Page 35 of The Succubus's Song

“I’ve got a spare room,” Emmett chimed in, sounding a little overeager. Mara realized Emmett was fiddling with his hair again like a nervous schoolgirl, unable to take his eyes off Pippa.

Interesting… I’ll have to return to that subject later.

“Perfect.” Pippa’s smile gentled slightly as she grabbed the flask on her hip. “Do you know where I can top this off first?”

“Great,” Mara deadpanned. “You,” she turned towards the fae guards, “keep an eye on the entire campus tonight and don’t stop patrols until we tell you otherwise. I will see you all in the morning.”

Mara grabbed Finley’s hand and practically pulled him out of the room. She could feel her magic beginning to itch under her skin, and her hunger was rising in her veins. The tension and surprise from the last hour had officially brought Mara to her breaking point, and she was done. Pippa and Emmett had fallen into easy conversation, and the guards began arguing about the first watch.

She was relieved as Finley followed her without comment. As they ducked out of the office doors, the only voice Mara caught was Emmett, gleefully mentioning something about the combined history of magic and whisky.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A million different thoughts raced through Mara’s head as she navigated through Edinburgh’s streets at a breakneck speed. Finley said nothing when she pulled him out of Emmett’s office, simply giving Emmett and Pippa a short wave.

Even though she was glad to see her cousin again, Mara was embarrassed. The body in the library had her sister’s signature all over it, and Mara had let it happen.

Not directly, but close enough. If she hadn’t been tied up with Finley at the time… She was supposed to be keeping the city safe, and here she was, getting caught up in another distraction.

The last time it happened, her lover died. Mara’s thoughts were quick to remind her of what she perceived to be her past failings, when she wasn’t able to protect the man she loved.

Did I love him?

She’d thought so at the time. But she had always been afraid to feed off him. It was different with Finley. There was something all-consuming when she looked at him, when she tasted him, even simply being in his presence. She was free to be herself around Finley, her true self, and Mara didn’t even let that side out of her when she was alone.

“You’ve gone awfully quiet again,” Finley murmured.

Mara shook her head, realizing that they were standing outside of Finley’s apartment door. She had driven them back to his place and waltzed in on autopilot. She didn’t remember.

No wonder you hate yourself, Alice’s voice echoed in her mind. You really are the worst baobhan sith ever created.

“Mara!” Finley’s voice was firm as he placed his hand on her back and opened the door to his apartment. “Come inside.”

It wasn’t a request.

Mara walked inside Finley’s apartment as if it was her own, taking a seat on the couch and chewing on her lip.

Finley tossed his keys on the kitchen counter and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Do you want to tell me what’s going through your head? You’ve been quiet ever since we left Emmett’s office. Are you worried having Pippa around?”

Mara could hear how Finley was probing for answers, trying to find a way inside her head. For once, she didn’t hate it.

“No,” Mara sighed, pulling her knees up to her chest. “Pippa is the only family I have. I don’t mind her being here. It’s just…”

“The body in the library?” Finley finished for her.

“You’d think I would be used to things like that…”

“I wouldn’t assume anything about you,” Finley disagreed, crossing the room and sitting down next to Mara. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her tighter to him, and she went willingly.

“They’ve been watching me for longer than I thought.” Mara shuddered. “I should have known. I should have been trying to protect the city when that man was murdered, not here…”

“Stop,” Finley pressed a firm kiss to her brow, his lips moving against her skin “You know who’s responsible for that man’s death? The person who killed him. It’s as simple as that.”

“It’s not that simple…”

“It is, though.” Finley shrugged, pulling Mara into his lap. “I think you’re amazing, Mara,” his voice got soft, and it made Mara shiver, “but you’ve got to let go of this idea that you need to be perfect. I haven’t even known you that long, but you’re so uncomfortable with who you are, you feel like you can’t ever make a mistake.”

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