Succubus Unchained - Heather Long Page 0,20

matter. Just like they were attracted to Alfred’s power, Maddox’s spirit, Rogue’s aloofness, and to Fin’s own wild magic. They were all captivating and alluring.

Fin didn’t care if they wanted her. They could want her all they desired. They would never touch her. No one was taking her from them. She was theirs to protect and to care for, even if she loathed them. They could take that heat until they won her forgiveness.

Hopefully, Alfred hadn’t pulled an Alfred and made the situation worse. The fact that she’d allowed Maddox and Fin back into her bed had been a win as far as he was concerned. Fin hadn’t missed the sweetness and the longing in her kiss. Even if she held her mind and heart back, she had given a piece of herself to Maddox, and if Fin were right, at least a sliver to him.

He’d earn the rest.

“Where is His Lordship?”

“In the library with Lord Rogue and Lord Maddox.”

“Wonderful.” Hopefully, that meant Fiona was there, and Fin could see her and find out what Alfred wanted at the same time.

He didn’t bother with the stairs, too eager to see Fiona after what felt like a long absence. The irony that a few hours—not even a full day—could seem like forever when he measured time in centuries wasn’t lost on him. As he stepped out of the fold into the library, three things struck him at once…

Rogue bled heavily from a slice across his chest that had shredded cloth and flesh alike.

Maddox’s eyes were pure dragon, and the air around him rippled with the barely suppressed fury of his change being held off by a hairsbreadth.

Alfred…

Alfred was furious, standing between them, though he had his back to Maddox and his attention locked on Rogue.

Fin couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen Alfred so ruffled.

He hadn’t even twitched when Fin blew up a portion of the newly excavated bathing chambers trying to improve them.

It had destroyed weeks of work.

“Where did you take her?” Alfred asked. “I tire of asking the question.”

“Then stop asking,” Rogue told him bluntly. “My answer is not going to change. I didn’t take her anywhere.”

He was lying.

“You’re lying,” Maddox stated, his voice pitched low, a growl vibrating every single syllable.

Frowning, Fin swept his gaze over the library. The four of them were alone. There wasn’t more than a trace of her scent in the air. Turning his attention to the keep, he swept it mentally, weaving the magic to find her.

“Where is she?” he demanded abruptly, and Maddox wheeled to face him.

“Gone,” he roared, and Fin frowned.

Alfred’s question registered with him, and Fin looked at Rogue. The elf met his stare with one of his own, calm and placid, despite his injuries. “I won’t tell you anything more than I have already told them.”

“What did you tell them?”

“She took one of the snowmobiles and made her escape during Alfred’s speech.” True. “I noticed her absence from the great hall and followed her trail through the servant’s hall to the kitchens.” Also true. “I was unable to stop her, though I did follow.”

That didn’t quite ring true.

Finally, Rogue shrugged. “Sooner or later, she would have run. She doesn’t want to be here. She has transitioned. What she does now is up to her.”

“No,” Alfred said with a snarl. “It isn’t. She’s still wanted. Isaac isn’t in our custody. She has to feed both sides of her nature…”

“Then she’ll feed. We all managed.” Rogue folded his arms, though there was a faint tightening of his jaw as he pulled at the ravaged skin.

Maddox let out a sound that sent all the hair on Fin’s body to stand on end. It was tortured. Furious. Hurt. Lost. Then angry again. He lunged at Rogue, and Alfred blocked him bodily, but Rogue didn’t flee.

“You cannot kill him,” Alfred told Maddox.

“He helped her to leave. He might as well have told her we don’t want her.” His accusing gaze landed on Rogue again. “You didn’t want her here no matter how often you took her to your bed.”

Instead of responding, Rogue merely waited out Maddox’s tirade. Alfred finally got the dragon to back up, but the temperature in the library had turned almost sultry and steamy. Sweat decorated Rogue’s face. The frost elf wouldn’t die from the heat, but he would be uncomfortable.

Alfred turned his focus on Fin. “You have a new mission.”

Find Fiona.

Dallas. If she wanted to go back to where she came from, she would go there.

But that wasn’t all she