Choices: Alpha City, Book 3 by Bryce Evans Page A

world.
    “Well, Francesca, if you want to keep those hands of yours I think you need to leave.” When the woman stayed put and completely ignored her, Claudia grabbed her by her hair and pulled her off the bed. Screaming, Francesca tried to kick Claudia as the witch dragged her to the door. Claudia used a little bit of her magic to open the door, and flung her out. As she let go, a bit of Francesca’s hair came out.
    Claudia smiled down at the woman and slowly opened her hand, dropping the woman’s hair on the floor. Then she slammed the door in Francesca’s face as the woman started to get up.
    Claudia was burning with rage as she turned around. Jamal was still lying flat on the bed with his eyes closed. “I thought we had an agreement.” Her hands tightened into fists as she watched the dragon turn his head toward her and smile.
    “What agreement are you referring to, my love?”
    Her temper flared. She’d had enough of the egotistical dragon. Nobody was going to double-cross her. She watched as Jamal got up from the bed and stretched toward the ceiling. Claudia charged him, trying to land a punch. Before her fist met its mark, Jamal grabbed her hands and slammed her face-first into the bed.
    “Now, love, you’re getting yourself all worked up about nothing. If you wanted me, all you had to do was ask. She means nothing to me. Only you.” Jamal rubbed against her as she struggled to get up.
    “Tell me you want me?” Again Claudia struggled, and Jamal grabbed her hair, jerking her head up. “Tell me, love.”
    She hated herself, but she wanted him. Now more than ever. She had a lot of frustration to get rid of. She still needed him for a while. “I want you,” Claudia answered, giving him the truth, but only until she had all the pieces of the Stone. Then she’d get rid of her little problem or force him to answer to her. Right now, she needed him for something else and would continue to play the part.
    Dragging her up on the bed, Jamal flipped her over and jerked her shirt open. “That’s what I thought.”
    “Yes, yes, yes.” Claudia smiled knowing that one day she would have it all, and that included ruling over Valceria.

    M aggie smiled as she watched the love story. She couldn’t believe he actually sat through the whole movie without bitching and moaning. He did dig into all the candy jars he had scattered around the room, though. “I can’t believe you watched the whole movie.”
    He lifted his shoulder in a half-shrug. “This was different. I really enjoyed this movie. It had some action, some mystery, and…” Judd wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “And a little bit of sex.”
    Smiling, Maggie shook her head. “I had fun tonight.”
    Judd smiled back. “I did too.” He pushed some stray hair behind her ear. “You tired?”
    “To be honest, I’m very tired and ready to go to sleep.” Maggie felt her phone vibrate. She took it out of her pocket and saw that it was Judith.
    “Judith?” Judd asked.
    “Yeah. The woman got shot three times and just about died, but she wants to know if I’m okay. Strange…” They both laughed.
    “She loves you, and she’s just worried about you. I’m worried about you. So let’s get you to the guest room and get you tucked in. I think it would do us all good if we got a good night’s sleep.”
    “Guest room?” Maggie asked. She thought he would at least try and get her to sleep in his room. She liked this new Judd, but then again she never knew the old one.
    “Yep. Pennson is still out, but he has his room down the hall, too, and I have one set up for guests.” Judd escorted her down the hall. She wondered, was she a guest now? Maybe he was having second thoughts, and she had her wires crossed and couldn’t read him as well as she thought.
    She followed him, worried now that he was just being nice. Judd opened the door for her and she almost went into convulsions. “Wow.” The room was spectacular. It had a king-sized bed with dark