Zoey Rogue

chapter Fourteen: Zoey Alone



Zoey gazed at the bright sign on the side of the club. She and Vikki spent the day avoiding the reality that their world was about to change. Now that they stood in front of a club, there was nothing left to distract them.

“Vikki, I started the rite thing with an Incubus,” Zoey said.

“I meant to tell you, I’m moving in with Liam.”

They stared at each other then began to laugh.

“C’mon,” Zoey said, looping her arm through her friend’s. “Are you allowed to drink tonight?”

“Only because it’s our last night together.”

“Then we are getting smashed.” I’ll deal with the hangover in the morning.

It wasn’t yet dark, and they grabbed the last table near the bar. Zoey ordered enough drinks to get them started, and they gazed at each other. Sadness was in Vikki’s eyes, the same Zoey felt.

“Sorry about the inquisition,” Zoey started. “I didn’t break. There were um, extenuating circumstances.”

“I knew you wouldn’t talk. I was trying to figure it out,” Vikki admitted. “Was the Professor there? Did they make him read your mind or something?”

“No. So, about starting the soul-mate rite shit with an Incubus. My um, awesome soul-mate is the head of the Enforcers.”

“No way!”

Their drinks arrived. Vikki promptly ordered more. Zoey tossed back two shots of tequila before speaking again.

“Yeah. So, we f*cked last night, which took away the bond from the Professor and landed me in the shitter this morning,” she summarized. “I lied my ass off, he knew it, and read me.”

Vikki laughed hard. “You have the worst luck, Zoey!”

Zoey raised her next shot in agreement and drank it.

“Did you have a meltdown?” Vikki asked.

“Yeah. I cried, Vikki. I can’t trust him. His job is to f*ck you over, and I gave him the ammunition to do it. I almost begged him not to, but he was like, he has to follow rules. He even came over to the Professor’s after to get the journal. I’ve never felt so helpless.”

“Ah, Zoey,” Vikki said with a smile. “I understand. You had to do it. Liam knows you’re one of the only people on my friend list.”

“Still?” Zoey asked hopefully.

“Always.”

“I feel like shit. I don’t want a soul-mate. I definitely don’t want him for one.”

“Well…” Vikki said pensively. “Don’t hate me for this. Zoey, it’s worth it. I mean, I know you can’t trust yours, which isn’t really a good thing starting off, but it’s an incredible relationship, assuming he’s not hunting down your only friends…okay, you’re f*cked either way.”

Zoey giggled.

“I’m leaving the Sucubatti,” Vikki sighed. Her face grew troubled. “Zoey, can I tell you something you can’t tell anyone?”

“You know I won’t tell on purpose, and I’m doing my damnedest to get out of this bond thing.”

“Liam says something bad is going to happen soon.”

“Like what?”

“Like to the Sucubatti. He said the Cambions have been collecting sex energy to overthrow them,” Vikki said.

“Part of me says I hope they do, so we have blanket permission to kill them,” Zoey said angrily. “But I know that means a lot of innocent people will get hurt.”

“I guess there are a lot of Incubatti spies in the Sucubatti who are feeding their Council info. Not me,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I told Liam that’s off limits.”

“Did he listen?”

“Yeah,” Vikki said, a smile crossing her face. “What I know is nothing compared to what these spies are telling them.”

Zoey was quiet. She wasn’t convinced she couldn’t go out on her own and kill Cambions, if the Sucubatti were attacked. But she couldn’t stand the idea of anything happening to the Professor.

“I figured I’d wait to tell you until after your interview today,” Vikki said. “So glad I did. I don’t know what to do about it, though.”

Declan would’ve known that Vikki tipped her off. Zoey hadn’t been able to tear her thoughts off the enigmatic Incubus who f*cked her into exhaustion the night before then stole secrets from her mind today.

“It’s hard, isn’t it?” she asked, restless. “Like, if you fight the bonding thing.”

“Yeah. Don’t let him touch you. It’ll make things much worse. I did good when I completely avoided him. Relatively, if you don’t count the football team.” Vikki rolled her eyes.

So much for freebies.

“Eric’s here,” Vikki said suddenly. “Um, he’s not alone.”

“What?” Zoey leaned over to see what Vikki saw.

Eric was holding hands with a shapely blond. He was smiling at her. He didn’t look like he was going to a club to talk to his ex.

“Fifty bucks says the new girl texted you, not Eric,” Vikki said. “Unless he’s a total jackass and is doing this to make you feel bad.”

“I don’t think he’d do that,” Zoey said, frowning. She watched the two of them join another couple. “That’s the couple we double-dated with.”

Hearing the misery in her voice, Vikki passed her the remaining drink. Zoey sighed.

“Yeah, had to be the girl,” Vikki said, studying them with the eyes of a killer assessing her victim. “You said there was some girl at his work?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Zoey said with a shrug.

“I know it matters.”

“It was stupid to want to come. I knew I couldn’t go back to him anyway. I guess I hoped…I don’t know.”

Vikki squeezed her arm. “If your Incubus doesn’t torture all your friends, you’ll find him a better match for you.”

A laugh bubbled up within Zoey while tears formed in her eyes. Vikki hugged her hard.

“I just wanted things to go back to the way they were,” Zoey murmured. “Declan scares the shit out of me.”

“Omigod, does he know you went to meet your ex?” Vikki pulled away, eyes large.

“Yep. Told him I had a hot date.”

“You’re insane! I think Liam would flip out.”

The waitress brought another small, round tray filled with their second round of drinks.

“That reminds me. I need to find a new hangover cure,” Zoey said. “I can’t use the Professor anymore, and Declan’s price is too high.”

“I’m tempted to tell you not to fight it. Just go tonight and tomorrow to his apartment. The sex is incredible. The only drawback is losing the absolute freedom we have,” Vikki said.

“No, I’m losing…” Zoey looked towards Eric’s party.

“I know you cared about him, but didn’t you run out on him when he proposed?” Vikki asked, perplexed.

“I was almost normal for a year. Stable. He was predictable and sweet and he didn’t scare the shit out of me or curb my freedom,” Zoey said at last. “I had the best of both worlds: a human home and you to kill things will.”

“Tell Declan you want to redecorate and not with my entrails strung up on one wall.”

“Can I come visit you?” Zoey asked.

“I think so. I’m not sure.”

Zoey laughed. “We’re so screwed, aren’t we? I have no idea what to do.”

“You’re going to drink. We’re going to stop pitying ourselves and enjoy our night,” Vikki said, pushing shots at her.

“Zoey?”

She almost choked on the whiskey burning her throat. Swallowing hard, Zoey turned. Eric looked genuinely surprised.

“Girlfriend,” Vikki muttered.

“Didn’t think you went to Salsa clubs,” Eric said. His gaze swept over her.

Zoey knew she looked good; she always did, but tonight, she’d dressed with more care than usual.

“Hi, Eric,” she said, forcing a smile. “We try out new clubs every once in awhile.” She motioned to Vikki, who managed to smile.

“You look great,” he said awkwardly.

“It’s only been a couple days,” she joked. “Haven’t had time to go to shit yet.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he replied. “I mean, you look beautiful. As always.”

Touched by his sweet words, she felt even worse.

“Is that Tory with you?” she asked.

“Yes.” He shifted nervously.

“Don’t worry. I’m not pissed or anything,” Zoey said. “It’s cool if you found someone else. Two days after asking me if I wanted to marry you.”

“Two days after getting turned down.”

“Yeah.” Her face felt hot, and not just from alcohol. “Eric, I’m sorry.”

“Zoey –”

“I’m not saying it to get you back or anything. I’m genuinely sorry. I lied to you almost the entire time we were together. I loved my life with you. I didn’t want to lose it.” She cleared her throat, embarrassed that her chin was trembling. “But I figured out, it was really selfish of me.”

“I’m, uh…” he paused. “I’m actually impressed, Zoey. I can’t help wishing you’d realized this awhile ago.” There was regret in his voice.

She hesitated. Alcohol was making it harder to think. She wasn’t entirely certain where the words came from, except realizing Declan touched her soul while she’d never been willing to let Eric near her heart.

“Well you were right. If you’re with someone you can’t trust enough to tell them your secrets, then it’s probably not going to work out. Especially if you can’t read minds.”

“Which I can’t,” he teased. His smile was warm once more, like it had been a few days ago, before she screwed up everything.

“So, I want you to go live a happy life,” she finished, uncertain what else to say. “And not think too badly of me. If not possible, just go be happy.”

“I want the same for you. I really do,” he said, studying her. “Are you going to be okay, Zoey? I know you tend to meltdown.”

Her smile slipped. This was closure for sure, but she didn’t want to let go of everything Eric represented.

“That’s what I’m here for,” Vikki said, wrapping her arm around Zoey.

Eric looked like he wanted to say something else, changed his mind and smiled.

“Take care,” he said, gaze lingering on Zoey.

“You, too,” she whispered. He turned away.

“Don’t you dare let him see you cry,” Vikki ordered. “Drink this.”

Zoey obeyed, gulping the tart mixed drink down.

“I can’t believe the new girl set you up. I mean, they aren’t even officially dating. They can’t be.”

“Like I’m not bound to some random Incubus I just met?” Zoey challenged, slamming the drink down.

“Well, that’s different.”

Zoey shrugged. “God, that hurt.”

“Does Declan have a phone number?” Vikki asked casually.

“No idea. Don’t care. He’s taking you away from me,” Zoey said, anger rising.

“We’ll still be friends.”

“We should form our own vigilante group. Just you and me and the other girls on Team Reject.”

“I’ve been thinking about it all week long,” Vikki said, thoughtful. “Liam says I can’t be associated with the Sucubatti. But if we formed our own group, it wouldn’t be. He thinks less of the Cambions than the Sucubatti do us horrible Halflings. He doesn’t care if I’m killing them. He doesn’t want me working with the enemy.”

“I wouldn’t have to tell the Sucubatti,” Zoey added. “Just do what they say then on the side, hang out with you and kill Cambions. I could even use them to supply us with weapons.”

“We could use their intel, too, to find hotspots,” Vikki said. “Like we do for our unauthorized missions.”

They were both quiet. The more Zoey thought, the more she liked the idea. Vikki glanced down at her phone. By her smile, she was texting with Liam. Zoey watched, her gaze going again to where Eric sat.

“No more stupid rules,” Vikki said. “I’d have Liam to take the edge off, so I could kill more than the Sucubatti let us. You’ll have …”

“The football team?”

“There are some hunks on the team,” Vikki said with a wink. “Seriously. What are you going to do about Declan? The bond can’t be broken.”

“Nothing. I’m going to get killed by Cambions.”

“Whatever.” Vikki rolled her eyes. “Let’s do it!”

“Really?” Zoey asked, brightening.

“Yep.” Vikki’s gaze returned to the phone. A surprised look crossed her face. “Hey, did you know Declan is the son of an Incubatti Council member?”

“Yeah.”

“You shitting me?”

“No.” Zoey looked at her curiously. “Why?

“Wow. I asked Liam if he knew him. And told him we’re forming a vigilante group,” Vikki said, smiling. “He’s okay with the vigilante group, by the way.”

“Omigod. You ask him for permission for everything now?” Zoey snapped.

“Nope. Told him we’re doing it. He’s going to give me Declan’s phone number.”

“No! Are you crazy? Declan wants to kill you! Vikki, they know you’re with Liam. They have pictures. Declan will -”

“Well, he doesn’t need an excuse to talk to him,” Vikki said, hesitating. “Think about it. Declan. Liam. Two totally Irish names.”

“You think they’re related?”

“They are. Zoey, you idiot, they’re brothers.”

With her head buzzing with alcohol, Zoey assumed she misheard. She drank another beverage. Vikki stared at her.

“Did you hear me?” she asked finally.

“Yeah.”

“Are you that drunk?”

“No,” Zoey said. “I don’t think that makes sense. How can they be brothers?” She thought back to the pictures the Enforcers showed her. It made no sense that Declan would be collecting intelligence on his own brother’s soul-mate. “If they can ask each other for phone numbers, why are they frying me in an inquisition about you and Liam? Why not just talk to him directly.”

“I think they wanted to see what you knew. If I’m being exiled, maybe they were seeing if you should be, too.”

“Speaking of killing things, what’s next?” Zoey said, reaching the end of her drink. She stood. She felt woozy already, the world spinning in an array of pretty colors.

“Are you in meltdown mode?”

“Think so.”

Vikki stood. Two college-aged couples, the lurkers waiting for a table to free up, all but shoved past her. Zoey’s world swam more than usual from the alcohol, but she managed to catch Vikki before her best friend hit the ground.

Zoey helped her stabilize then shoved the shoulder of the football-player sized guy who had taken Vikki’s chair.

“Hey, jackass, is that how you treat a lady?” she snapped.

He didn’t even turn around but glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t see no lady.”

“Come on, Z, let’s go,” Vikki urged, gripping her arm. “That shit I gave you – it’s gonna knock you flat in about five minutes.”

“What? I don’t care!” Zoey wrenched away. She loosened her sex magic, focusing it on the idiot who bumped her friend. He turned, and the look on his face changed from angry to interested.

Zoey waved him over to her playfully and took two steps back to give herself room to hit him. He stood and approached, eyes on her breasts.

“Zoey, no!” Vikki hissed.

Zoey ignored her and punched him as hard as she could in the nose.

“You little bitch!” he snarled, the pain pulling him out of the mild trance she put him in.

Before he was able to object, she kicked him in the crotch and punched him again in the face. Suddenly, her already wobbly world was spinning. Someone smashed her into the floor, the body on top of her too light to be anyone other than the guy’s girlfriend. Random, unschooled punches tried to do damage. Zoey laughed and maneuvered out from under the girl, slapping her hard enough to stop her movement.

And then, the bar exploded. Zoey was too disoriented to understand who fought who or why, except that someone was trying to hit her. One blow landed before she was able to get to her feet, and her head snapped back in response to another blow. Her body followed, and she prepared herself for another hard landing.

“I gotcha,” Vikki grunted. “Come on, before they call the police.”

Zoey’s drunken mind took in the fight at the bar. She laughed at the chaos.

“Hey, V, I defended your honor!” she giggled.

“Can you walk?”

Zoey nodded, but wasn’t entirely certain. Vikki kept one arm around her and navigated them through the mess towards the door. The bar customers scrambled back from the bar area.

They worked their way through the crowd to the door. Zoey’s gaze was caught by Eric’s. There was sadness in his eyes. Sadness she put there. She smiled and waved farewell.

Forever farewell, she knew as she walked out of the club and not only to him. They walked down the block, the sound and warmth of the club fading.

This was her world now. Cold and wet and filled with Cambions. Eric was gone tonight, taking with him any hope she had of finding balance in a place where she didn’t belong. Zoey spun in a drunken circle, barely catching herself against the building. She lifted her face to the rain.

“Okay, you’re f*cking toasted,” Vikki’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You can’t kill Cambions like this.”

“I totally can,” Zoey said, pushing away from the wall. “I have to catch up. I have to.”

“Hand me a knife.”

Zoey’s hands fumbled for her thigh. After a couple of attempts, she got it free.

“Thank god. I thought I’d have to drop more pills in your drink.”

Zoey glanced up. “What?”

“You’re an emotional basket case tonight. You don’t need to be anywhere else but home. I dropped a couple of those alcohol enhancers in your drink,” Vikki said. “The ones that makes you feel drunker than you are. Now, I’m calling a ride.”

“No!” Zoey groaned. She tried to put her knife away and cut her leg. “I want to kill things!”

Vikki snatched the weapon and replaced it. Zoey sagged against her. Vikki grunted.

“Did I give you too many?” she asked.

Zoey was like spaghetti. “If we can’t kill things… Declan wins, Vikki.”

“Oh, god. Focus. Let’s not cry. Just focus. Your nose is bleeding and you’re going to have a black eye in the morning, if you don’t suck up your pride and just call Declan.”

“No. I’m focusing,” Zoey repeated, confused. “I’m the worst person on the planet.”

Vikki laughed. They stood in silence. Zoey almost felt a little better. A car pulled up to the curb, and she took a step towards it. Vikki caught her as she tripped.

“I’m good,” Zoey said, straightening. “I’m good.”

Vikki opened the back door, and Zoey dropped into the backseat. Vikki climbed in front.

“Vikki, where we going? We gotta go kill Cambions,” she said.

“No, we’re going home,” Vikki said.

“I swear, I’m okay.” Disoriented by the blurry lights they passed, Zoey’s drunken thoughts didn’t register that Vikki wasn’t driving for a few minutes. She looked at the man behind the wheel. “Who the f*ck are you?”

“Liam,” he replied, amusement in the familiar whiskey-colored gaze in the rearview mirror.

Zoey’s mouth dropped open. “Vikki…”

“Chill,” Vikki replied.

“Chill? Do you have any idea what his brother put me through today?” Zoey demanded. “I got my ass kicked in front of the Enforcers and then he sits there and goes through my mind and totally dimes you out.”

“That’s not quite what happened,” Vikki said. She looked back, making shushing sounds with a frantic look at Liam.

“The hell it wasn’t. They had f*cking pictures of you two and were asking me. I lied my ass off and then the picture of me leaving the apartment building came up and then it was like, game over. Declan said, rule number two: don’t ever lie to me. Rule number one was…” she drifted off, lost.

“No weapons,” Liam supplied.

“Yes! Vikki, do you know Liam’s Incubatti?”

Stopped at a red light, the two in the front seat were exchanging a long look. Vikki’s face was red, and Liam’s eyebrows were both raised.

“You didn’t tell her that, did you, Liam?” Zoey demanded. She wanted to hit him for lying to her friend, but the alcohol and Vikki’s drugs made her body feel much heavier than normal. She was also sleepy, the warm backseat becoming an appealing place for a nap. “Vikki’s my best friend. I lied to the f*cking head of the Enforcers, not that it mattered, because he just pulled everything out of my –“

“Zoey, stop!” Vikki cried at last.

Zoey fell silent, surprised. Vikki’s gaze returned to Liam.

“You’re Declan’s?” Liam asked Zoey. “Seriously?” He appeared ready to laugh.

“I am not Declan’s,” she snapped. “He took Vikki away from me. He knows I had a date tonight with the ex. Said something like, rule number three: he knows where I play and where I sleep, and Eric couldn’t handle that but he could.”

Liam laughed.

“Zoey,” Vikki sighed.

“You tell me. Home or home?” Liam asked her.

“What’s wrong?” Zoey asked, aware for the first time she was missing something. “Why are there two homes?”

“Your call, V. Either way, Declan will never live this down,” Liam said.

“Home with us,” Vikki replied. “Someone’s gotta take care of this train wreck.”

“What does Declan have to do with this?” Zoey demanded.

Liam turned right at the intersection and Vikki rolled her eyes.

“You started the rite with Declan?” Liam asked Zoey.

“I am not finishing it. I don’t give a shit what anyone says.”

“Sounds familiar,” Liam said with a glance at Vikki.

“Liam, we’re going to start a vigilante group,” Zoey said.

“Why don’t you tell him about Eric?” Vikki snapped.

Zoey slumped. “Farewell, cruel world. Thanks for f*cking me up.”

“Dammit, Zoey,” Vikki said. “You couldn’t keep your mouth shut, could you?”

“What the hell did you give me?”

“The wrong thing. You’re gonna have one helluva hangover.”

“Nooooo,” Zoey protested.

“Declan will fix it,” Liam said. “Vikki, text him.”

“No,” Zoey said. “Just take me home. I don’t want anything to do with him. I just broke up with one guy. Even if Eric wanted to give it a second try, I couldn’t, because I really did cheat on him this time. The other five hundred guys, nope. Declan said, do you wanna bleed out or f*ck me? Not sure I made the right choice.” Her ears were buzzing so loudly, she had to shout to hear herself.

Liam laughed long and hard. Vikki was holding her forehead in her hands in a sign of defeat. They parked in what she took to be the garage beside the dorms. Zoey made it out of the car and two steps before almost dropping. Vikki caught her.

Zoey struggled to focus on her through the drunken haze that seemed to be closing in on her. She was so drowsy, and it took effort to keep her eyes open and her focus on the world around her. Liam reached them. He lifted her.

“I take it we’re not going out tonight?” Zoey asked Vikki.

“No.” Vikki sighed.

“But it’s our last night.”

“We have a plan, remember?”

Suddenly tired, Zoey leaned her head against Liam. They got in an elevator her drugged mind didn’t remember being in the Professor’s house or the dorms or Eric’s house. Where did they take her?

“At least I got closure,” Zoey murmured. “Didn’t I?”

“You did. I’m proud of you.” Vikki smiled. The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. “Call me if you need a ride in the morning.”

“Okay,” Zoey said. Melancholy settled over her. She was starting to hurt again as the alcoholic high wore off to be replaced by drowsiness.

Liam set her on her feet and knocked. Zoey looked around, uncertain where exactly she was.

“Nice to meet you, Zoey.”

“You, too, Liam,” she said, gazing up at him in confusion.

“I think this is yours.” He was addressing someone else. Her gaze went to the open door.



Declan looked his soul-mate over critically. Dressed for clubbing, she smelled of smoke and alcohol. Her nose was bloodied and one eye swelling. She was weaving on her feet with Liam trying to steady her. What the f*ck was it with his girl always showing up in his arms torn up?

“Looks like it,” he replied.

“Oh, hell no,” she gasped, as if recognizing his voice even if her glazed eyes didn’t focus.

“Vikki gave her too much of something,” Liam explained. “She’s been… interesting.”

He pushed her through the doorway. Declan caught her. She didn’t try to resist, but sighed and sank into his arms. The cheek she rested against his chest was cold. Their connection hummed, comforting him and melting her. Whatever Vikki gave her, it must’ve been a horse tranquilizer. There was no fight or fire in the woman in his arms.

Liam grinned and closed the door. Declan reached forward to lock it.

“How was the hot date?” he asked, managing to hide his irritation. He pretended he wasn’t upset by her interest in seeing the ex again. It wasn’t the only reason he spent the evening boxing his father, who kicked his ass several times. The other was the idea the woman in his arms, nuzzling his neck, not only killed an Incubus, but might be a secret weapon that could be activated against him.

“I know, I know,” she mumbled. She sighed.

“You know what?”

“You’re going to say everyone else is right. I was wrong. I have to let go and be not-normal.”

“I was going to say I told you where you’d be spending the night,” he teased. “And yeah, you need to let go.”

“Hurts.” She pulled away enough to meet his gaze. Tears shimmered in her eyes. He felt her ache, and sympathized with her. She lost her stability and the place that had been her home in twenty-four hours. He entered her mind, looking again for indication that she had killed Julius.

Nothing. Declan didn’t understand it. He had no idea if he could trust her, but he wanted her with inhuman need.

“I know. I felt it,” he said and kissed her forehead.

“Because we’re bonded.”

“Yep. No going back, no matter what.”

A shiver of emotion went through her. Declan felt her sliding into the effects of the drug. He gripped her more tightly and bent to lift her. He carried her into the living area and set her on the couch, seating himself on the coffee table facing her.

“How much for my hangover?” she asked. “It’s gonna be bad.”

“Why don’t we wait to see what you’re willing to pay in the morning to make it go away?” he asked, smiling.

“Noooo,” she whined.

“You know the price.”

“No strike two,” she said stubbornly.

“You’ll change your story in the morning.”

She groaned, and he chuckled.

“Every night can’t be like this, where you end up unconscious or beat up or half-dead in my arms,” he told her. “You’ve got responsibilities, Zoey, and what happens if I’m not here to help you? You should think more about the consequences of your actions.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Technically, I can,” he pointed out. “Very easily. It’s not a good start to a relationship, though. I’m hoping you’ll figure this shit out soon.”

“If I don’t, are you sending me back to the Professor?”

Declan hadn’t considered she might never settle down. Knowing she was wild and understanding that wasn’t going to change were two separate issues. He knew how to tame that spirit at night. During the day …

“No,” he said firmly. “We belong together. I’m not certain how you’re going to fit in here.”

“I don’t fit in anywhere.” There was a mournful note in her voice.

“You do with me, in every way,” he replied. “I’m an Enforcer. Soul-mates normally are able to represent us. That would require you to put your weapons away.”

“I kill things. I don’t want to change.”

That might be an issue. He didn’t say the words out loud. Her eyes were closed, her voice taking on a dreamy quality.

“Will you make love to me, Declan?” she murmured. She took his arm and tugged at him.

“You’re no fun to me this way,” he replied, unable to help the small smile. She both frustrated him and made him sane, all in the same breath. He was too easily affected by her, but at least she was likewise affected by him.

“But, I … want … you…now…” Her breathing deepened, and she slid into sleep.

“I’m going to ask Vikki what the hell she gave you. I might need it in the future,” he said quietly. He reached out to her and touched her face.

While he adored her sweet spunk, her inability to conform was definitely going to be an issue. His father and mother had been partners. What if Zoey wasn’t able to adapt to the Incubus society any more than she’d been able to the Sucubatti’s rules? What if he couldn’t figure out the trigger that turned her into some sort of Incubus-killing machine?

Declan rubbed his mouth. It wasn’t like he could walk away. Likewise, he wasn’t at all certain how he was going to handle the duties of leading and a soul-mate who killed Incubuses. If that news got out, he’d have to make a very brutal decision.

First things first, he needed to survive this mess.

His gaze lingered on her. She was deep asleep. Rather than stay, he changed and returned to the gym, only to be intercepted by his father in the elevator.

“Still?” Ethan asked.

“Yeah,” Declan replied.

“You can do something more useful. We’re planning to pick up the Bennies and girls this weekend, as you requested.”

Declan nodded in satisfaction.

“You feel strongly enough about this to move our plans forward?”

“I do,” Declan said. “Not only do we owe it to the Benefactors, but to the girls.”

“Olivia is on board. I don’t trust her, but I’ll have to this weekend.”

Declan hesitated. “I know. I’m not one hundred percent certain this is the right thing to do, but the sooner we get them away from the Sucubatti, the better. Maybe if we seclude the Professor and his kind, they’ll provide more information about what Olivia’s done to Zoey.”

“Tough choices. I’m glad you’re decisive enough to make them,” his father said. “I learned the hard way, but you’re a natural.”

“It certainly doesn’t feel that way.”

“If it gets easy to make a decision that involves the lives of others, you need to be replaced,” his father said.

Declan smiled at his father’s wisdom, sensing the man beside him had been like Zoey when young.

“I don’t know what to do about Zoey,” he started.

“She won’t fall into place like a puzzle piece, based on her file. She’ll have you to ground her, though.”

“I thought it would be the other way around.”

“It will be when needed. The disadvantage of being an Incubus: we know sex. We don’t know women.”

Declan laughed.

“Seriously. Do you know how long it took for your mother and me to figure each other out?” his father asked fondly. “I should say, just to be able to live together peacefully?”

“Please don’t say years.”

“Years. Relationships are about things we don’t innately care about. Like trust and communication. What Incubus needs that shit? We weren’t created for relationships, but we have to learn.”

“That’s the second time I’ve heard the word trust used today,” Declan said.

“You are more like your mother than me, which will serve you well,” his father added. “You have patience, and you already know what you need to do to win your girl. We’ll figure out what Olivia did and make sure your Zoey is okay. The rest is up to you.”

Declan listened. He didn’t think it was going to be as easy as his father made it out to be and wondered if his father was keeping secrets again.