where the hell they are. Dammit!”
She laughed, a deep, throaty sound. “I have heard about you. Quill, isn’t it? Ancient. Arrogant. Needing no one, yet here you are, seeking my help. Why?”
“My woman. She’s in danger because of me. My people are being slaughtered. I’m tired of constantly looking over my shoulder. It’s time to take the battle to the Knights and end it once and for all.”
“You love her, this woman?”
“More than you can imagine.”
“What is it like?”
Quill frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Being in love with a mortal. What is it like?”
“Surely you’ve been in love with a mortal man once or twice.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“She’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said quietly. “I can’t lose her.”
Dark eyes narrowed, she regarded him for several moments. “The Knights’ stronghold is located deep in the woods near the Canadian border.”
“That covers a hell of a lot of territory.”
“It is rumored that the stronghold is located near Saskatchewan.”
“Do you know anything about their witch?”
“Only that she is very old and very powerful.”
“Does she live up there, in the Dark Wood?”
“I think not. It seems odd, does it not, that they employ a witch, when they used to hunt them.”
Quill grunted. “How are your people doing?”
She made a vague gesture. “The hunters come through here from time to time. When they do, we lie low and make sure there are no bodies left lying around.”
Quill grinned, liking her in spite of himself. “How are you called?”
“Claret.”
He lifted one brow. “Like the wine?”
She nodded, a wry grin playing over her lips.
It suited her, he thought. “Be careful,” he warned. “Good wine is hard to find.”
“You, too.” Her gaze met his and then she darted forward, kissed him full on the mouth, and vanished from sight.
Staring after her, Quill licked his lips. And tasted fresh blood.
His blood. She’d bit him and he hadn’t felt a damn thing.
* * *
It was late when Quill returned to their mountain retreat. He had expected Callie to be in bed. Instead, he found her asleep on the sofa in front of the fire, the black cat curled up at her feet.
With a hiss, Ebony lifted her head, angry yellow eyes glaring at him.
“You damn nuisance,” he muttered. “I ought to boot your butt out of here.”
Callie stirred at the sound of his voice. “Quill?”
“Why are you sleeping out here?”
“I was waiting for you, of course.” Sitting up, she reached for him.
When Quill sat down, Ebony jumped off the couch and left the room. “I think that cat hates me,” he remarked, drawing Callie into his arms.
“That’s okay,” she said, kissing his cheek. “One of us loves you.”
“I’m glad it’s you and not that damn cat.”
Callie laughed softly. “I missed you.”
“No more than I missed you, love.”
“Did you find the vampire you were looking for?”
He nodded.
“How did you know she was the right one if you’ve never met?”
“I just looked for a strong female.”
“Is there only one?”
“In New Orleans, there is. The other vampires all answer to her. Her name’s Claret. Like the wine.”
“Did she have any information about the location of the Dark Wood?”
“Nothing concrete. Her best guess is that it’s up near the border between Saskatchewan and Montana.”
“She touched you, didn’t she?” Callie wrinkled her nose. “I can smell her on you.”
Quill shrugged. “It was nothing.”
Callie lifted one brow. “Define nothing.”
“She kissed me.” Seeing the flash of anger in her eyes, he pressed his fingertips to her lips. “Before you say anything, it wasn’t a sign of affection. Damn vampire bit my lip and tasted my blood.”
Callie’s eyes grew wide. Pulling his hand away from her mouth, she said, “I don’t like the sound of that! Ava said blood has power.”
“It does, indeed.”
“So, what does it mean, exactly? Her biting you and tasting your blood?”
“It means she’ll be able to find me any time she has a mind to.”
“Oh, I really don’t like that.”
“I’m not crazy about it, either, but it’s done. Anyway, she thinks the Dark Wood is up by the Canadian border.” His gaze searched hers. “Are we okay?”
“Do you trust her?”
“No reason not to. Our covens tend to avoid each other, but we’ve united in times past when it was beneficial to both sides.”
“Is she pretty?”
“Callie.”
“Is she?”
He shrugged. “I guess so. She only agreed to help me after I told her I was worried about you.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I mean it.”
“She doesn’t even know me. Why would that make her change her mind?”
“I have no idea. She asked me what it was