Page 26 of Enchant the Dawn

“Why me?”

“It’s what your father would do if he were here. Now it’s up to you.”

Muttering under his breath, Dominic plucked the driver’s license from her hand and left the house.

* * *

Roger St. James had resided in a small, two-story house on a quiet street. Toys in the yard suggested he’d been the father of a couple of kids. Dammit. Dominic had no idea what to say to the widow.

As it turned out, no words were necessary. A tall woman with strawberry-blond hair and brown eyes opened the door. She took one look at his face and dissolved into tears.

Dominic followed her inside and closed the door behind him. The inside of the house was clean and neat. A baby snuggled in a blanket slept on the sofa. A little boy, perhaps four years old, sat on the floor playing with a fire truck.

“He’s dead, isn’t he?” Mrs. St. James asked through her tears.

“I’m afraid so. I’m sorry.”

“How?”

“One of the Knights.”

She sniffed loudly. “Where is he? Where’s Roger?”

“I took him to my place.”

“Who are you?”

“Dominic. Andras Falconer is my grandfather.”

Her eyes widened. His grandfather was the next best thing to royalty among the Hungarian vampires.

“Do you need help with anything?” Dominic asked.

She sank down on the sofa, her hand resting lightly on the baby’s back. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Our people will take care of you. I’ll reach out to my grandfather. He’ll make the necessary arrangements. Do you have any other family in the city?”

“No. There’s just us.”

“My grandfather will be in touch with you.”

“Can I see my husband?”

“Of course.” Dominic gave her his address. “Why don’t you come by tomorrow morning?”

She nodded. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. St. James.”

She nodded again.

Like all mortals married to vampires, Dominic thought as he left the house, she had known the risks and been willing to take them, but there was no way to actually be prepared when it happened.

* * *

Dominic fed quickly on the first mortal female he saw before returning home. He told Ava to expect a visit from the grieving widow in the morning while he was at rest. And then he retired to his lair in the basement. There was nothing more he could do for Mrs. St. James. His father and grandfather would take care of arranging for the funeral and would make sure the widow had the necessary funds to support her family.

His only responsibility was to find the Knight who had killed one of their own.

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