Page 90 of Midnight Enchantment

“He has a house in Seattle.”

“Have the two of you set a date yet?”

“No. We thought we’d wait a bit, until all this trouble is behind us.”

She meant Raedan, Lily thought, annoyed that Ava thought of the man she loved as some kind of trouble to be dealt with, a problem to be solved. Well, maybe Ava had a right to feel that way, Lily mused. After all, Ava had pretty much put her life on hold to look after her these past months.

“Do we have a silver chalice?” Lily asked, frowning.

“I have an old one, but perhaps we should consider finding a new one.”

“Good idea.”

They went shopping after breakfast, wandering from one magic shop to another until Lily found a goblet she liked. The proprietor assured her it was a genuine antique found in an ancient tomb, but it was the dragon engraved around the base of the goblet that caught her eye. It was perfect.

Next on the list was nightshade, which they found in a little shop around the corner.

“It seems strange to add a poisonous plant to the blood,” Lily mused aloud as they strolled down Bourbon Street. “Won’t it kill Raedan?”

“No. Poison doesn’t affect vampires.”

“Are you sure?”

“Quite.”

“What about demons?”

“Doubtful.”

“Then what’s it for?”

“I have no idea, child. Let’s go home.”

Lily thought the day would never end, but, finally the sun began it’s slow descent. She had just stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, when Raedan appeared in her bedroom.

“Oh!”

He grinned as she blushed from her hairline to the tips of her toes. “Guess I should have knocked.”

“I guess so.” She stared at him, eyes wide, as he padded toward her, a hungry look in his eyes. “Raedan … ”

“Just a taste, love?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Wrapping her in his arms, he said, “I fed before I came.”

“Are you sure?”

“Please, Liliana. I need it.”

She closed her eyes as he lowered his head to her neck.

“Just a taste,” he murmured.

She stilled when she felt his fangs at her throat, sighed when the familiar warmth of sensual pleasure spread through her. Was this what making love was like, this feeling of oneness, of surrender? She clung to him, her fears that he would never stop fading, forgotten.

Raedan jerked his head back with a horrified cry when he heard the demon’s mocking laughter in the back of his mind. Damn! Had he taken too much? “Liliana? Liliana!”

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