Fin groaned, and Maddox scowled.
Biting back another smile, I set the leather pants down. Apparently, they were fine with panties and a top, but I snagged the robe anyway because unlike these three beasts, the cold did bother me. Dragging it on, I didn’t bother with tying it. Ale claimed, I settled on the top of the table where I’d eaten—alone, thank you very much—and crossed my legs.
“Talking would be good.”
No, my body didn’t want to talk. It protested with the same pout reflected on Fin’s too pretty face and with the same force in Maddox’s scowl.
Lifting the ale, I had a hard time containing another laugh. They did not like it when they didn’t get their own way.
Awareness crept over me as I took a swallow. The sensation of being watched, but the guys weren’t looking at me so much as exchanging long silent glances with each other. Well, probably not so silent. Fin could do his little mental hoowah and let them have a private conversation.
Downing another mouthful of the ale, I considered the drink. It was darker in shade, a rich copper without the metallic taste of blood. Toasty and almost nutty, there were hints of malt with a touch of caramel and nuances of fig. As I ran the ale over my tongue and sampled it, the different flavors grew more distinctive.
Like the saffron rice and curry earlier, the different textures and tastes fascinated me. Another deep mouthful, and I swirled it around my tongue. There was definitely raisin in it.
“Fiona!” Rogue’s voice jerked me back to the present.
“I’m right here,” I told him almost languidly. “You don’t have to snap.” Despite the harsh crack in his tone, it hadn’t really bothered me. I’d rather just poke holes in his reserve. That man had let loose with me and then acted like it didn’t affect him at all.
Game on.
“Were you paying attention to the discussion about hybrids last night?”
“Hmm…I don’t know, was that before or after you fucked me again? Or was that this morning? It’s all sort of running together.”
Maddox rumbled, but when I raised my eyebrows at him, he shook his head quickly. What? A warning?
Be careful, Beautiful. Rogue is not Maddox or me. He doesn’t play like that.
I snorted, then took another swallow of the ale. All of them played like that. Or had Fin already forgotten the fact that Rogue had gotten me off before they even made it back from the prison?
“Hybrids,” Rogue said, as though my comment hadn’t registered, “transition differently.”
“Right, I have to feed enough to finish it, but we have to flush the shadow demon out of me.” I shrugged. “You’ve all said, hence the draining and me feeding on all three of you.”
“There will be four soon,” Fin added, the earlier teasing vacating his voice. “When he’s awake, we have to have you ready.”
“Wait—there are four of you assholes?” I motioned to the three of them.
“Yes, Kitten. There are four of us. Alfred’s been asleep for a long time. He hasn’t fed in a long time. When he wakes, you’ll likely feel his teeth first. He’ll need to drain you.”
“Well, whoopee. Glad I’m turning into a glorified blood bag slash sex doll for you folks. Let me guess, I’ll need to warm his cock up for him, too? Get all the kink out.”
Fin winced, then tugged at his ear. “It’s not like that, Beautiful.”
“Little sváss, have a care. They are besotted with you,” Rogue warned. “I’m not.”
I met his cool-eyed gaze and smirked. “Liar.”
It’d be better if he didn’t care. Maddox and Fin already tugged at me in ways that didn’t make me comfortable. Their lust was glorious to feed on, and I already enjoyed their blood.
There was a thought I never believed I’d give voice to internally much less externally. Still…if Rogue were my enemy, this would be so much easier.
“There are four of us, Alfred is waking,” Rogue continued. “It can be a process. We’re only telling you because once he is awake, he will come for you.”
“Any minute now The Twilight Zone theme is going to start playing. That, or Psycho. Are you trying to terrify me, Rogue?” Also, what the hell kind of name was Rogue anyway?
Beautiful. Fin’s mental voice strained, but Maddox chuckled. “You are so absolutely irreverent. I am not sure whether to kiss you or spank you.”
“Who says you can’t do both?” Still, even as the comment rolled off my tongue, I raised my eyebrows in challenge. I could do with more ale, but I drained what was left in my mug.
Maddox grinned. “Good to know you’d enjoy that.”
“Succubus, Mad-Dragon. I pretty much enjoy everything if it packs a lust-filled punch.” Not entirely true, but I had a part to play, and they were getting all sorts of attached. I had clothes, and I could go out in the sun. I’d already managed to wake before them once.
First thing tomorrow, I was the hell out of here.
The thought of leaving twisted something uncomfortably in my gut. Time to cut out that infection before it sank in too deep. I couldn’t afford to get attached. Succubi were not made for long-term relationships. Speaking of which… “Anyway, your point was we need to clear the shadow demon out, Fin needs to drain me, then we can have another magnificent round robin of ride the cock while I feed off of each of you. But you want to wait until tomorrow morning?”
With my new plan in mind, that didn’t work for me. The more I glutted, the more likely I could keep on the move. Particularly since I needed to travel from the dark ages back to the real world.
“Crudely put,” Fin said, his scolding very present in his voice. “But it’s safer for you. We’re hybrids, our blood will sustain you like no one else’s will.”
“Dorran’s seemed to be working for me.” Even stoned me out. “Didn’t mind his dick too much either.”
Yes, I was absolutely pushing, and the black look crossing Maddox’s face said I’d definitely achieved aggravation. So what if I never wanted it until I was starving? That wasn’t the point. I needed them to let go.
“Little sváss, I warned you,” Rogue stated. “Maybe we should just press ahead tonight. Eradicate the shadow demon’s influence. You seem healthy enough.”
A muscle ticked in Maddox’s jaw.
“Oh please,” I continued, baiting the hook. Or in this case, baiting the dragon, the druid, and whatever the fuck Rogue was. “I was hardly a virgin when I got here. A fact of which you should be grateful. You two knotting up and getting stuck inside of a girl could freak a normal person out. You’re all lucky that I’m very not normal.”
Fin chuckled. “And you very much want us angry, Beautiful. Despite what he says, Rogue isn’t going to hurt you. None of us are.”
Maddox surged to his feet, irritation vibrating off of him in waves. “Or is the point to push us away, to make us act rashly?”
I shrugged. “None of this is my plan. I was happily whiling away my time in a cell when you showed up.”
“We will move this to the bedroom, save us the trouble of having to carry you when you collapse,” Rogue stated. “Clean up in here, Maddox.” The dragon was a foot from me, his eyes incandescent when Rogue stopped him in a single order. “Fin, take her and feed on her until she’s silent. We could all use the peace.”