Enchant the Night - Amanda Ashley Page 0,86

from the living room, followed by a curse and a hoarse cry. Dropping the shoes on the bed, she hurried down the hallway, only to come to an abrupt halt at the sight that met her eyes.

Quill stood in the middle of the floor, a dagger buried to the hilt in left shoulder. Blood trickled from a jagged gash in his right arm. Two Knights lay on the floor, obviously dead. A third one cradled his broken arm against his chest. A fourth Knight was on his knees, gasping for air. Blood trickled from his nose and mouth.

There was no sign of the minister.

Callie stared at Quill.

“I underestimated the Knights,” he said flatly. “Apparently they’ve been watching your house ever since we left for Montana, just waiting for us to come back.”

“But . . . how did they get in? What about the wards we set in place?”

“I guess the minister thought they were guests and let them in.”

“Are you all right?” Her gaze darted to the wound in his right arm. It was no longer bleeding. She flinched when he jerked the blade from his shoulder.

“I will be.” His wounds, though painful, were already healing.

“For mercy’s sake, lady,” the kneeling man pleaded, his voice hoarse. “Help us!”

“Why should I? We didn’t break into your house. We didn’t attack you.”

“You’re one of us. How can you side with him?”

“I am not one of you!” Callie exclaimed, her voice rising. “Quill may be a vampire, but he doesn’t go around killing people who’ve done him no harm!”

Quill grinned at her. “You go, girl.”

“What are you going to do with them?” With her first burst of anger spent, she felt an unexpected wave of sympathy for the remaining Knights.

“I haven’t decided.” Quill wiped the blade on the side of his pant leg, and shoved the knife into his waistband. “What do you think I should do?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’ve had enough of this,” he said, his voice harsh. “It’s time to end it.”

Callie bit down on her lower lip. In spite of her earlier outrage, she couldn’t stand by and watch while he killed these two men in cold blood.

Quill went to stand in front of the Knight with the broken arm. Taking hold of the medallion around the man’s neck, he gave it a sharp yank, breaking the chain. When he glanced at the hearth, a fire sprang to life.

Quill tossed the medallion into the flames. Then, capturing the man’s gaze with his own, he said, “You will not move or speak unless I tell you to. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” the Knight replied woodenly.

Next, Quill relieved the second man of his medallion and threw it into the fire. Grasping the man’s shoulders, he lifted him effortlessly to his feet. The man glared at him, all the color draining from his face when Quill’s eyes went red. The Knight let out a startled cry, arms flailing as Quill sank his fangs into the side of his neck.

Callie looked away but then, unable to help herself, she had to watch. She feared Quill was going to kill the Knight, but after a few swallows, he lifted his head. Capturing the Knight’s gaze, Quill repeated the words he had spoken to his companion.

“Now what?” Callie asked.

“After I get rid of the bodies, I’m going to get cleaned up. And then one of these idiots is going to tell me where to find the Elder Knight of the Dark Wood.”

Lifting a hand to her brow, Callie sighed dramatically. “I guess the wedding is off.”

“Sorry, love,” he said with a rueful grin. “But it seems the minister ran away.”

Chapter 36

After relieving the bodies of their medallions and weapons, Quill buried the two Knights in a single grave in the same empty field where he had buried Trey 95.

Returning to the house, he found Callie perched warily on the edge of a sofa cushion. The surviving Knights were kneeling with their backs to the fireplace. Both looked defiant—and a little afraid, though they hid it pretty well. But the acrid scent of fear clung to their skin and permeated the room.

Standing in front of the Knight with the broken arm, Quill captured the man’s gaze. Unleashing his power, he said, “I want the location of the Dark Wood.”

The man stared at him, unblinking. “It’s situated high in the Black Hills.”

Quill grunted softly. The Lakota had long considered the Black Hills sacred. “How many of the Knights are up there?”

“Nine, plus the Elder Knight and his Executioner.”

“Where are the