by Jessica Lee
Series: The Enclave, #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: June 30, 2015
A year ago, Alexandria Stevens strode through the doors of Wicked Ways and into the arms of a man—a monster, really—who stole everything from her. Her memory. Her life. Now she's a creature of darkness with only hazy images in her mind of that night and a confusing jumble of emotions. A fierce hate...and an even fiercer desire for Markus Santini.
Markus has walked through this world for more than a hundred years, knowing exactly who and what he was, until Alexandria undid it all. Undid him. When a former vampire colleague threatens one of the Enclave’s own, Markus is needed—but only as the dark, powerful creature he once was. And in order to become that, he must find redemption...in the arms of a woman who despises him with every breath she can no longer take.
Alexandria.
He’d know that voice anywhere. Even from his grave.
Every neuron in Markus’s brain fired. What the hell was she doing here in the basement of the Enclave mansion?
“Tell her this isn’t a good idea, Kenric.” It was Guerin who spoke up. Of course. The bastard hated him.
“What’s going on?” Kenric asked. “Why do you need to see him?”
“I just need to talk to him,” she said.
“We ran into some DEADs tonight,” Guerin said, “and Enrique popped in.”
What the fuck?
That dose of info made what blood he had left in his veins surge, laced with adrenaline. Markus rolled over and up onto the side of his bed, his joints rebelling.
“Enrique?” Kenric rumbled. “I had no idea the asshole could function without Marguerite’s direction. What in hell did he want?”
“You’ll have to ask Alexandria,” Guerin replied.
“What does that mean?”
“He mentioned something about Markus to me,” she patiently added, but Markus didn’t miss the sound of growing frustration in her voice. “I just need to speak to him first. Then if you want, we can talk.”
Markus’s pulse roared inside his head. What had Enrique told her?
Closing his eyes, he drew in a calming breath, his mind returning to the female who stood only a few feet away. It had been at least a year since he’d last seen her. How would Alexandria look? Had she changed? Did the fire still burn in her violet gaze?
“Fine,” Kenric said. “I’ll take you to him.”
“No.”
She wanted to see him. Alone. Markus pushed from the mattress, steadying himself on his feet. Anticipation hummed inside his veins.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Kenric said, his tone firm.
“Are you implying he’s dangerous—even from the other side of your silver cage?”
A corner of Markus’s mouth curled. The little vixen hadn’t lost her fire. Alexandria had never taken no for an answer.
Kenric sighed. “It’s not that he’s dangerous per se. Not in his current state—”
“Then I’d like to speak to him in private,” she said. After a second or two of tension-filled silence, she added, “Please.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re a tad stubborn?” Kenric asked.
“Maybe once or twice,” she said. “But I like to think of it as being relentlessly determined. Will you give me some time to speak with Markus…alone?”
“We’ll be on the other side of that door,” the master vampire said. “Call out, and we’ll be in here before you can blink.”
“This may take a while. I need some answers from him about a few things, and I’m pretty sure getting him to cooperate won’t be something that happens quickly.”
“Getting Markus to do anything that isn’t his idea is never an easy task,” Kenric said.
“Exactly,” she said. “Give me a little time, okay? Like you said, he can’t hurt me from the other side of the bars.”
“I don’t like it,” Kenric replied. “But if this is something you feel you really need to do, I understand.”
“It is.”
A moment later, the exterior door thumped shut. And Markus found that the desire for his next breath had vanished. He shoved the thick strands of dark hair partially covering his eyes back, then coiled his fingers into a tight fist at his side. Then she was there.
Alexandria strode in front of the cage’s door. She wore her blue-black locks loose, the ends curling, nearly brushing her firm, denim-covered ass. Damn. His cock swelled. Her hips swayed with every step, the heels of her boots clicking off the cement floor. He raked the female with a gaze from the slender curves of her legs and the swell of her calves hidden behind the black leather all the way back up to the narrow belt sitting low on her hip bones. A short black leather jacket covered her arms, but the tail of her purple blouse didn’t quite make it to her waistband, leaving a tantalizing peek of smooth, creamy skin for him to obsess over. He flexed his fingers at the sight, the pads itching to stroke her exposed flesh. Would she quiver under his touch?
Book 1: Undying Destiny
Book 2: Undying Embrace
Book 3: Undying Desire
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