Enchant the Night - Amanda Ashley Page 0,39

to let her know they were leaving tomorrow night instead of Monday.

“No problem,” Vivian assured her. “I guess you just can’t wait to get away with him. Not that I blame you. The guy is drop-dead gorgeous.”

Drop-dead gorgeous, Callie mused after saying good-bye. Viv had no idea how close to the truth she was.

Her life had certainly changed since she met Quill, she thought as she prepared an early dinner. She loved him more every day, and now she was going away with him.

Feeling suddenly daring, she added her one sexy nightgown to her bag. Because a girl never knew when she might need something a little more provocative than a pair of Minnie Mouse pajamas.

Chapter 15

Lurking beneath his invisibility cloak, Trey 95 stalked the vampire while the vampire stalked his prey—a young couple heading for the parking lot behind the movie theater.

He had to admire the vampire’s stealth as he trailed after him.

The man was opening the car door for the woman when the vampire made his move. First, the creature mesmerized the couple; then he took the woman in his arms. A morbid part of Trey 95 wondered what the vampire’s prey experienced while the monster fed.

When the vampire sank his fangs into the woman’s throat, Trey 95 shrugged off his cloak and sprang forward, intending to stake the vampire in the back.

He let out a wordless cry of horror when the vampire vanished and the stake, intended to pierce the creature’s heart, sank into the woman’s chest.

She let out a shriek Trey 95 knew he would carry to the grave as the life went out of her eyes.

Sobbing, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he caught her in his arms as her body went limp.

The sound of the woman’s cry shattered the vampire’s spell on the man. He stared at Trey, his eyes wide with shock. “What have you done?”

Sworn to secrecy, unable to tell the man the truth, Trey 95 pushed the woman into the man’s arms, grabbed his cloak, and fled the scene.

“Damn you, vampire!” he swore. “That woman’s blood is on your hands.”

* * *

Trey 95 was in his room later that night when four of his brother Knights came calling.

At the sight of them, he fought down the urge to bolt, knowing they had been sent by the Elder Knight of the Brotherhood.

One of the Knights nodded. “You know why we’re here, Trey 95. Let’s go.”

Resigned, he followed them to meet his fate.

* * *

The Elder Knight of the Dark Wood was an austere man, tall and lean, with little mercy for those who broke the sacred laws of the Brotherhood. And the First Law was to do no harm to humanity.

Trey 95 stood before him, shoulders back, his head held high, even though he was trembling inside.

“You know why I have called you here,” the Elder Knight said, his voices as sharp as a double-edged blade.

Trey 95 nodded.

“You defied my order to come home for the initiation of two of your Brothers. You attacked a vampire in the presence of a mortal. And now I learn that you have been responsible for the death of a human woman. Do you deny these charges?”

Hands clenched at his sides, Trey 95 said, “No.”

“Do you wish to offer any explanation for your behavior?”

He shook his head.

“I understand that the vampire you are pursuing killed your twin brother. That is unfortunate, but you must not indulge your need for vengeance over your duty. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

“The punishment for disobedience is ten lashes, to be carried out immediately in front of the Brotherhood.” The Elder Knight nodded to the two men attired in red robes standing beside him.

They stepped forward, one on each side of Trey 95, and escorted him into the courtyard.

A tall tree stood in the center. His brother Knights, all shrouded in dark cloaks, surrounded it, their faces solemn.

Trey 95 was visibly shaking as he removed his shirt. A fine sheen of sweat dotted his brow as they bound his hands to the tree.

One of the men clad in red shook out a whip. He cracked it in the air once. Twice. Three times.

Trey 95 flinched each time, fought down the urge to scream when the lash bit deep into his flesh.

The assembled Knights counted each stroke out loud.

“One. Two. Three . . .”

Blackness swam before Trey’s eyes as they intoned, “Four. Five. Six . . .”

Feeling as though he had been standing there for eternity, he sagged in his bonds, his back on fire.

“Seven.