Succubus Blessed - Heather Long Page 0,2

off all the apprehension. The sudden influx of nerves wouldn’t help anyone. And I had to find Maddox and Fin. I needed them more than I needed my next breath.

The moment I thought of them, the tug was unmistakable. Maddox was inside those gates. I closed my eyes—don’t look at me like that, no this is not the best place, but I still needed to check—and the sense of him pulled me forward almost unerringly. I could find him in the dark without even trying.

I could follow that pull to the other side of the world if I had to.

I may never have asked to be a vampire or their mate, but…they were mine, dammit. I wasn’t giving them up.

Ahh, Beautiful. You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.

Tears flooded my eyes as I jerked them open. But all I saw were the gates. Dammit.

Go back, Fiona. Yes? Go back for us and let Rogue or Alfred come. Or better yet, just wait for us. We’ll get out of here sooner or later.

Are you insane? I demanded. Seriously. I did not just jump out of windows, climb down a mountain, break every single nail I had, and figure out how to compel some schmuck so I could get clothes to cross a continent to get to London—where, I might add, I wouldn’t have found if several witches didn’t owe me a lot of favors—so I could just leave you here.

I love you, too.

The declaration took a lot of wind out of my temper. But it didn’t change facts.

I’m not leaving without you.

He didn’t growl at me, but he did go quiet for so long, my heart squeezed.

All right. This is a terrible idea.

I’m very good at terrible ideas.

Yes, you are…

I could almost hear him grumbling, even as his eyes flashed with amusement. As much as he might complain… You like it when I’m contrary.

Yes, Beautiful, I do. I have from the very beginning. You’re perfect just the way you are. Are you sure I can’t persuade you to turn back?

I won’t leave without you. I couldn’t. The very thought was like a gaping hole in my chest. No, not only could I not leave, I wouldn’t.

Beautiful, I plan to hold you to that for the rest of our unnaturally long and decadent lives.

Yeah?

I almost grinned, despite standing in front of these grim and gruesome gates.

Yes. I have a great many bad things I want to do to you.

And some good things, too, I hope. Because Alfred and Rogue are probably going to spank me until I can’t stand, queen or not.

His mental laughter suffused me with such warmth.

I’ll be sure to bring a balm for your rosy cheeks.

Ass.

But I was still grinning.

Deal.

Now, let’s get you inside and that means…

Even as he filtered his ideas through, I could almost taste his weariness. He hid it beneath a veneer of cheerfulness and play. The flintiness in his voice though couldn’t quite disguise the pain. Another reason I wouldn’t leave him.

I wouldn’t leave either of them.

Okay, so…I needed to make some noise. Gripping the metal gates in my hands, I began to shake them with all the force I could muster.

The metal actually screamed in protest, and metal shavings rained down on me. Magic suffused these gates, but thankfully, it didn’t burn like those shackles Maddox slapped on me day one.

Hell, I’d almost forgotten about them.

I paused a second, and the sudden silence was almost jarring.

“Seriously?” I yelled. “What do I have to do to get a fucking guard out here? Hello! Dorran!” I slammed a fist against the gate and then yanked. The metal shrieked as it split, and I tore off a whole bar.

Oops.

A soft mental chuckle stroked against my senses. Just figuring out how strong you are?

Shut up. I broke a damn nail and my shins jumping out a window. If I’d known I could have punched my way out of the door, I’d have done that.

We’ll teach you, Beautiful. Though in all honesty, I think we’ve all been waiting to see what you could do.

Yeah, I guessed they had. I gripped the gates and pulled, bending the metal as it screamed, and the magic buzzed like so many bees stinging at my skin, but it rolled off me more like a nuisance than a real irritation.

Oh, if magic didn’t affect me anymore…fucking yes! I’d have to rethink my irritation at being signed up unwillingly, ’cause that was lottery worthy.

Not us?

Pfft. I had you before you finished