Page 15 of Enchant the Dawn

“Nice,” she murmured as he held the door for her.

“Only has eleven miles on it,” he said as he slid behind the wheel. “And I put eight of them on there.”

When he started the engine, it purred like a well-fed tiger.

He took her to a nightclub in the Quarter that played a mix of rock, pop, and country music. They ordered pizza, hot wings, salad, and beer. It was Friday night, and the joint was jumping. They were lucky to find a table for two, Maddy thought as they navigated their way along the edge of the dance floor while couples swayed to an old Billy Ray Cyrus song.

“Do you line dance?” Maddy asked after they’d been seated.

“’Fraid not.”

“I could teach you.”

Dominic glanced at the dancers. He had to admit, it looked like fun. A little complicated, but fun. “Maybe after I’ve had a drink or two.”

She grinned at him. “You’re on.”

She was as good as her word. After dinner, she took him by the hand and dragged him out on the floor and taught him the moves to the Electric Slide. Once he got the hang of it, he enjoyed it. But he liked slow dancing with Maddy in his arms better.

It was after midnight when Maddy suggested they call it a night, at least as far as dancing went, although Dominic didn’t seem tired at all. She really had to get back into her exercise program!

At home, gentleman that he was, he opened the car door for her, then escorted her to the porch.

“Thanks for tonight,” she said as she turned the key in the lock. “I had a great time.”

“So did I. Maybe we can do it again one of these nights.”

“I’d like that.” She felt her heart skip a beat as he moved a step closer.

“If you give me your number, I could give you a call.”

“Good idea.” They quickly exchanged cell phone numbers. “Is it still okay if I just drop by without calling first?”

She felt a shiver of anticipation as he took another step toward her.

“Okay if I kiss you good night?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she murmured and closed her eyes as he kissed her, gently at first and then a little more deeply, a little more intensely. Her heart was pounding like a drum, her knees weak, when he lifted his head.

“Good night, Maddy,” he said, his voice gruff.

“Good night, Dominic,” she whispered. And realized, in that moment, she was in danger of falling head over heels for a man she hardly knew.

Chapter 7

Ava loved New Orleans. She hadn’t been there in decades, but it hadn’t changed much. The same antebellum homes and mansions. Magnificent St. Louis Cathedral still stood on Pere Antoine Alley as it had since 1794. Dedicated to King Louis IX, it was the oldest cathedral in continuous use in what had become the United States.

As she walked along Bourbon Street, Ava sensed the tide of supernatural power that ebbed and flowed just below the surface of human awareness. But she felt it clearly. It danced over her skin—the magic of a voodoo priestess practicing her religion, the signature of a black witch conjuring a spell, all happening while mortal men and women went about their daily lives, completely unaware of the dark undercurrent of witchcraft and black magic.

And the unmistakable presence of bloodthirsty vampires lingering in the shadows when the sun went down.

But now the sun was up and everything appeared calm and peaceful. She walked through the city, searching for the signature of one warlock in particular.

She found it in a small, dimly lit café on a narrow, dark side street.

The man she was looking for sat hunched at a table in the back. Dressed all in black, he reminded her of the vulture he had once been.

He stiffened as she approached his table.

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