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the demon because . . . ”
    “She was killed in a fire before I could get to her. It wasn’t even my fault, but still, I didn’t get the demon in to Master, so I paid the price.”
    Gage reached for my chest. I snatched his hand before he made contact. “Why do you insist on touching me?”
    “I wasn’t going to. I was just pointing to your chest, where your brand is.”
    “And.” I shoved his hand to the side. “Your point?”
    “I can’t believe you’ve held out so long.”
    “There has to be some way to be freed of my contract.” Now that I had my wits about me more this evening, I would find answers.
    “Still on that pointless quest, are ya’? You know Master’s aware of your sneaking around, don’t you?”
    “Again, your point is. . .”
    “He just laughs. There is no hope for you, David. We’re all damned. You in particular.” He tossed me a sideways glance. “You should just accept your fate.”
    “Never.”
     

CHAPTER 4
    At least tonight the women grinding to the music didn’t trigger my beast so easily. I’d been out of the darkness long enough to tolerate the assault of stimuli on my senses better.
    Although the fair-skinned females still brought my body to a scalding level more times than I would have liked, I remained focused, searching for the Mark of Elpida. I had to. Something deep inside me told me finding this Mark meant more than a soul for Master. Gage hovered, like the annoying peon henchman he was, but proved useful helping me assimilate as Master said he would.
    I rested my elbows on the round table, staring at the sea of swaying people on the dance floor and ran my finger across the top of my cool glass. Most women wore shirts exposing their backs, but I had yet to see the Mark of Elpida.
    “So, you enjoy babysitting?” I asked Gage.
    He grunted, sat straight, and peered over my shoulder. “Hmmm. I think I see my next bathroom rendezvous.”
    “You’re sick.”
    He ran his fingers through his hair and patted down the front of his t-shirt. “Horny is more like it. I’ll go check and see if she’s got a tattoo on her back or anywhere else.” He gulped the last of his drink and stood, tucking in his shirt. “Enjoy your time of solitude , watching what you can’t touch.”
    Gage paraded away, parting through a ring of three young females toward a tall, raven-haired woman who wore an equally dark leather outfit. A silver zipper ran from the point of her cleavage and followed a curvy path to the hem of her short skirt.
    I studied the ice cubes floating in my caramel-colored drink. The table wobbled when I shifted my weight to the side and the candlelight flickered. I stuck my forefinger in the frigid drink and dunked the ice, fighting to hear my thoughts through the thumping bass pounding around me.
    I should be searching for Jessica, but with Gage distracted, I’d rather sit for five minutes and not worry. Get lost in the music I was becoming familiar with.
    “Want to dance?”
    I turned and met the sultry-eyed stare of the blond beauty from the previous night. Beka. I clutched my glass and focused on my breathing to keep my heartbeat steady and the demon’s claws at bay.
    “It’s not as busy as last night.” She strode behind me and stood next to the table, leaving a subtle scent of lilac in her wake. She was so tall I had to look up, and I wasn’t a short guy, even sitting. Her long, ivory legs ended in sparkling stiletto heels. Each muscle flexed as she shifted her weight to her right leg.
    My body tensed. “No. It is not as busy.” I focused on my glass, trying to wipe her short, skirt and snug tank top from my memory. Long, muscular arms and pale skin went on for miles. Master must have sent her to tempt me. To see if I would give in. He’d done it before.
    From the corner of my eye, I saw her move. She eased into Gage’s vacant seat and rested her elbows on the table. The ends of her shiny hair settled on the smooth surface. She clasped her fingers