My Succubus Best Friend Stole My Groom

Rosalind's POV

Marlowe Crane is my best friend, and she's also a succubus.

She was born with this power that makes men lose their minds, but she always told me she only wanted to use her "gift" to protect me.

So every time I dated someone, she'd volunteer to "test" him.

Without fail, every single man fell at her feet.

She'd send me photos of them in bed together. "See, Rosie? They're all trash. Lucky I caught them for you."

After breaking up more times than I can count, I had a breakdown and moved from Boston to Los Angeles.

That's where I met Holden Kingsley. I thought the nightmare was finally over.

On my wedding day, Marlowe showed up in my dressing room with a glass of drugged water.

In my past life, I drank it and passed out. She stripped off my wedding dress, put it on herself, and climbed into Holden's bed.

Someone threw cold water on my face to wake me up. When I walked in with the bridesmaids, I caught them tangled up together.

I lost it. Screamed and cried and called the police right there.

And what happened?

Holden didn't feel guilty at all. He acted like I was the bad guy, like I'd ruined Marlowe's life.

Under Marlowe's succubus influence, he believed she was innocent, that I forced her into it.

After that, my marriage became a living hell.

Now I'm back, standing in front of the mirror, staring at that drugged glass of water in my hand.

This time, they're the ones going to hell.

"Rosie, have some water. You're sweating like crazy. Nerves getting to you?"

That fake-sweet voice reaches my ears.

I snap my eyes open, breathing hard.

The dressing room is bright, roses covering every wall. I see myself in the mirror wearing a million-dollar custom wedding gown.

Standing in front of me is Marlowe in her bridesmaid dress, wearing that innocent smile.

She holds out a glass of water. White powder clings to the inside of the glass, barely visible.

This is the moment. Just like before.

Last time I drank it without thinking and blacked out. Marlowe tore off my wedding dress, put it on, and got into Holden's bed.

By the time someone threw cold water on my face to wake me up and I walked in with the bridesmaids, I caught them tangled up together.

I lost it. Screamed and cried and called the police right there.

And what happened?

Holden didn't feel guilty at all. He acted like I was the bad guy, like I'd destroyed Marlowe's life.

Under Marlowe's succubus influence, he believed she was innocent, that I forced her into it.

After that, my marriage became a living hell.

"Rosie? You okay? Drink up, the ceremony's starting soon." Marlowe sees me staring at the glass and pushes it closer, a flicker of panic in her eyes.

I look at her calmly, at this face that ruined my life before.

I lift my hand and swing.

The glass hits the floor and shatters. Water splashes all over Marlowe.

"Oh my god! Rosie, what are you doing!" Marlowe shrieks, eyes instantly welling up as she stumbles backward.

The makeup artists and assistants freeze and turn to stare.

"Rosalind, what the hell is your problem now?"

A deep, annoyed male voice comes from the doorway.

Holden walks in, frowning.

He doesn't even glance at me. He goes straight to Marlowe, pulls a handkerchief from his pocket, and starts dabbing at the water on her dress.

"Holden, it's okay... Rosie's probably just nervous, she knocked it over by accident." Marlowe leans into him, her voice dripping with fake hurt, though I catch the flash of satisfaction in her eyes.

I watch this pathetic scene and feel nothing. No heartbreak, no pain.

Just disgust.

Last time I tried so hard to explain that Marlowe drugged the water, but Holden acted like I was some crazy woman.

This time, I don't even want to bother.

"Nothing's wrong," I say flatly.

Holden pauses and looks up, irritation all over his face. "Nothing's wrong? Then why'd you throw the glass? Mar went out of her way to get you water and this is how you act? Rosalind, when are you going to grow up and stop acting like a spoiled brat?"

I let out a bitter laugh.

"Holden, I don't need to redo my makeup."

Everyone stares in shock as I reach up and yank off the diamond tiara that's supposed to make me Mrs. Kingsley.

Then I reach back, unzip the wedding dress, and step right out of it. The gown Holden pulled so many strings to get, flown in from overseas.

I toss it aside like garbage.

Dead silence fills the dressing room.

Holden stands frozen, his expression shifting from shock to furious disbelief.

"Rosalind! Are you out of your mind? What are you doing?" he shouts.

Marlowe looks stunned too. She clearly didn't expect me to go off-script.

I ignore their reactions and calmly pull on a simple white button-down and jeans.

I smooth my hair, grab my bag, and walk up to Holden.

I look at him, my voice flat and clear.

"The wedding's off. We're done."