Undying Hunger (8 page)

Chapter Nine

Markus hit the guide button again on the remote control, searching for something, anything to take his mind off the clock. Alexandria had left with her sister more than three hours ago. He hated every damn minute she was out of his sight and his immediate protection. And this “sitting on the sidelines” shit sucked.

Strumming the fingers of his free hand on the leather arm of the den’s couch, he punched the button selecting the Syfy channel: a storm was brewing when suddenly a great white shark flew out of a tornado and consumed some guy in free fall from a helicopter.

“Oh, fuck me,” Markus groaned. “Seriously?” He tossed the remote across the room and shoved up from his seat.

Heavy boots trampling on the wood floors in the other room snagged his attention. Awareness sizzled inside his veins, and instinct had him smoothing a palm over his chest.

Alexandria had returned.

Following the sound, Markus strode into the large living space. Kenric and Guerin huddled near the fireplace in deep discussion about something. Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention, yet he didn’t have to look to know Alexandria had entered the room. But she wasn’t alone. Behind her, a familiar face cautiously made his way inside.

Christian.

Except the male didn’t quite look like the same Calyx he’d left behind at Marguerite’s estate. Instead of the well-kept blood donor Markus recalled, Christian resembled one of the dirty and half-clothed residents of the New York slums from more than a century ago, when Markus had been a boy.

Christian’s squared shoulders and erect spine conveyed confidence and a lack of fear. But Markus noticed the mix of trauma and desperation lingering in the male’s eyes. He looked much like the humans who had begged for a coin or a piece of bread.

Understanding the origin of anguish and worry in the expressions of the homeless from his past had been easy. Question was, what put that look in Christian’s eyes—or rather, who?

The redhead followed Alexandria, with Elle bringing up the rear. Markus leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, waiting for the story regarding Christian’s arrival to unfold. As if Arran had been expecting everyone, his former partner trotted down the stairs and greeted his mate. So the whole gang was gathering around the bonfire.

This would be good.

The new guy eyed the others one by one, but when his gaze fell on Markus, he came to sudden halt. “Commander?” His brow furrowed, and he took a hesitant step toward Markus.

Oh, give me a break. Like he didn’t know I was here.

“Christian,” Markus said, lowering his arms and pushing away from the wall. “What the hell are you doing here?”

The tall, fair-skinned man edged closer and that’s when his individual scent registered over the others. Blood and…vampire. Markus drew up short. “You’ve been turned,” he said.

“Yeah,” Christian replied.

“What happened?” Markus gave him a once-over. “You get tired of being the donor? Thought it was time you were the one with the fangs?”

“Markus,” Kenric warned. “Take it easy.”

Markus shrugged. “It’s a valid question.”

“I wanted it,” Christian said. “If that’s what you’re asking.”

“Okay.” Markus nodded. “I get that. Then what’s your story? Why do you look like you’re about one gulp away from turning DEAD?”

“Enrique Mateo,” Arran interjected, drawing Markus’s attention. “That’s what happened to him. Gabrielle called earlier. She and Alex stumbled on Christian feeding and stopped him before he went too far. He said Enrique had done the deed and then dumped him on the street a few nights ago.”

Tendrils of foreboding snaked their way up Markus’s neck. “Enrique, huh?” Putting them toe-to-toe, Markus sneered at the newbie. “What would make him do such a thing to you?”

Christian met him glare for glare. “I don’t know. He’s a damn ass, I guess. Enjoys watching others suffer. Much like you and Marguerite, don’t you think?”

Something that felt like a smile tugged at Markus’s mouth. The kid had guts. But he wasn’t fooling him. Markus seized the other male by the back of the neck, yanking him hard until they were sniffing each other’s pores. “Don’t fucking lie to me, Red.” Markus’s fangs stabbed his lower lip. “Why the hell are you really here? What kind of game is Enrique playing?”

“For God’s sake!” Elle appeared at their side. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Christian spat, and groped at the hold on his neck.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Markus wasn’t about to let up. Enrique was after something. And he bet his ass Christian was his puppet.

“What makes you think Enrique has anything to do with this other than setting Christian up for a walk through hell as a DEAD?” Elle grasped Markus’s free arm.

“What’s the deal, Markus?” It was Arran this time. “Where are you going with this?”

“I don’t know what you think I know,” Christian chewed out. “Enrique can kiss my ass. There’s no game.”

Without waiting for permission—like that was fucking happening—Markus mentally drove fast and hard into the male’s neurons. Flashes of nameless faces whizzed by on the vampire’s recent bloodletting parade, until Markus spotted the image he sought. Enrique.

Conversations were too scrambled to be of any use. Since the male’s turn had occurred so recently, anything that had happened near the timeline of the event would still be an electrical rat’s nest. Yet Markus hoped he’d get lucky and Christian’s memories would reveal some clue or evidence as to the other bastard’s agenda. But it was a damn long shot.

The young vampire groaned and struggled against the rapid, forceful mental invasion.

“Markus…” Kenric’s voice sliced through his brain, but he ignored him. He had to know if Christian’s presence had anything to do with him or Alexandria. One thing Markus knew for damn sure, Enrique would never get his hands on her.

Various images of the male maneuvering around what looked like an apartment. Markus flicked that shit aside.

Christian on his back with Enrique over him—inside him—then the dark-skinned vampire behind Christian, thrusting.

Fuck.

Markus’s gut roiled. Those were scenes he could have done without. His own memories with Marguerite’s former commander were still too fresh inside his head. Markus barreled through.

Enrique’s face appeared beside the male, grinning—arrogant—ivory-white fangs fully extended.

More.

Come on. Give me something more. Show me what the hell you’re up to.

The Spaniard dove for Christian’s throat and the memory morphed to white static, as if the television station had suddenly gone off the air. Christian slumped.

“Son of a bitch.” Markus stumbled back, leaving the others to catch the new guy. The abrupt disconnect had Markus spinning. He grasped the nearby chair, steadying himself, and shook off the swarm of bees buzzing inside his head.

“Dammit, Markus!” Kenric slammed a hard palm to his chest, shoving him back a little farther. “Was that really necessary? The guy has already been treated like a piece a trash and dumped on the street. We bring him here with the illusion of safety, then within minutes, you’re playing Scrabble with his brain.” Kenric sighed. “He’s only days out of his turn. What the hell did you think you’d be able to piece together?”

Choking back his rage, Markus swallowed hard before finding his voice. “I’m not buying his shit about Enrique tossing him out,” he bit out.

“Then come to me first before you take things into your own hands,” Kenric ordered. “We’re a team. Try to remember that.” The commander looked back, checking on their new arrival. Christian had recovered well enough and was burning a hole through Markus’s head with the flaming daggers of his glare. Kenric refocused on Markus. “Let’s talk.”

The Enclave’s master brushed past him and opened the double French doors to the library. Markus shot Christian one last
kiss my ass
look, rotated on his heel, and followed the other vampire inside the dimly lit space.

Four overstuffed coffee-colored leather chairs sat across from each other in front of the cold fireplace. Numerous books lined the windowless expanse of the walls from floor to ceiling. One of those ladders used to find novels on the highest shelf stood locked to its rail and shoved to the other side of the room.

“By the way, I like what you’ve done with the new place.” Markus performed a spin-and-survey maneuver before perching on the arm of one of the fine cowhide-covered chairs. “Have you added to your collection? It looks even bigger.” Markus spread his arms wide for emphasis.

“Since when did you start talking so damn much?” Kenric shook his head. “Before Marguerite, you hardly said two words to anyone other than Arran.”

“Well…” Markus began. “Being beneath—and on top of—Marguerite changes a man, wouldn’t you say, sir?” Markus smiled. “That is, if you survive long enough.”

Kenric grunted. “True. And rarely for the better.”

“My point exactly about Christian,” Markus said, and stood. “He’s been Enrique’s fuck buddy for God knows how long. They probably hooked up right after Marguerite’s demise and her Calyxes were left behind—if not before.”

“And you think Christian could be a threat to the Enclave because of his association with Enrique?” Kenric leaned onto the opposite chair and crossed his arms. “What would they be after? Enrique was Marguerite’s pawn, not the mastermind. After Eve, Guerin, and Alex’s run-in with him, I did my own investigation into Mr. Mateo.” Kenric stood. “My informants tell me he doesn’t have any significant following and appears to be keeping things quiet, staying mostly to himself.”

For some reason, that bit of info didn’t make Markus’s gut feel any better. Unease still ran like an icy stream in his veins. “Yet isn’t it the quiet ones you always have to worry about?” Markus raised a brow at the master. “It doesn’t sit well at all with me that Enrique got that close to Alexandria. He and I weren’t the best of friends when we served Marguerite.”

“And you think since Christian and Enrique have a connection, Christian may try to hurt Alex for Enrique to get back at you?” Kenric frowned. “I think you’re reaching, Markus. That cell has left you a bit paranoid.”

Frustration’s ugly head reared inside Markus. “I know what the hell I’m talking about, Kenric. I’m not fucking delusional.” He braced his hands on the library shelf.

“Alex lives in the heart of the Enclave,” Kenric said. “Even if what you’re saying is the case, Christian would have to be an idiot to try anything with her inside our walls. I have a hard time believing Enrique would go to such elaborate lengths to hurt Alex. She’s safe here, Markus. Believe me.”

This was a sorry-ass waste of his time. But he wasn’t surprised Kenric didn’t believe him. Too much shit had gone down between them, and he doubted any member of the Enclave would ever take him on his word.

“Sure,” Markus muttered and gave him a nod. “If you say so.” Alexandria’s protection would have to fall on his shoulders alone.

…

Several days had passed since he’d last heard from Christian. Enrique drummed his index finger on the aluminum shell of his laptop, staring at the clock on the toolbar. In less than sixty minutes, the sun’s rays would be licking at the horizon, singeing the edges of the darkness, burning it away. And he still didn’t know a damn thing!

Whether or not his plan would run smoothly rode on the redhead’s coming through. On whether or not he could pull off an Oscar-winning performance for Markus and that tight-ass excuse for a master vampire.

The cell phone on his desk vibrated, yanking Enrique’s attention from his laptop. Snatching the smartphone up, he checked the display and couldn’t stop the grin forming on his mouth.
Christian.

With a slide of his finger across the glass, he answered. “You’re inside?”

“Worked just like you said it would,” Christian said in a hushed voice. “Sorry it took so long for me to contact you. I’m finally back out on the streets tonight to feed with Elle and Arran. Once I got them to give me a few minutes alone, I tracked down the female you’d planted with my phone.”

“Good, good. I knew they’d never be able to resist the urge to rescue a lost and abused puppy.” Enrique snickered.

“Didn’t hurt that the Enclave member who was out the other night happened to be the female I’d fed for Markus during her turn. She had this whole ‘I owe you one’ complex.”

“Absolutely perfect.” Enrique kicked back in his chair and propped his legs up on his desk, his boot heels releasing a solid
thud
on the wood. “I couldn’t have planned that any better.” He snagged a pen from its holder and tapped out a melody on the laptop’s case. “Looks like whatever god is up there is on my side, for once.”

“Yeah,” Christian said. “Markus and I had our little meet-and-greet the first night I moved in. The bastard tried his damnedest to put my brain through a fucking sifter looking for proof that you’re behind my sudden appearance.”

“And…” Enrique tossed the pen onto the desk and his boots slapped the floor.

“And just like you said. He couldn’t find a damn thing,” Christian said. “My head’s still too messed up.”

Smiling, Enrique stood. “Excellent.”

He stood and yanked on the thick curtains behind him, opening up his moonlight view from the top floor of his new apartment building that overlooked the docks. Moving as soon as he’d kicked Christian to the curb had been the most prudent decision. That way even if his new vamp developed an ugly case of a conscience, he could honestly say he had no idea where to find him.

This was going to work. With Christian on the inside, he’d have access to the intel on the Enclave’s movements. Precisely, Kenric’s daughter’s movements. He needed to know everything he could about the female. And once he had the proper buyer in place, which was only a matter of time now, getting his hands on her would be that much easier.