Page 74 of Midnight Enchantment

When she was done, Mason slipped his arm around her, knowing that casting so many spells in such a short amount of time would have drained her.

“We can go now,” Ava said, clinging to the warlock. “We have what we came for.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Lily rested in the easy chair in Ava’s living room, her mind in turmoil. Mason and her great-grandmother sat on the sofa across the way, whispering to each other. Occasionally, Lily heard her name mentioned, and once, Raedan’s. She felt a rush of jealousy as she watched Mason caress Ava’s cheek. Where was Raedan? Didn’t he know she was missing him? She wondered if he had drained the Elder Knight dry and immediately shied away from the obvious answer.

How could she live with a man who killed others? Even when she knew he had done it because of her? The Knight had put her life in danger and for that, he had to die.

“Lily. Lily?”

She looked up, realizing that Ava had called her name several times.

“We’re going up to bed. We’ll examine the red book tomorrow morning. I’m too tired to do it tonight.”

“All right. Good night, Granny. Mason.”

Ava kissed Lily on the cheek and then, hand-in-hand, she and Mason went up the stairs.

Lily stared after them, silent tears tracking her cheeks, her heart aching to be with Raedan.

How often had she sat alone, waiting, wondering where he was?

Raedan paced the floor of his lair, pausing now and then to stare at the Elder Knight who cowered in a corner, watching his every move. He had intended to drain the man dry for daring to put Liliana’s life in danger. And he had come damn close to doing just that, but as the man’s heartbeat began to slow, he pictured the stark disapproval in Liliana’s eyes when he told her what he had done. Filled with self-loathing, he had stopped before it was too late.

And the blood-demon had laughed.

Cursing, Raedan pulled the Knight to his feet and transported the two of them to a tavern where he bought the man a glass of orange juice and a glass of wine before he wiped all memory of what had happened from his mind.

When that done, he transported the two of them to Ava’s house and rang the bell. Several moments passed before the door opened and Mason stood there, glaring at him. “Do you know what time it is?” the warlock growled. “What the hell do you want?”

Raedan opened the screen door and shoved the Elder Knight inside.

Mason reared back in surprise. “What am I supposed to do with him?”

“I really don’t give a damn,” Raedan growled, and vanished into the darkness.

Peering over the rail on the upstairs landing, Ava called, “Who was that at the door?”

“Raedan.”

“Raedan! What did he want?”

“Come and see.”

Holding her robe closed, Ava descended the stairs, only to come to an abrupt halt when she saw the former Elder Knight standing in the foyer, looking confused. “I don’t believe it.”

“What?”

“I don’t believe this man is still alive. I was sure … ” Ava shook her head. “Well, I’ve got to wipe his memory. I can’t have him going back to the Brotherhood thinking he’s still the Elder Knight.”

Mason grunted softly. “No, I guess not.”

Between them, they got the former Elder Knight settled on a chair in the kitchen. It took only moments for Ava to implant the new memories she wanted him to have.

“What do we do with him now?” Mason asked.

Ava shrugged. “Send him back to the Stronghold, I guess. We can’t just turn him loose in the city. I’ll take care of it in the morning.” She glanced over her shoulder as Liliana padded into the kitchen.

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