Free Cast in Blood (Morgan Blackstone Vampires Book 1) by Michelle Rabe

was saying. Right, my brilliant idea to hide our marriage. For her safety. Fat lot of good that did. Maybe this wouldn't have happened if we'd been open about our relationship.  
    "Don't do that." Marcus's voice broke into his thoughts.
    "What?"
    "You're getting into your head." The Roman general's voice was soothing; he was trying to diffuse the situation, not make things worse. "The best thing you can do right now is try to relax. Having Lucian asking questions isn't going to help."
    "You're right. Charles, will you please go wait for Lucian to arrive?"
    "Not a problem." He left the room.
    "Will you stay with Morgan until Lucian arrives?" Nicholas asked Christophe, though his voice was tight as if he were fighting an internal battle.  
    "Of course," Christophe replied, though he sounded uncertain.
    "Marcus, you and I need to talk." As he turned to face his old friend, Marcus saw that something had changed. Nicholas was putting up his professional façade, hiding his emotions behind walls.  
    "What do you need boss?"
    "I need you, Old Man." The Lead Enforcer’s voice was almost a whisper.  
    "Name it."
    "Let's talk about it before you agree," Nicholas said, draping an arm around Marcus's shoulders and steering him out of the room.  

    Time seemed to creep by at a pace that made a snail seem downright fast. Charles paced between the sitting room and foyer, checking the clock more often than he should. The phone in his pocket vibrated, he pulled it out. It was a text from the manager at The Dracul that took no more than thirty seconds to answer. After what felt like an eternity, the low chimes of the doorbell rang through the house. Charles smoothed his jacket and took a deep breath. Above him, he heard footsteps as Nicholas and Marcus came out of the office. He pulled the door open and smiled, Lucian stood on the front step, his blue eyes scanning the front yard as though searching for something. It took a few moments before the elder vampire noticed Charles.
    “ Monsieur DeVaale is it not?” Lucian asked, his voice rich and cultured.  
    “ Oui .” Charles replied in his native French.  
    “Nicholas requested my presence, something having to do with Morgan?” Lucian seemed curious as he stepped past Charles into the house.
    “He did. She is second in line to sit on the Council from our bloodline Great Grandsire.”
    “Ahh, you invoke blood ties.” There was a hint of laughter in his voice as he pulled the line of his suit jacket straight. He took a few steps into the house, past Charles.
    “Forgive me if I breech protocol. The situation is rather distressing. Please follow me,” Charles replied, and led the way to the third floor. He paused at the top of the grand staircase, listening. Charles felt frustration and anger pulsing through the area, as though the emotions had their own heartbeats. Shifting part of his focus, Charles searched for the source. Lucian? Why am I not surprised? He’s always been content at the Council’s compound. Lucian looked the same as he remembered, the suit that was a few years out of fashion, hair somewhat mussed as though he’d been running his hand through it, he looked more the absent–minded scholar than powerful vampire.   Why should he feel comfortable here, in the world among humans?  
    But how does that explain the anger? A voice that sounded very much like Christophe’s countered in his mind, playing Devil’s advocate. The door to the master bedroom was open, and Charles stepped through, just in front of Lucian. Nicholas, Christophe and Marcus all stood near the bed where Morgan lay. In the time that they'd been waiting, his Blood Brother had laid her out under the blankets. Her arms were over the covers at her sides, and she looked as though she was asleep, but her color was pale and stood out in stark contrast to the dark bedclothes.  
    “Nicholai, what has happened?” Lucian took off his jacket and shoved it in Marcus’s direction as he crossed to the