Page 52 of Enchant the Dawn

Chapter 21

Claret stalked the dark streets until she found Jasper sitting in a booth in one of the city’s most disreputable nightclubs.

He glared at her when she slid in across from him. “What the hell do you want now?”

“I want you to leave the vampire alone. I intend to make him mine and I don’t need any interference.”

Jasper snorted. “I don’t take orders from you.”

Leaning toward him, her voice filled with menace, she said, “Maybe you should start.”

He sat back as far as the booth allowed, unsettled by the faint tinge of red in her eyes. He considered himself a powerful warlock, but she was stronger and they both knew it. He had a quick memory of being turned into a vulture by the witch, Ava. What had made it worse was that he remembered who and what he was the whole time.

He cringed as Claret’s preternatural power rolled over him, even as he told himself she wasn’t a witch. She couldn’t turn him into a bird or a beast. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t do something worse.

“I won’t warn you again,” the vampire growled and vanished from his sight.

Weak with relief, Jasper downed the remainder of his drink in a single swallow. He’d had enough of Knights and vampires and witches to last him the rest of his life.

However long that might be.

* * *

The Elder Knight paced the floor of his cell. He had tried repeatedly to connect with Raoul 29, but to no avail. Either the Knight was refusing to answer, which seemed highly unlikely, or he couldn’t answer, in which case he was most likely dead.

Hands clenched, he forced his rage down to a manageable level. There was nothing to be gained by acting rashly. He had known Falconer wouldn’t be easy to take. Perhaps he was wasting his resources by sending one Knight after another after the vampire. As for Jasper, the warlock didn’t seem to be making any progress, nor did he seem to be trying very hard.

Perhaps the time had come to take matters into his own hands.

Chapter 22

Lost in thought, Dominic strolled along Royal Street, famous for its art galleries, antique shops, fine restaurants, and music. But it was Maddy and the darkness he sensed within her that held his attention. Had Ava’s spell caused it? There seemed to be no other explanation. How long would it last? What if, instead of disappearing in a day or two, the darkness only grew stronger?

His worries about Maddy vanished when Claret sidled up beside him. As always, she wore a long gown that emphasized her abundant curves. This one was turquoise blue, with a plunging neckline and a slit on one side that exposed her leg from ankle to thigh.

“I was looking for you,” she purred.

He grunted in reply.

“I thought you’d like to know that I killed one of the Knights hunting you.”

“Yeah?”

“And I warned Jasper to leave you alone or face my wrath.”

“You put him in a hell of a spot,” Dominic remarked. “Having to choose between you and the Elder Knight. Sort of a no-win situation.”

She shrugged one bare shoulder. “I thought maybe you would give me a sip of your blood to show your gratitude.”

“Did you?”

“Are you going to make me beg?”

Dangerous or not, it was hard to hate her. “One drink. If you try for more, I’ll wring your neck.”

She smiled up at him, her eyes shining with victory as he paused in a darkened doorway. Going up on her tiptoes, she bit him. And spat his blood from her mouth. “What the hell!”

“What’s wrong?”

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