Enchant the Night - Amanda Ashley Page 0,43

like a lone lamb in a den of wolves.”

Callie laughed because that was exactly how she felt—like a little lost lamb among predators.

“It’s a beautiful night,” Quill remarked. “Why don’t we go for a walk?”

“Sounds great. Just let me get my jacket.”

* * *

Bundled up in jeans, a jacket, and boots against the chill of the night, Callie walked beside Quill, her hand tucked in his. A cool breeze rustled the leaves on the trees; a bright moon peeked through a break in the clouds as they walked along what she thought might be a deer path that wound its way behind the house.

“Where does this lead?” she asked.

“Down to the lake.”

“Awesome.”

Quill grinned at her. “Feel like taking a dip?”

She shook her head. “Are you kidding? It’s way too cold for that.”

“I can heat the water for you, if you like.”

“Really?”

He nodded.

“Is that another of your amazing vampire powers?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Darn. Too bad I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”

“You don’t need one.”

“No? Don’t tell me you can make one magically appear.”

He laughed softly. “No, but bathing suits these days look more like underwear, anyway, so . . .” He shrugged as if it was no big deal.

Callie stared at him. Was he serious? Go swimming in her underwear? In front of him?

“If you don’t like that idea, we could go skinny-dipping.”

Callie’s mouth went dry at the thought of seeing Quill in the buff. She’d seen him naked from the waist up and the view had been spectacular, but . . . She shook her head. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Probably not,” he agreed with a rueful smile. There were limits to his restraint, after all. And he was pretty sure seeing Callie as the Good Lord made her would shatter even his prodigious self-control.

Callie gasped when they reached the lake. It stretched in front of them like a mirror of black glass, flat and smooth as it reflected the moon’s pale light. “It looks magical,” she murmured.

Quill nodded, then pointed at the far shore. “Look.”

Lifting her gaze, Callie saw a deer and a half-grown fawn make their dainty way down to the edge of the lake. The doe stood there, poised for flight, ears flicking back and forth while the fawn drank. She sighed, thinking what a rare and beautiful sight it was. Suddenly, the doe darted away, white tail flashing in the moonlight, the fawn at her heels.

Quill felt his heart swell as he watched the play of emotions on Callie’s face. Being there beside her was like looking at the world through her eyes. He had lived so long, he’d become almost indifferent to the world around him. No matter how things changed, for him everything remained basically the same.

“It’s getting late,” he said. “We should head back so you can get some sleep.”

Callie nodded. She was a little tired. Traveling vampire-style had taken a bit of a toll on her.

When they reached the house, Quill drew her into his arms and kissed her. “Thanks, love.”

“For what?”

“I owe you big time for putting up with me. For not letting what I am scare you away.”

Smiling, she said, “No charge.”

“Rest well, love.”

“You, too.”

“Always,” he said, dryly. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening.” He kissed her again. “I’m going out for a while.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

“Worried about me?”

“I can’t help it. People want to kill you.”

He winked at her. “They’ve been trying for centuries. Get some sleep, Callie.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Dream of me.”

She stood outside for several minutes after he left before going into the house. Her life had changed drastically in a remarkably short time, she thought as she closed the door. Yawning, she turned off the lights then went to her room to get ready for bed.

Slipping under the covers, she closed her eyes and fell asleep with Quill’s name on her lips.

Chapter 17

Trey 95 prowled the night, one hand clutching his medallion, but it remained stubbornly quiet. He had been tasked with locating a vampire known as Dougal, but he had no interest in tracking that one down. Let the Brotherhood hunt the rest. He wanted Quill and only Quill. The best place to find him was with the woman, and with that in mind, he headed for the residential area.

The house was dark, the curtains drawn.

Slipping from shadow to shadow, he moved closer, every sense alert as he circled the house.

He swore under his breath as his sharply honed senses told him the vampire wasn’t there.

But the woman was. He could