Free Undying Embrace by Jessica Lee Page A

news regarding…” He swallowed hard, and his eyes darted up for a quick glance in search of his commander’s position. Markus slipped into the large executive chair behind his desk, propped his elbows on the arms, and laced his fingers. The human, hearing the squeak of the leather, swung his gaze in Markus’s direction.
    “Go on, Calix.” Markus wasn’t sure when the Latin term used for a human in service to a vampire started or who came up with it, but it was so apropos. As Marguerite would say, they were nothing more than a vessel for a vampire’s meal.
    The human cleared his throat. “Alexandria.” Markus dropped his hands and leaned forward. A sudden knot of unease built in his gut.
    “What about her?” The Calix took a step back. With good reason. No doubt his eyes were a neon red that flashed “killer” to the human in front of him. And he would be right.
    “There was a woman at Wicked Ways last night who was asking about her. She showed me a photo. It was Alexandria. I recognized her from…before.” Markus peeled his upper lip away from his fangs as a deep growl rumbled off his chest. “I—I,” the lackey stammered. “I didn’t tell her anything.” He shook his head in sharp denial. “I told her I just serve ‘em drinks; I don’t babysit ‘em.”
    “What else? Was she with anyone?” Markus could barely contain his irritation. He itched to tear into something, someone. He didn’t care. Markus sucked in a deep breath and fought for control. What the fuck was wrong with him? He was acting defensive and territorial as shit over the little vixen. His fingers repeatedly curled into a fist and then released, as if reflexively seeking to wring the life out of an invisible enemy he wanted to crush.
    “She wasn’t there long. A man showed up—one I’d never seen there before.” He shrugged. “He went up to her, talked for a few minutes, and then they left together. That was it.” The Calix bowed his head. The acrid stench of his fear hovered like a cloud in the room and enticed his lust for violence. The bartender was only the messenger, but any Calix knew that alone wouldn’t prevent him from bearing the brunt of his master’s anger.
    He rose from his seat and rounded his desk. The bartender tensed, preparing his body for punishment. But he needed the Calix alive and well. And at his post, keeping his masters informed.
    “Relax, Calix. I’m not going to kill you.” He leaned back against the front of his massive, carved teak desk. “Not yet, anyway. You’re proving yourself useful.” The bartender released a long exhale. “Now, tell me, what did this couple look like?”
    He lifted his head before speaking. “The usual goth look, Commander. She had long black hair. Pretty. The guy was big. Probably over six feet. Muscular. Green eyes. He’d streaked his hair in a crazy mix of black and blond. I didn’t get a chance to do more than serve him a beer before he was gone. But what little time he spent at the bar was enough for me to notice the dude gave off some serious I-could-kick-your-ass vibes.”
    It couldn’t be . Markus pushed away from his desk. Blond, green eyes, more than six feet, and the attitude… Arran ? He shoved one hand into his hair and paced the room. Could the Enclave have tracked them? No . He shook his head. The odds were too great. He and Marguerite had been so careful.
    “Commander, are you all right?”
    “What?” He stopped his pacing and swung his head in the bartender’s direction.
    “I…I was just asking if you were okay. Do you need anything else from me?”
    “I’m fine.” Markus tugged at the sleeve of his white silk dress shirt and repositioned his steel and rose gold TAG Heuer watch.
    Paranoia. That’s all it was, and he needed to shake it off. The Enclave had to be jonesing to sink a dagger into his heart. That was a given. And of all the warriors, Arran, his former partner, was sure to be at the front of the line. He knew, from the ten