doubt the dark witch had enchanted every Knight’s medallion with the same magical protection.
Damn!
He had little doubt that the confrontation between the Hungarian vampires and the Knights was well on its way to all-out warfare.
* * *
Callie was waiting for him at the front door when he returned to the house. “Did you find anything?” she asked anxiously.
“Yeah.”
She locked the door, then followed him into the living room. “Well? Tell me.”
He dropped down on the sofa, hands dangling between his knees. “It was one of the Knights, all right.”
Callie sat beside him, trying not to look worried. “You’re sure?”
He nodded. “If I’m right, there was nothing wrong with your spell.”
“What do you mean? It didn’t work.”
“The Knights have a witch of their own. I once met a vampire who’d crossed her path. I don’t know what she did to him, but his mind was never the same afterwards. I almost tangled with her once a long time ago.” He shook his head at the memory. “I think she’s been busy conjuring a spell to protect the Knights from any and all enchantments cast by others.”
“So, her magic is stronger than mine.”
Quill shrugged. “Maybe.”
“There’s no maybe about it. I cast a spell, and either it didn’t work or my magic wasn’t strong enough to overpower hers.”
“Or maybe you just cast the wrong kind of spell.”
Callie frowned. That was always possible. After all, she was new to all this. She had only practiced a few of the hundreds of enchantments, hexes, and charms in her grandmother’s grimoire. So far, she had mastered only a handful of the less complicated ones. “What do we do now?”
“I don’t know. But it’s time to end this, one way or another.” Hopefully before it escalated into all-out war. And the best way to win was to carry the fight to the stronghold in the Dark Wood. Unfortunately, he had no idea where it was located.
* * *
As he usually did, Quill stayed up long after Callie had gone to bed. He had traveled every state in the USA at one time or another, visited just about every town and city in the last two hundred years, but the location of the Dark Wood remained a mystery. The only explanation was that the Knight’s dark witch had worked her magic to make the place invisible to outsiders.
He wondered if any of the Transylvanian vampires had any idea of its location. Perhaps it was time to visit New Orleans. He’d heard that one of the more powerful of the Transylvanian vamps had moved there a few years ago. Quill scrubbed a hand across his jaw. He was reluctant to leave Callie here, alone. But he wouldn’t be gone long. A few hours at the most. He could always ask Jeffries to look after her.
Relieved to have a plan of action, he went to bed. He would discuss it with Callie when he woke tomorrow evening and see what she thought.
* * *
Callie frowned at Quill. “You want to go to New Orleans? To see a vampire?”
He shrugged. “She might know something I don’t, like the location of the Dark Wood. Or who’s behind the spells protecting the Knights.”
“She?” Callie stared at him over the rim of her wineglass. They were sitting on the swing in the backyard. Earlier, Quill had grilled a couple of steaks for dinner.
Quill grinned. “Do I detect a note of jealousy in your voice?”
“Of course not. Well, maybe a little. I’m aware of your effect on mortal women and witches. Does it work on vampires, too?”
“I don’t know. If you don’t want me to go, I won’t.”
“No, we need all the help we can get. I’ll be all right.”
“I’ll ask Jeffries to keep an eye on things here.”
“I don’t need a sitter!” she retorted.
“It’s for my peace of mind.”
“Humph. Just how well do you know this Transylvanian vampire?”
“Only by reputation.”
“When were you thinking of leaving?”
“Late tomorrow afternoon.”
“I’ll miss you.”
Quill put his glass on the table beside the swing. After setting Callie’s beside it, he took her in his arms. “I won’t be gone long enough for you to miss me.”
“An hour is long enough.”
“Ah, Callie. Do you know how much I love you? How much I need you? How empty my life was before you came along?” Sliding a finger under her chin, he tilted her head up and kissed her, a slow sweet kiss that made her toes curl with pleasure.
Tears stung Callie’s eyes as she wrapped her arms around him. “I love