Free Crimson Wind by Diana Pharaoh Francis Page A

looked up at the ceiling, fury knotting her hands. She gusted a sigh, and Max grinned ferally. Alexander’s lips curved along a knife edge. She wasn’t easy, that was for certain. But she made him want to toss her over his shoulder and drag her back to his quarters like a caveman.
    “Here’s the deal. Since he’s been here, you’ve been jumpy as hell. There’s clearly something between you, whether you want to admit it or not, and you need to settle it. You need your focus. Look at you—you look like hell. It’s eating you alive and has been since he got here. Right now, he could probably snap you in half with his pinkies.”
    “Of course, you trying to burn me alive couldn’t possibly have anything to do with how I look,” Max muttered. She pointedly did not mention Scooter.
    “You’ve been looking like crap for weeks, and you know it. I need you to get your shit together.”
    “And he has to be the reason, because nothing else is going on around here, like, say, for instance, the near total destruction of the covenstead and the end of the world? Besides, what do you think I’m going to do? Go all Ophelia over him?”
    Giselle shook her head and laughed, then pressed her hand against her side and coughed. Max glanced at Xaphan, motioning with her head. He stepped behind Giselle and settled his hands on her shoulders. She tried to shake him off, but his fingers tightened and she sat still, her expression sour as he began to pour healing energy into her. Alexander bit back his chortle at her annoyance, then gave a wry shake of his head. Max’s attitude about the witch was catching.
    Suddenly Giselle pushed herself to her feet, despite Xaphan. “You take him with you. He’s too much of a threat here. Make sure he knows his place, and if he can’t learn it, take him out. I don’t need him coming back to cause trouble. If you do bring him back, get whatever’s between the two of you sorted out. Consider it an order.”
    The witch’s glance swept Alexander. He looked back through sleepy eyes. Her mouth tightened. He smiled.
    “Did you hit your head or something?” Max said. “Four weeks ago, you let Selange walk out of here unharmed. A territory witch. Compared to her, Alexander is a cuddly puppy. Selange hates us, and she has a full coven to back her. I’d be worrying about her. As for him and me, there’s nothing between us.”
    “I have my reasons for releasing Selange,” Giselle said. “Not that it’s any of your business. As for the two of you, I’m not stupid. You nearly explode whenever you’re within twenty feet of each other. I almost have to smoke a cigarette when you leave the room. I’m sure everyone here would say the same.”
    Not a single person—man or angel—so much as twitched when Max’s razor gaze scraped over them. When she looked at Alexander, he felt the heat flash between them like a lightning strike. His skin fairly sizzled. She turned away, her cheeks flushing.
    She shrugged. “What can I say? He’s pretty to look at, and yeah, I wouldn’t mind having a ride on his merry-go-round, but I’m not pining away. I don’t mess around with the men in the covenstead. You know that.”
    “So what’s turning you into a ghost?” Giselle demanded.
    Max’s lips curved maliciously. “I can’t imagine what you’re talking about.”
    The witch’s eyes narrowed. “I need you healthy. Something’s wrong. Fix it.”
    Max touched her forehead in a mock salute. “Whatever you say, boss.”
    Giselle’s mouth twisted, and then she turned and stalked out. Xaphan winked at Max, then followed.
    Alexander slid his chair back and stood.
    “Going somewhere in particular, Slick?” Max asked, using her favorite nickname for him.
    “Yes,” he said, and strode after Giselle.
    “Hey, Slick.”
    Alexander turned in the doorway, his expression carefully neutral. He wanted to tear someone in half, and right now, Max was the one he wanted to hit most. He’s pretty to look at. Like he