The Succubus and her two Mates

26| Time to air this out

The night before had been a trainwreck. Brock had not been able to be consoled, eventually leaving Brand and Ronnie, opting to sleep alone. Ronnie recalled the waves of concern that radiated off of Brand. The two of them had gotten drunk and stoned together, which had turned out to be a lot of fun, which in turn made them both feel guilty.

Ronnie found Brand’s easy nature very appealing. He had a very liberal outlook on life but knew when to be diplomatic.

“How are you feeling about all of this?” She had asked. There had been a lot of drama in the short time they’d been together.

He shrugged, “I’m very happy.” He went quiet for a few seconds. “I worry about you and Brock.”

“No concerns about us, huh?’ Ronnie had asked, amused at how sure of himself he was.

He had grinned wickedly, his body moving in the most sexy way as he leaned forward to whisper. “I know how you feel about me.”

That man. She had never felt like this with anyone else. She thought back to the heights of any of her past few terrible relationships. She could see herself with Brand.

Brock? Now how complicated was that dude? She mulled over her feelings for him. They hadn’t really spent much time together. The s*x was great, but there wasn’t a lot of conversation happening there.

They had breakfast that next morning in her suite, Ronnie definitely feeling dusty. She grumbled at the sight of Brand fresh faced as he had served her up a plate. She sat like a goblin on the floor in front of the coffee table, dressed in an oversized band shirt and her black briefs.

She tucked in, instantly feeling better after consuming a crazy amount of food and coffee. Brock didn’t eat and was sitting in an armchair stiffly.

"So, definitely not for this morning, but do you have a gym of sorts? Suggested running tracks? I'd like to make sure I don't turn into a giant potato while I'm here."

Brand started to speak but Brock interrupted. "I'll have something made up for you in this wing."

Brand gave him a weird look but didn't contradict him.

Brock's energy was strained. Ronnie glanced at Brand. She didn’t know how to deal with this - he’d known Brock for longer, so she hoped he could work out how to bring him out of his funk.

“Brock, I was thinking that we could take Ronnie to the city center this morning.”

Brock shook his head, “Father has some new information- I need to meet with him. I won’t be free until late afternoon.

“Okay, I’ll come with you this morning and then take Ronnie there for lunch.”

Brock just nodded.

Ronnie felt his eyes track her as she stood up, “Well I’m going to jump in the shower.” She lingered for a split second before heading in by herself, disappointed- both men were already showered and dressed, but she had been hopeful still.

~*~

“You're being really weird with her,” Brand snapped.

Brock raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond. Brand almost never showed aggression towards him and he wasn’t sure what to say or do.

“And what was that about setting up a gym here?” He whisper hissed. “Why can’t she just use the training facilities? Everyone else does. You're treating her like a prisoner not letting her have freedom to move about the palace and grounds.”

Brock just shook his head and stood, ready to leave. He didn’t want to vocalise everything he was feeling. “I should go.”

Brand grabbed his arm, "I'll come with you." His eyes were drawn towards the doorway leading to the bathroom. “Give me a second.”

Brock stood awkwardly waiting for Brand to return. In less than two days, he had gone from feeling absolute joy and elation at having both of his mates with him at his home to terrified he would lose them both. Ronnie had seemed to forgive him for that first meeting with his parents, but apart from their make-up s*x, they had barely spoken- and he had been too hurt to work through it with them the night before. He knew that Brand had spent the night here with her. He didn't blame them, but he felt left out.

He could hear the two of them talking, laughter and a squeal from Ronnie. Brand came out of the bathroom, a little splattered with water and a grin on his face. He sobered up a bit as they left the room, walking side by side.

Brand stopped Brock a short distance before they arrived at the Kings office, pulling him into a small conference room and closing the door.

"Spill," he ordered.

Brock stood still. He didn't want to voice what he was feeling.

"Brock," Brand said, exasperated, "I understand what we told you made you uncertain- I didn't want to worry you but you also need to realise that it's on you not to lose us."

Brock sat heavily. "Even with everything, I had always assumed you would stay with me. No matter what." His voice was thick.

Brand sat next to him, taking his hand, "I can't live in a platonic relationship, not when I can have-"

Brock kissed him suddenly. It was panicked and desperate. Brand wanted him so badly but he pulled back, making sure he did it gently.

Brock's voice was a plea, "I want all of that with you too."

Brand's heart clenched. "What are you doing with Ronnie?"

Brock looked away, "I'm worried."

"About?" Brand asked when Brock didn't elaborate.

"That she's not mine," he spoke in a rush, his voice hitching. He took a few breaths, feeling overcome.

Brand squeezed his hand, encouraging him to continue.

"What if she's just yours? Your second chance because I didn't claim you like I should have?"

Brand regarded the other man. Brock was a physically impressive man and Brand had seen a wide array of emotions in the man, but never a fear like this. He looked vulnerable.

"What do you feel when you are with her?" Brand asked.

Brock let out a shaky breath. "Like she's mine but-"

"No buts," Brand interrupted. "We all belong together, Brock. Neither of us has had it super easy with our mate bond, and Ronnie not feeling it means we need to put more effort for her to want to stay with us. If she just wants to leave, then we have to respect that. But if you drive her away…" He paused, watching how Brock absorbed what he was saying.

Brock nodded. "I will do better."

"Good." He smiled and gave Brock a quick kiss. "Spend some time with her and be the charming man I know you are."

~*~

The city center was like something out of Harry Potter. Ronnie tried not to gawk at absolutely everything. Brand had taken her to a few boutiques- one where she ordered a custom dress for the upcoming Gala, Brand and the shop lady assured her it would be ready in time. The trip wasn’t the most intimate date as the two were accompanied by Jon, apparently the minimum security required when leaving the palace.

They were walking through a market square when an old woman, whose wrinkled skin was so loose and weathered she looked like her dragon scales had started to alter her skin in her old age, spat in their direction. “Filthy demon.”

Ronnie gasped and clutched her chest- Jon was already shielding her from the old woman's view. He turned and addressed the woman. “Ma’am.”

Brand took Ronnie's hand, “Sorry about that, Jon.” He addressed Ronnie, “Like we told you, demons and dragons don’t have a great history. Jon has had to take a bit of that.”

Ronnie was pretty sure that the old woman had been addressing her. She had glanced at Jon out of the side of her eye. He seemed unfazed. He glanced at her for a nano-second. It made her breath freeze. Did he know?

Both of them let their gazes shift and continued on their way.

She fell into silence feeling less comfortable walking around. Brand whisked her into a restaurant, which was beautiful and grand- somehow both rustic and fancy. She felt strange and out of place, but Brand was so at ease she felt herself relax.

She stared at the menu, taking a moment to realise she couldn't read it.

Brand glanced up at her, "Sorry, I wasn't thinking." He took some time to explain the options. They settled on a couple of dishes and sat back sipping some wine.

"The wine here is amazing," Ronnie said, setting her goblet down.

He smiled. "I have to admit that dragons do it best."

"What was it like when you first came here?"

“I spent part of my studies abroad so I spent a lot of my time with wolves and humans on Earth. And I can tell you dragons are a different kind of shifter.” He could laugh now, but that first year had been rough.

Brand was thoughtful, "I had been here before, but moving into the palace took some delicate balancing. Brock and I had decided to try and at least be companions, partners in every other sense of the word. I felt awkward most interactions by his side at first- I don't think a lot of people understood why he had chosen a cat shifter as his second in charge- we're kinda seen as country bumpkins- thankfully, my education prepared me to pick up what was needed of me and… Brock and I didn't find it hard to be friends, once we'd aired everything, but it was hard when I wanted more."

"He's a tough one," she mused, taking another sip. "I mean he's kinda something else…" she sighed, not really sure what she was trying to say.

"He can be complicated, but he's so thoughtful and caring… most of the time." He smiled, obviously remembering something. Brand examined her, "How do you feel about him?"

She exhaled and glanced around, just making sure they were far enough from others - Brand had gotten them a fairly secluded table. "Physically? Undeniable, he ticks all the boxes. I just want to climb him like a tree every moment I'm in his presence." He nodded in understanding. "No shade as you are a very sexy man too…" she trailed off - she surprisingly wasn't afraid of him being jealous, but she didn't know how to say the next part.

"And?" Brand asked her pointedly.

"I know he has all the baggage and responsibility of his station and I'm guessing he wasn't afforded a lot of fun and carefree pursuits in his life, but by God, he's just so… temperamental? But also closed off? The s*x is easy, but it usually is." She flashed a wicked grin and Brand returned it. “But… everything else feels like a chore." There, she said it. Brock was hard and Ronnie didn't usually do difficult.

Brand nodded. He knew what she meant, and his concern was that without the matebond she wouldn't stick it out to actually get to know Brock. He just hoped the chastising he'd given Brock earlier today would make the other man wake up. "You need to spend more time with him- he's actually going to take you out for dinner tonight."

"Oh okay- you mean just him and me?"

Brand held her hand. "I've had a lot of opportunities to have you to myself and he hasn't. Just," he thought for a second, "give him a chance. I won't speak for him, but he feels very unsure of where he sits in our throuple, and he doesn't find it easy to voice his feelings."

Ronnie nodded and agreed she'd try to get to know him better.

~*~