Page 6 of Midnight Enchantment

Three days passed. At Ava’s insistence, Lily stayed close to home. She spent her days engrossed in Ava’s grimoires, learning and practicing intriguing new spells and incantations, doing everything she could to put her great-grandmother’s mind at ease.

Evenings, they played Canasta or Scrabble, or conjured a big bowl of hot, buttered popcorn and binge-watchedThe Musketeerson one of the streaming channels.

She went to visit her brother one evening and spent over two hours holding J.D. while watching Dominic and Maddy gaze adoringly at each other and talk about how happy they were, how much they loved being parents. They were planning to take a long-delayed honeymoon to Hawaii as soon as arrangements could be made.

Lily was happy for both of them. And more than a little envious of the happiness they had found together in spite of a warlock named Jasper, a witch named Claret, and a vindictive Elder Knight of the Dark Wood. But all that was in the past now. Ava had used a bit of magic to end the battle between the Hungarian vampires and the Knights and for now, they were at peace.

Late one night, when Ava had fallen asleep on the sofa, Lily went out into the backyard. It was a beautiful evening, the sky clear and studded with stars, the air fragrant with the scents of damp earth and trees and grass. Crickets serenaded the night.

Staring up at the sky, she murmured, “Star light, star bright, grant the wish I wish tonight.”

“And what might that wish be?”

Lily whirled around at the sound of his voice, her hand pressed to her heart as she stared up at him. “You! What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you, of course.”

Close up, he seemed even bigger and broader than she remembered. He was tall, so tall. The top of her head barely reached his shoulder. And he was so … so big.

Lily glanced at the house. Was Ava inside, watching them? “You shouldn’t be here.”

“No one tells me where I can or cannot go.” His gaze moved over her. “Do you wish me to leave?”

“Would you go if I asked you to?”

A slow smile spread over his face. “No.”

A shiver ran down her spine as she suddenly realized that this man—this vampire—was the most dangerous creature she had ever met. “You never told me your name.”

“Raedan.”

“First or last?”

“It is the only one I use.”

“Like Pitbull,” she muttered. “Or Madonna.”

“Hardly Madonna,” he muttered dryly. “You did not tell me what you were wishing for.”

“It’s none of your business, Mr. Raedan. Good night.” She turned on her heel and started toward the house, froze when his hand folded over her shoulder.

“Perhaps I could make your wishes come true.”

“I doubt it. Good night, Mr. Raedan,” she said again.

“Stay a moment longer.” His voice was whisper-soft but she caught a faint note of longing. Of loneliness.

“Why should I?”

“The nights are long and I am new in town.”

When she glanced pointedly at his hand on her shoulder, he released her.

“New Orleans is full of people,” she said with an airy wave of her hand. “I’m sure you can find someone to accommodate you.”

“I would rather spend my time with you.”

Suddenly curious about this strange man—this decidedly attractive man—she moved to one of the patio chairs and sat down, her arms folded across her breasts.

---