Undying Hunger (23 page)

“Noooo!” Markus roared.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Markus’s enraged bellow rang inside Alex’s head.

Dammit.
She couldn’t move. Christian’s dead weight had her pinned to the table.
Dead weight.
Dear God, had Enrique killed him? She’d never expected the young male to jump the crazy bastard. At the very moment she’d made a move for her weapon, Christian had come out of nowhere and dived for Enrique. The elder vampire had jerked the knife away from her throat and thrust it into the younger male, halting him in his tracks. She’d taken the split second of a distraction to launch her own attack on Enrique and sliced Enrique’s arm with her silver-laced blade. But Christian had collapsed on top of her, dislodging her weapon from her hand before she’d been able to inflict much damage.

“Alexandria!” Markus called out, and the weight of Christian’s body lifted from her chest. Alex groaned. “Fuck!” His wide eyes scanned her, and she could have sworn horror clouded his gaze at the sight of the blood covering her torso.

“It’s not mine,” she quickly explained. “It’s Christian’s.”

A visible wave of relief washed over his expression. A corresponding warm and fuzzy rush filled the pit of her stomach. Her safety mattered—
she
mattered to him.

Markus glanced down at Christian’s chest, and she followed his line of sight. A spray of crimson bloomed on the front of his white graphic tee, actively leaking his life’s essence.

“He should make it,” Markus muttered and lowered the other male’s body to the floor.

Alex scrambled to work on the buckle to her restraint. She had to get free and help.
Shit.
She fumbled with the metal, her fingers not wanting to cooperate. This was taking too long.

“You’re not going to get away with doing this to me!” Enrique yelled. Blood dripped from the open wound, and he fisted the thick hilt of a knife. Enrique charged back in their direction.

“Markus!” she cried out.

He spun, bringing his own blade up with him in a wide arc. He carved a path across Enrique’s chest, opening a wide gash. The other male gasped and stumbled back.

But it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. Tossing the restraint from her wrist, Alex swung her legs over and shoved away from the table.

The guards were shaking off their blows, and the first one had already risen. Growling, the large male bared his fangs in Markus’s direction. Alex grabbed the closest thing next to her, an aluminum IV pole, ready for his attack. It sucked, but it was better than nothing. She could at least give the bastard a damn good headache and slow him down. The powerful male pivoted, preparing to come after them, when another appeared.

With preternatural speed, the massive blond intruder collided with the guard. The impact lifted the hulk of a vampire from his feet, sending him flying into the metal wall on the opposite side of the room. His body slammed into the metal with a heavy
thud
, and he slid down the wall like a swatted fly into a heap of beefy arms and legs.

Turning toward her and Markus, the new guy grinned. “Miss me?” he asked.

Arran.

“Shit, yeah,” Markus muttered. “About damn time.”

A long sigh exited Alex’s lungs. The Enclave had arrived.

At that moment, Kenric and Guerin appeared from the opposite side of the wall of crates. With his dark waves draped over his forehead and his eyes bloodshot, Guerin appeared barely recovered from whatever formula had been in the bullet.

“You sorry motherfucker…” Enrique cursed, and the
clang
of metal sliding against metal rang out in the open space. Alex’s attention darted to the maniac’s fist, where he’d exchanged his blade in favor of a large hacksaw from one of the carts. She didn’t even want to imagine how they’d originally intended to use the tool. “This could have been a fresh new start.” A perverted chuckle bubbled up from the battle-scarred male. A stream of garnet seeped from the wound in his chest, staining the ripped charcoal-colored shirt. A similar trail of blood covered his forearm. “But oh, hell no. You’d rather side with these pussies.” He waved the saw at the others as he edged closer to Markus. Yet her warrior stood there in silence, his face a stoic mask.

Her warrior?
At what point had she claimed him?

“I should have known better,” Enrique scoffed. “Look how you screwed over Marguerite.”

Something moved behind Alex, drawing her attention. The last guard, sensing he was outnumbered, made a run for the exit. Guerin zoomed in the direction of the escaping vampire, equipment in his path clattering to the floor.

This was her chance. A temporary diversion that would allow her to ease closer to Enrique. She scanned the various objects around her: vials, needles, jars. There had to be something better, smaller and heavier, she could use. The pole was too long and she might take out Markus in the process. She needed something blunt to knock the shit out of him and give Markus an advantage.

Dammit.

Nothing.

Well, except… Her lip curled. What the hell. If nothing else, this would be quite satisfying.

“You want a piece of me, Enrique?” Markus cocked his head and beckoned him with his free hand. “Come on. I’m dying for you to try,” he said, his voice deep, his tone lethal.

Taking that as her cue, Alex inhaled deeply and, using all the supernatural force she could muster, charged the sadistic monster. She collided into Enrique, knocking the shocked vampire off his feet. Together, they hit the concrete, punching the air from her lungs. The hacksaw he’d been holding hit the floor with a loud
clank
and skidded out of sight.

“You bitch!” Enrique flipped, taking her to her back.

How the hell had he recovered so fast?

Straddling her, he held her in place with one arm and reared his other back, claws extended. “Going to rip you apart,” he raged, fangs glistening in the fluorescent lights.

“Like hell,” Markus snarled, and seized the furious vampire by the throat, lifting him off her with one arm.

Enrique’s body left hers a second before Markus slammed the other male onto his back. Alex scrambled onto her knees, never allowing the two out of her sight. Enrique’s hands clamped onto Markus’s wrist, the warrior’s knuckles white from his chokehold.

“That’s the last time you’ll ever put your hands on her,” Markus avowed.

“Kill me,” Enrique managed to squeak out. “But you’ll never erase me from your mind.”

“The past, Enrique,” Markus said, “is where you’re going to stay.”

The chilling sound of bone crunching filled the space around Alex. Markus eased back onto his heels and retrieved his blade from the floor beside him. Lifting the weapon, he centered it over his target, then plunged the silver-coated dagger into Enrique’s heart. Within seconds, the vampire’s body began to crackle and pop. His torso distorted, swelling to twice its size before imploding into a pile of ash.

And just like that, he was gone. Forever.

Markus wiped the metal across his thigh, then slid it back into its sheath. Twisting around to face her, he straightened to his full height. Damn. He was a foreboding creature of the night with his swirling black and red tattoos wrapping both arms. His hair had come loose from its band and covered one side of his face, streaks of blood marring the other cheek. The male looked wild, untamed, and ready to strike.

His glare locked with hers and the effect should have sent shivers of intimidation down her spine. Yet gooseflesh raced across her arms, her nipples hardened to stiff peaks, and she realized she’d never wanted any man more in her life.

“What in the hell were you thinking?” Markus asked, breaking the connection.

“What?” Had he somehow read her mind? “What are you talking about?”

“Attacking Enrique like that?”

A spark of annoyance flashed over her, shoving her attraction to the side for the moment. “I was thinking of a way to help save your ass,” she snapped.

“I had it under control,” he bellowed. “He could have killed you.”

“He didn’t,” she bit out. “I’m still here, and so are you.” Silence blanketed the room, jarring her, and she did a quick survey of what was left around them. They were alone. “I guess we both got what we wanted,” she muttered, doing her best not to look at him again. She couldn’t. Because if she did, she wasn’t sure if she could keep herself from diving into his arms and never letting go.

Madness.

“Shit! Where’s Dominic?” Markus marched toward the exit.

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Guerin went after the guard, and then everything else happened so fast. I lost track of him.”

A groan sounded from behind her, grabbing her attention.

“Oh God, Christian,” she called out, pissed with herself for not checking on him sooner. She hurried to his side, shoved the exam table out of the way to make more room, and knelt. Alex jerked her hoodie from over her head, folded it, and pressed it to his wound.

“Hey there,” she said, and with her free hand smoothed the hair away from his eyes. “Can you hear me?”

Christian cleared his throat, reached over, and covered her hand where she applied pressure to his chest. “Yeah,” he croaked.

“That was very brave, jumping Enrique like you did,” she whispered.

He blinked up at her as if trying to bring her into focus. “I don’t know,” he said, his voice raspy. “One little knife wound, and I’m out.”

“Hey, getting stabbed is no walk in the park. It wasn’t that long ago I was in your situation, and I was out for hours.”

“But you’re a woman,” he said.

“Excuse me?” She snatched her hands free. “Don’t tell me you’re a male chauvinist pig?”

Christian grinned and started to laugh but the sound died a quick death as he wrapped his arms around his chest. “Oh, fuck.” He grimaced. “Don’t make me laugh.”

“Then don’t be a pig.” She couldn’t help but allow a small chuckle of her own to escape. “No. I’m sorry.” Alex applied more pressure to his wound. “We need to get you out of here and fed.”

“Markus!” Alex twisted and glanced over her shoulder. “Where is everyone?”

“We’re here.” Elle appeared, followed by Arran and Kenric. “Hey.” Her sister darted to her side.

“I didn’t know you were out there,” Alex said. “I thought you were staying behind with Emily, making sure Eve stayed put?”

“No one was going to keep me home while you were putting your life on the line,” she said. “I was watching the exit and caught one of the bastards trying to get away.”

“I’m glad you’re here. We need to get Christian back to the mansion,” Alex said, watching as the male’s blood began to soak through the thick cotton. “He took a blade pretty deep to his chest.”

“Hey there, tough guy.” Elle smiled down at the redhead. “Didn’t anyone teach you to duck?”

“Ha ha,” he rasped. “How about teaching your sister to stay away from bad guys, and maybe I won’t have to jump in front of a dagger next time.” He coughed.

“Okay, okay,” Alex said. “That’s enough for now.” She looked up and made a quick scan of the room, the absence of one warrior echoing inside her. “Where’s Markus?”

About that time, Guerin and Markus appeared, both looking pretty satisfied with whatever they’d accomplished. “Jean-Claude’s men report they’ve cleaned up the other males Enrique’s buyer hired, and I took care of the one who tried to escape,” Guerin reported.

Markus looked over at Kenric. “Did you stop Dominic?”

“If you’re referring to the male dressed like he was ready for the red carpet? Yes.” He nodded. “Elle spotted him slipping out and dropped him in his tracks before I got there. But she did give me the honor of dusting him off.” Kenric smiled.

“Great,” Alex said. “Since everyone is accounted for, how about we get Christian out of here before he requires a complete transfusion?”

“Good idea,” Elle added as her mate closed in, and she took her place beside Alex.

Alex drew close to the fallen vampire, ready to move Christian’s upper body on to her lap in preparation of phasing him back to the mansion, when Markus tapped her shoulder. “I got him.”

“That’s okay,” she said. “I can do this. It’s the least I can do.”

“Let me, Alexandria,” he commanded. “
I
owe him this.” His voice dipped low, the sincerity palpable in his tone.

Glancing over her shoulder, Alex met his unwavering gaze. “All right,” she said, and rose.

Markus assumed her position near Christian’s head.

“You don’t owe me a damn thing,” the redhead whispered.

“Shut up and drink.” Markus lifted his wrist to his mouth, bit down, and then presented his arm to other male. Blood welled at the points where his fangs pierced the flesh. “You’re going to need your strength for the trip.”

“You know, you’re really not my type,” Christian muttered, looking up at Markus.

“You’re so full of shit.” Markus grunted. “And by the way, not in your wildest fucking dreams.”

Christian snorted, then drew his upper lip back, exposing his fangs, and latched onto Markus’s wrists. Mesmerized, Alex watched as the fierce male offered himself freely to his fallen comrade. Mere weeks ago, everyone would have laid odds that Markus would have walked away without giving a rat’s ass if Christian had received help or not. But this Markus… Something inside her stomach fluttered at the sight of him on his knees feeding the injured male. This was the Markus she’d met in the basement of his cabin. The Markus who had made her care.

Too much.