Page 89 of Enchant the Dawn

“His blood. I crave it.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve heard it is like catnip to your kind.”

She stared up at him. She had rarely been afraid of anything since being turned, but this man—this warlock—terrified her. There was no mercy in his eyes, no shred of pity or kindness.

Only darkness.

And death. Her death.

Dominic. Help me. She choked back a cry as the stranger ran the point of the blade along both of her cheeks. Razor sharp, it opened long, narrow gashes from the corner of her eyes to her jaw.

“My thanks for your help,” the Elder Knight said with mock courtesy.

Claret let out a cry of denial as he raised the blade for the killing blow, gasped as strong arms wrapped around her and whisked her out of harm’s way.

* * *

“What the hell!” Ava stared at Dominic in disbelief as he appeared on the front porch with Claret in his arms.

Dominic set the vampire on her feet. “If anyone kills her, it’s going to be me, not that crazy Elder Knight.”

A slow smile spread over Claret’s face. “I knew you cared.”

Dominic snorted. Truth be told, he didn’t know why he had saved her from the Knight. Claret wanted his blood. The Knight wanted his head. But, of the two, Claret was the lesser evil. “You’re out of danger for the moment. Now, be gone.”

“As you wish,” she murmured. And vanished from sight.

Ava shook her head in exasperation. “I hope you don’t live to regret that.”

“Yeah,” Dominic muttered. “Me too.”

* * *

Claret materialized in her lair deep in the bowels of an old, abandoned church. No one else knew where it was, not even members of her coven. She had warded it against any and all intruders, be they vampires, witches, werewolves, or humans. And then she had hired a witch to do the same, thereby insuring a double layer of protection.

But after her encounter with the Elder Knight, she no longer felt safe. Damn the man, he was the scariest thing she had ever encountered. No wonder Jasper was afraid of him.

Collapsing on the sofa, she closed her eyes. Not long ago, she had intended to trap Dominic one way or another. She had been willing to kill his great-grandmother and his girlfriend if necessary. Anything to ensure that she could savor his blood at her leisure.

But no more. She owed Dominic Falconer her life.

And as soon as she worked up the courage to leave the security of her lair, she would seek him out and tell him so.

Chapter 37

Maddy glanced at the grandfather clock across from the sofa. Dominic would be rising soon. He had been unusually quiet the last two nights, his thoughts turned inward. Ava, too, had been reticent. Knowing he had a lot on his mind, Maddy hadn’t pressed him for answers. Instead, she had spent the time practicing her magic. The wand made all the difference in the world. Day by day, she could feel her magic growing stronger, becoming an integral part of her. It was exhilarating. And a little frightening.

She had mastered all the simpler spells in Ava’s grimoire, her confidence growing with each success. Ava applauded her efforts, although she often seemed distracted. Maddy suddenly wished Jasper was still around. She would have loved to have another try at restoring his humanity.

She smiled at Dominic when he entered the living room that evening, then frowned when he merely nodded in return.

Rising, she moved toward him. “Okay, what’s going on? Are you mad at me? Changed your mind about the wedding? What is it? You’ve hardly said a word to me in days.”

“I know,” he said quietly, and took her in his arms. “I’m going after the Elder Knight.”

“What? When? Why?”

“It’s time to end this. He found Claret in New Orleans. He was about to destroy her when she called for me.”

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