Succubus Unchained - Heather Long Page 0,54

expression matched his tone.

Unforgiving. Unbending. Unhappy.

Fuck.

Him.

Chapter 11

“There are friends, there is family, and then there are friends that become family.” - Unknown

Maddox

Alfred’s anger rolled through the little glen Maddox had found like a torrential storm unleashing its fury. It crackled and lashed at him like a cat o’ nine tails sporting barbed tips. The knot had begun to release, slowly, but Maddox didn’t rush as he fixed one of his oldest friends with a steady look.

The rage wasn’t wholly focused on Maddox though, it was directed at the beautiful woman wrapped in Maddox’s arms. “Change your fucking tone,” he warned in a flat voice. “She doesn’t deserve the brunt of your temper.”

A temper he rarely displayed. Kitten had dug her claws into him deep.

Good.

It was time something brought him back to life.

Fiona let out a little sigh as Maddox finally softened, and as reluctant as he was to leave the snug warmth of her body, he still surged to his feet and brought her with him. The trickle of his release down the inside of her thighs made him puff his chest a little. She carried his mark now. She’d let him claim her. They’d sealed it.

Kitten was his.

Moving her behind him, he kept his focus on Alfred.

“So you have chosen her side?” The clipped syllables slashed at him, but Maddox rolled his shoulders back and smiled slowly.

Alfred was jealous.

He wanted Kitten’s attention and, instead of engaging him, she ignored him as she gathered up her dress and began to tug it over her head. “Would you expect anything different?” Maddox challenged. “My mate will always come first with me.”

Though Alfred didn’t respond, Maddox swore he could hear the grinding of his teeth. “We need to talk,” Alfred said finally, and his gaze landed on Fiona where she ran her fingers through the riot of red hair to free it from leaves and other debris. As if aware of his scrutiny, she glanced at Maddox and very pointedly didn’t look at Alfred.

“So talk,” Maddox told him, snagging his jeans and dragging them on. He’d had boots somewhere, but he didn’t care. Fiona handed him his shirt, and he threaded an arm around her to pull her into him before he nuzzled his nose into her hair. The fact that she not only leaned into the contact, but spread her hand against his abdomen settled any elements of disquiet aggravated by Alfred’s behavior.

Fiona had chosen Maddox, and even if they weren’t drunk on each other right now, she wasn’t retreating. The dragon would take the win where he could. For now, he kept his focus on Alfred.

“Go back to the cottage,” Alfred ordered, his attention on Fiona. “Wait for us there.”

“Go fuck yourself,” Fiona retorted, leaning into Maddox, and the dragon chuckled softly.

“You know, I don’t think any of us want to watch that,” Fin commented as he strolled out of the woods like he had just been on a nature hike. Then again, it was entirely possible the little shit had done just that. Though he dressed in his traditional black, he wore a short-sleeved shirt and jeans. Even his scuffed sneakers were a far cry from his normal, formal attire. “Nothing personal, Alfred,” Fin told him with a most insincere smile.

Maddox wasn’t the only one enjoying Fiona’s snapping back at Alfred. He’d been high-handed from the moment he woke up. Not that Maddox had expected anything different, but he had hoped the old bastard would mellow some. Fiona wasn’t their possession. Nor was she a subject to be dismissed.

Alfred barely spared a glance toward Fin, his tolerance for the smart remarks and teasing developed over countless decades. “It wasn’t a request, it was an order. Go back to the cottage.”

Making no move to leave, Fiona tilted her head back to look up at Maddox. “Want to take a walk with me?”

A single solitary twitch in Alfred’s cheek betrayed him. Maddox managed to control his response. Fin didn’t bother. He burst out laughing. “Oh, Beautiful, you continue to delight me. If Maddox doesn’t want to take a walk with you, I will. Hell, even if he does, I may tag along.”

Sparing the druid a smirk, Maddox said, “You’re more than welcome if Kitten doesn’t mind.” That earned him arched brows from Fin, then a smile of such enormous satisfaction that Alfred let out a disgusted scoff.

“So you’re choosing her, too.”

“Alfred,” Rogue answered before Fin could. “Be careful. We have survived all these years because we all choose to listen. You