Page 34 of The Succubus's Song

“Gods, I missed you,” Mara murmured into Pippa’s hair, pushing back the impulse to cry.

“Everyone does.” Pippa winked, giving Mara’s arm a squeeze before turning her attention to Emmett. “Now, do you want to introduce me to this magnificent specimen you’ve been hiding?”

Mara couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she watched Emmett’s face twist in embarrassment while Pippa ogled him shamelessly.

“Finley, you can come out now,” Mara giggled, her happiness at Pippa’s arrival overriding her previous anxiety. Finley practically fell out from behind Emmett’s desk, his tall body splayed on the floor, while flashing Pippa a thumbs-up.

“Hello. I’m Finley.” He grinned and got to his feet.

“Finley, Emmett,” Mara wrapped her arm around Pippa’s shoulders, “this is Pippa, my cousin. Pippa, this is Emmett, who you’ve heard of, and Finley…” Mara trailed off in a panic, suddenly not sure how to introduce him.

“I’m Fern’s brother,” Finley chimed in.

The entire magical community knew the story of Fern and Calum now, so it was enough of an introduction to satisfy Pippa. Mara continued, burying a little of her shame.

“Pippa came over to Scotland when the veil fell and has been working as a bounty hunter.”

Pippa Hill was a natural disaster incarnate—a beautiful, destructive force of nature. She was the same height as Mara, with the same long, wavy hair, except hers was a shockingly bright shade of blonde. Pippa was using her glamour, so her eyes looked blue, but there was a hint of mischief in them.

Pippa, like her kin, was designed for seduction. Mara was lither, like a supermodel, but Pippa was buxom, like a fertility goddess. She was in head-to-toe black, wearing a pair of leggings, a simple tee, and a pair of combat boots—all accentuated by a leather harness that kept both a visible flask and a dagger strapped to her thigh.

“W-why,” Emmett started to speak, but his voice was pitchy. He coughed a few times and began again. “Why did we not know some of your family was already here, Mara?” He seemed flustered, but his tone was serious as he stared at her.

“I told Calum.” Mara shrugged. “Pippa keeps to the same…code of ethics that I do. He told me it was okay. I didn’t feel the need to broadcast it.”

“What brings you to us now, Pippa?” Finley chimed in, sounding as excited and friendly as ever, as if he was completely misreading the rather serious situation they were still in.

“I’m the reinforcements,” Pippa smiled, running her hand over the dagger at her side.

Mara nodded. “I wanted to keep Pippa out of it, just in case they were keeping tabs on her too. I didn’t want them to think we were rallying against them and strike first. It’s still in our best interest to make them think I’m going to be cooperative.”

“If I may,” Pippa chimed in, “and I hate to show up and immediately start poking holes, but… Why would your family think you’re being cooperative? If what you told me is true, you told Alice to fuck right off when she showed up.”

Mara cringed. “I did. I’m going to have to do some grovelling.” Pippa made an exaggerated retching noise.

“Well,” she clapped her hands together, “there’s nothing we can do at…” She pulled her phone out of her pocket. “3 a.m. We can get a message to Alice in the morning to arrange a meeting.” Pippa had the same no-nonsense tone as Emmett when they both got down to business.

Finley walked towards Mara and then froze before he got too close. Mara saw him out of the corner of her eye and knew what he was doing.

He doesn’t know if I want Pippa to know about us. Mara’s chest tightened. Without saying a word, she reached out for Finley’s hand and tugged him to her side. Pippa noticed, and her expression brightened.

“Okay, love that.” Her smile lit up her entire face. “He’s adorable, Mara.”

“Oh god…”

“Thank you!”

Mara blushed, and Finley matched Pippa’s wide grin as they responded at the same time. Pippa clapped her hands together.

“Yes, this is good. Your whole self-imposed celibacy thing has started to make you even bitchier than normal,” Pippa scoffed.

“Pippa!” Mara hissed, her blush deepening.

“Your what now?” Finley turned to Mara with a shocked and amused expression on his face.

“O-okay,” Mara sighed, knowing she was about to lose control of the room. She was excited to see her cousin, but her adrenaline was crashing. “Pippa, meet us at Cairngorm Coffee in the morning. We’ll figure out how to get a hold of Alice. Do you have a place to stay?”

Mara intended to go back to Finley’s, but offering up her one-bedroom apartment would betray her intentions. The last thing she needed was anyone asking her and Finley questions about their relationship. They didn’t even fully understand it themselves.

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