Page 31 of Enchant the Dawn

A sense of dread fell over the Brotherhood as the Elder Knight strode into the center of the circle. “Leon 48, like my servant Jasper, you were charged to go to New Orleans in search of Hungarian vampires. You were not to destroy any that you found, but to bring them here, to me. You failed in your duty. Have you anything to say before I pronounce sentence?”

“No, my lord.”

“The penalty for disobedience is death, to be carried out immediately.”

A shudder ran through Leon 48 as the Elder Knight drew a sword from within the folds of his robe.

A gasp ran through the other Knights as the sword fell across Leon’s neck, neatly separating his head from his body.

“Justice has been done. Philip 51, you are now assigned to New Orleans. I will interview one of our Knights in training to replace Leon 48. Philip, I wish to speak to you privately. The rest of you are dismissed to return to your assignments.”

Two of the Knights carried the remains away. There would be no formal funeral for Leon 48. He had died in disgrace and would be buried without ceremony in an unmarked grave.

The Elder Knight waited until he and Philip 51 were alone before asking, “Do you understand your charge?”

“Yes, my lord. I am to locate any Hungarian vampires in New Orleans and bring them to you. And to destroy any Transylvanian vampires I may find.”

“Correct.”

“My lord?”

“Yes?”

“How do you know the vampire who was killed was not the one you seek?”

“I know.”

“Might I be so bold as to ask which vampire you seek? It might be helpful if I knew his name.”

“Of course.” The Elder Knight’s eyes narrowed ominously for a moment. “More than twenty years ago, the Brotherhood stood on the brink of extinction because of one family of vampires.”

“Falconer.”

The Elder Knight’s eyes widened in surprise. “You know of them?”

“I have studied our history.”

“Falconer did not work alone. He was aided by a witch, a very powerful witch.”

Philip nodded. “Ava.”

“You have studied well indeed. It is the witch I want. But she is more powerful than any member of the Brotherhood. The only way to find her is to capture Quill Falconer’s son, Dominic. I have reason to believe he is now in New Orleans. Once I have Quill’s son in my power, the witch will come to me. Now go. Jasper is also in New Orleans, should you need help.” The Elder Knight’s gaze trapped Philip’s in a merciless stare. “Do not fail me.”

Philip 51 glanced at the ground where the blood of his comrade was drying. “I will not fail you, my lord. I swear it.”

Chapter 14

Maddy sighed as Dominic took her in his arms. They had been together every night for the last three weeks. She loved being with him, whether they were holding hands at the movies, getting to know each other better over dinner, strolling through the park, or dancing the night away. And with each passing day, her affection for him grew stronger, deeper. Inevitably, they ended up in each other’s arms on her sofa at the end of every date.

Not that she was complaining. Far from it, she thought as he claimed her lips in a long, slow kiss that left her wanting so much more. There was no place she would rather be than in Dominic’s arms. She loved everything about him—the way he looked at her, as if she were the most wonderful woman in the world, the sound of his voice, the joy of his laughter, the way he cared for his great-grandmother.

She sighed as the clock above the mantel struck midnight. He left every night about this time.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“No. I just hate to see the evening end.”

“Me too.”

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