Are you saying we should go home?”

He shrugged. Jasper had killed the last Knight who’d tried to capture him, though he was sure others would come to take his place. And that was okay with him. He was in the mood for a good fight.

“Maybe we should go home,” Ava mused. “We’re not accomplishing anything here.”

Dominic paused in midstride. If they left now, he would never see Maddy again. True, he didn’t have much hope of that anyway, but there was always a chance she would change her mind. “You go, if you want.”

“It’s her, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I can’t get her out of my mind.”

“Or your heart?”

Dominic nodded slowly. “I can’t leave Maddy until I’m sure there’s no hope for us.”

Chapter 17

The Elder Knight shifted his cell phone from one ear to the other as he listened with growing frustration to Jasper’s rambling report. Damn Falconer! Was there no way to overpower the monster? Some of the Knights were beginning to question the feasibility of going after the Hungarian vampires, claiming there were but few of them left in the country, whereas there were hundreds of the Transylvanian vampires, who were far more of a threat to human life.

The Elder Knight refused to consider the possibility that they were right. He had a personal grudge against Falconer and his kind, and he meant to avenge the death of his father, no matter how many Knights died along the way.

“Continue as you have been. I want that vampire! Another Knight is on his way.” Ending the call, the Elder Knight tossed his phone on the bed. Incompetent fools! Was he going to have to confront the vampire himself?

Chapter 18

Maddy woke bleary-eyed after a long and restless night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Dominic lying on the floor, bleeding from numerous cuts, while her refusal to help him played over and over again in her mind. He had saved her life and she had failed him.

She owed him an apology, she thought as she tossed the covers aside and headed for the shower. Admitting her guilt was the only way she was ever going to get a decent night’s sleep.

* * *

Dominic was propped up in bed, trying to figure out the best way to get in touch with Maddy when his cell phone rang. Surprised, he picked it up. “Hey, Maddy. Is something wrong?”

“Yes. I want to apologize for last night.”

“Apologize? For what?”

“You needed my help, and I wouldn’t give it to you.”

“It’s all right.”

“No, it isn’t. Can you forgive me?”

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