Zoey Rogue

chapter Six: Declan Decided



Declan finished the last repetition of his final set under the squat machine. Another of his eight older brothers, Liam, stepped back from his position as a spotter. Sweating profusely, Declan released a long breath.

“You lose, brother,” he said, facing Liam. “You said ten. I got twelve.”

“Someone’s gotta push your lazy ass,” Liam said with a wink.

Declan smiled. There was nothing lazy about him, and they both knew it. Despite being close to twenty-three and on tap to succeed their father, he still took a verbal beating from his older brothers. They kept him on his toes, and he relished the challenge of proving them wrong.

“You wanna go out tonight?” Liam asked. “I’ve got club duty. I know how much you love the clubs.”

“No, not tonight.”

“No?” Liam raised an eyebrow. “You’ve still got the Succubus dad told you to get rid of?”

“I’m breaking it off tonight,” Declan replied. “Then I’m going over the strategic reorganization plan of Dad’s again.”

“You’re moody and studious. I have no idea who you are, but I want Declan back.”

“Not sure what’s wrong with me lately. Maybe I’m getting old, like the rest of my brothers,” he teased. He snagged his towel off the floor and walked with Liam out of the private gym at the bottom of their apartment building.

“Declan.”

He reached back to grab the door before it closed. The face of the Cambion leader, Paul, dampened his spirits. Paul’s eyes were two different colors – one blue, the other brown – and set in a face with heavy features. His lean frame was as sweaty as Declan’s from his workout.

“Your water bottle,” the Cambion said, holding it out.

Declan accepted it. Never a fan of the Cambions, he was less impressed by the one before him, who had somehow conned his way onto the Council.

“Thanks,” Declan said. “This one’s my favorite.” He took a swig, the cool water soothing after the brutal workout.

Paul joined the brothers in the hallway as they walked towards the elevator.

“Are you any closer to finding Julius’s killer?” the Cambion asked.

“We don’t normally discuss Enforcer business outside the meetings,” Declan replied. “But no, not yet.”

“A shame. He was one of those who nominated me to the Council,” Paul said.

Declan had even less respect for the dead Incubus. Even so, it was his job to figure out who killed him and why. He felt it again. The tug so strong, it was almost physical. It pulled his attention down the hall to his left. His jaw clenched, and he looked away. What he sought wasn’t down the hallway or in the building or even probably within blocks of his place; what he sought, he had no intention of acknowledging.

The real reason why he was avoiding clubs this night: It was Wednesday, the night she was active in the territory of the Incubatti. Every week, the knowledge she was so close drove him a little crazier.

“Catch you later,” Paul said and broke off, moving down the hallway.

Declan watched him go, relaxing once more.

“I don’t trust that ass,” Liam muttered. “Not sure how you can be so polite.”

“Diplomacy is an art form,” Declan said. “I’m still working on it.”

“You’re ahead of almost all of us, even Dad.”

Declan smiled. He was one of the most patient of the Incubuses in his family, which wasn’t saying much.

“You really breaking it off tonight with that Succubus?” Liam asked him.

“Yeah,” Declan said. “I haven’t had this much fun in years, and the sex is fantastic. She can keep up with me. Awful timing, as usual.”

“I don’t trust the Sucubatti. Always up to something,” Liam said. “But definitely enjoy it while you can. Dad’s been asking after your soul-mate for months now.”

“What did my favorite brother tell our father?” Declan asked. They stopped to wait in front of the elevator.

“I gave him the party line. Told him I didn’t know if you’d met her yet or not. He’s happy about mine, so he gave me a pass. Strike two is a bitch, by the way. I’ve never been so f*cking miserable.”

“Yeah, well. That shit is all yours,” Declan said. “I hope I don’t run out of brothers too soon to keep him happy.” Two of his eight brothers had found soul-mates within the past six months. What Liam – his closest in age and his sparring partner – knew was that Declan was the first to find his, only he marked her and walked away.

He didn’t remember her face, but the woman was hell on earth, not the kind of person who would integrate with the formal, somewhat conservative, Incubatti society. Not the kind of partner he needed when he assumed control of the Enforcers on Friday. She definitely was going to be a challenge when the civil war started. His father – and all his brothers – were positioning themselves to launch the first step of the revolution meant to purge the Incubatti of the cancerous Cambions.

If he kept trying to convince himself he didn’t need a soul-mate, maybe he would one day believe it. It went against everything he learned about the preordained nature of soul-mates and the three-stage rite that bound an Incubus and his Halfling. He researched how he might avoid it or break the bond without finding anything. Once, last year, he even asked the Professor, who laughed.

“It’s incredible,” Liam said.

“What is?” Declan asked, pulling himself from his thoughts.

“The soul-mate connection. Like nothing I expected.”

“Keep it to yourself.”

“Mine has gotta know yours. The Benefactors somehow secluded all of these girls onto one team, under the nose of the Sucubatti. I thought the Bennies were largely castrated by Olivia. I can’t figure out how they did it,” Liam said.

Declan made a non-committal sound he hoped his brother took as disinterest. Liam ignored the hint.

“The sex is better with a soul-mate.”

“It can’t be better than a Succubus.” Declan met his brother’s gaze. “We’re Incubuses. No half-human can keep up with us even on a lazy night.”

“They aren’t exactly normal Halflings. They’re our perfect matches.”

“I suppose you’ll tell me next there’s an emotional connection as well.” Declan made a show of rolling his eyes.

Liam punched him in the arm.

“I’m happy with a Succubus and freedom,” Declan said, laughing.

“That’ll change when Dad finds out.”

Declan eyed his brother. Liam was smiling, but Declan knew his brother was the last to reveal a secret to their father. The closest in age, he and Liam had been best friends since childhood.

The elevator doors opened to reveal his hallway. He slapped Liam on the arm and left, relaxed after the extended workout in the gym. He was ready for a different kind of workout now, one involving the gorgeous blonde Succubus who should know by now to be waiting for him in bed.

Declan entered his apartment. The essence of a Succubus was thick in the air, a combination of her come-hither aura, scent, and the memory of what it was like to stay up all night in a state of pure pleasure. His blood was on fire already.

Heidi wasn’t in his bed. Irritated, Declan went to the living room, where she sat watching television. She was dressed to go out, her perfect body slender, tall and clad in clothes so tight, they left nothing to the imagination.

“You’re going out,” he observed. His eyes lingered on her breasts. “Without me, apparently.”

“I’ll be back,” she said with a sultry smile. “I can’t believe you stood up to Olivia today.”

“Piece of cake,” he replied. “If you go out tonight without me, don’t come back.”

She stared at him. “You’re joking, right?”

“Two weeks is long enough for me. Time to switch things up,” he said. If she were a normal bed partner – and not a spy he willingly took to his bed – he’d be gentler.

“Olivia is sending me on a special mission for a few days. You can’t be serious.”

Declan shrugged. She took that as encouragement.

“I wouldn’t dream of not returning to the single most powerful Incubus in existence.” Her voice lowered in timbre, and she crossed to him. His senses were wrapped in her sex energy. He was stronger, though, and when he loosened his own magic, she melted against him.

He nuzzled her neck. Her hands were already roaming his body, the fire of lust in her gaze. He waited a moment longer, letting his magic encircle her senses. When he knew he’d snagged her, he whispered,

“Tell Olivia I’m done playing this game.”

Declan stepped away, unaffected by the interaction.

Surprise then anger crossed Heidi’s face. She gazed at him a moment longer. She hissed at him, and he winked, well aware what happened when an Incubus or Succubus was turned down. It was more a matter of pride than pain, but it was still uncomfortable. He’d never had it happen. By the look on her face, she hated the reminder of how strong he was as much as she loved tapping into his magic in bed.

He watched her leave. She slammed the door behind her, and Declan locked it. Pissing off a Succubus who worked closely with Olivia wasn’t the brightest thing he’d done today. He was still in a funk, even after returning to his side of the DC metro area.

He showered and plopped down on the couch with a water bottle and laptop, pulling up the plan to purge the Incubatti of Cambions that his father spent a lifetime creating. The goals were simple: The destruction of the sickly parts of Incubus society, namely the Cambions and the Council that tolerated what they did to humans. It had to be done in order for them to create a new council to oversee everything, so they could face their real enemy: The Sucubatti, like the one who just left his apartment. The IAB had become more aggressive over the years, an indication there might be a second War soon.

Discreetly stealing the sex energy gathered by Cambions, the Enforcers and their allies had started preparing to launch the civil war this year, hoping to stave off a confrontation with the Sucubatti, until the Cambions were dealt with. The Enforcers were second only to the Council in command of the Incubus society as a whole with the numbers needed to strong arm a revolution. The challenge was acting fast enough against the Cambions that any chance of resistance was crushed before it started.

Declan knew the plan by heart. He also knew he was going to go physically unsatisfied without a Succubus to take the edge off. The curse of being powerful: he was pretty much alone. Why then did he send her away instead of soothing his restlessness one last time?

He rose and crossed to the wall of windows overlooking the city. His gaze instinctively went in the direction where his soul-mate was. He was not going down that road. He knew the history of soul-mates, but didn’t need one hampering his lifestyle. Especially not this one, who was – by all accounts – incompatible with his world.

He’d done what no other ever had: resisted. He had the strength to do so. It was only a matter of waiting out the discomfort. The distraction. The need.

His phone rang. He crossed to it and sat again, gazing at the dark night outside his windows.

“Professor,” he said as he answered. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I fear it’s not a pleasure, Declan,” the Professor’s warm voice was weary.

“What is it?” Declan asked. He straightened in his seat.

“I apologize, Declan, but I must beg a favor of you,” the Professor said. “There is something beyond my ability to handle.”

Declan didn’t want to feel the sense of urgency and dread in his gut. There was a note in the Professor’s voice that alarmed him.

“I have not been honest with you about my ability to deal with Zoey. Tonight, I cannot fulfill what I ought to, and I fear it might cost her life. She’s in danger, Declan. I feel her expiring quickly, but I can’t quite understand what this is.”

“Cambions?” Declan asked.

“No, this is … different. Her mind is quiet right now. She’s unconscious; that much I know.”

Declan was quiet for a long moment, wanting nothing more than to refuse. It would be an easy solution to his issue: walk away, and he was free. It also went against the honor and integrity he was supposed to have as an Enforcer and more importantly, as a future leader in the Incubatti.

“Please, Declan.”

The idea of such a revered scholar begging him for anything made Declan feel horrible.

“I’ll take care of it,” he said.

“Thank you, Declan. I fear I am getting too old for this.”

The soul-deep weariness in the Professor’s words made Declan feel worse for taxing his friend.

“I’ll bring her back in one piece,” he said gently. “Get some rest.”

He hung up, even more irritated that his night was ruined by the second woman who wasn’t going to end up in his bed. Declan dressed quickly in workout pants, sturdy shoes and a long-sleeved t-shirt to keep the spring chill off his skin. He left the building. It wasn’t hard to figure out where she was. He just had to follow his instincts, the ones he spent three years ignoring.

Edgy and restless, he strode into an alley then gathered his magic. With the superhuman strength and agility resulting from an abundance of sex energy, he leapt on top of the nearest building. It took him half the time to traverse the city by rooftop that it would fighting traffic or walking. Declan started at a jog then broke into a run, enjoying the sensation of cool air in his lungs and the muscles of his legs warming. He leapt from building to building, ran along the roof then leapt again.

After about ten minutes, his instincts grew so strong, they forced him to stop in place. He crouched at the edge of the building to peer into an alley. A few Cambions had two unconscious women at their feet and were making lewd gestures. One had his pants down already.

Declan jumped into the alley and landed softly on his feet. The nearest Cambion whirled to strike. Declan knocked him flat with a punch. Recognition registered across the faces of the others. Incubuses were forbidden from attacking those weaker than themselves, unless they were attacked first. It was a rule the Cambions knew well. He waited for them to make their decisions.

They ran.

He turned his attention to the girls, who looked to be in their early twenties. His gaze settled on the one that was supposed to be his. Declan knelt beside her and touched her forehead. Fire shot through him, and he cursed as his body responded to his soul-mate.

Her heart was stopping. He drew her into his arms. The more of him that was in direct contact with her, the more magic he could impart. He released the power he rarely let free. Her body jerked in response. Declan waited, studying her while his magic healed her.

Heart-shaped face, loose brown curls, skin touched by gold. Her eyelashes were long and feathery, her lips full and her cheekbones high enough to create natural shadows beneath them. A cute, pert nose, natural widow’s peak, legs that appeared long, even though he judged she was little over five feet tall, about a head shorter than him. She was heavy in his arms, solid muscle in the shape of an hourglass with breasts that would fill his large hands and rounded hips he could grip from behind.

His soul-mate was gorgeous. The unrestrained sex energy radiating off her was almost as strong as that of a full-blooded Succubus. He had a hard time imagining the cherubic woman in his arms was half as bad as the reports said she was.

She drew a shuddering breath in her sleep. Declan assessed her body, his fascination fading again into agitation.

She was poisoned, but he couldn’t tell by what. It wasn’t any identifiable poison he’d encountered. He lowered his head to smell her lips. The scent of her mouth was bitter, unfamiliar.

What kind of Cambion hunter got poisoned? With the Professor too weak to help, what the hell did she expect would happen, if she got in trouble?

No, this woman wasn’t for him. Declan rested her on the ground and instantly wanted to touch her again. He had never been a slave to anyone else’s body. It was always the other way around. He didn’t like this feeling of being out of control of his own body’s reaction to another.

He tore his eyes away and checked the other girl. She was fading fast. Anger boiled within him. Normally, an Incubus did no favors for free. Neither girl was in any shape to barter.

He healed the second girl then called 911 to come get her. He lifted his soul-mate easily and summoned his magic, this time to hide them from sight as he carried her away from where she belonged – with him – and to the place he stashed her: the Professor’s.

His magic was already trying to push into her and explore hers, furthering his frustration when he realized it wasn’t possible without completing the rite. Yet it was also hard to feel upset when holding her felt so natural.

Fifteen minutes later, he climbed the stairs to the Professor’s porch. The door to the Victorian style house opened. Declan’s gaze swept over the stooped Incubus, who was pale this night.

“Are you well, Professor?” he asked.

“Well enough. Can’t keep up with you kids at this late hour,” was the warm reply. “How is she?”

“Half-dead when I found her. What was she thinking?”

The Professor’s hoarse chuckle was little louder than the drizzle that began the moment Declan set foot on the porch.

“She is all heart. She does not stop to think,” the Professor replied.

Declan frowned then realized he was still clutching his soul-mate in his arms. He set her down on the porch swing, her soft curls brushing his hands. This time, the loss of her skin against his was almost crippling.

Unaccustomed to the sensations, he moved away.

“You still fight it,” the Professor observed.

“Until death, if at all possible.”

“You will crack soon.”

“You seem so certain!”

“I am. You think what allowed you to stay away won’t also pull you towards her, now that you’ve touched her?”

“I was afraid of that,” he muttered. “The timing is bad.”

“It always is,” the Professor said cheerfully.

Declan stayed in place as the elderly Incubus went to the unconscious girl. His wrinkled hands touched her face with tenderness. Her curls tumbled off the porch swing, nearly reaching the ground. She was breathing deeply, peacefully.

“She is a good match for you. Strong and brave,” the Professor said. “She will give you a run for your money.”

“Just what I need,” Declan said, concerned. “It seems unusual in this day and age for us to be enslaved to a prearranged marriage.”

“It is the way of things for our kind. Nature has a way of preserving our species through the mandated soul-mates.”

“I suppose it must. It knows we will do everything we can to avoid them otherwise,” Declan agreed.

The Professor smiled. “The magic of an Enforcer and mind of a philosopher.”

“I just don’t see it working.”

“You are too troubled for something you cannot control.”

Why can’t I? Declan was silent for a long moment, listening to the rain. Rarely did he speak so openly outside his family, for maintaining discretion and the appearance of reserve, power and invincibility native to Enforcers was important, especially when planning to overthrow a society. Was the old man putting him at ease, or was it the nearness to his soul-mate that settled his blood?

The Professor sat beside his ward, and Declan’s gaze lingered on her face. Was it possible he focused on the worst of what the Professor and others reported, as an excuse to push her away? Someone so sweet looking couldn’t be that bad.

He wanted her, a sign he’d started the rite he hoped to avoid. He had to stop resisting and do what he should have done long ago: claim his mandatory wife. At least his father would be happy, even if he was trapped with a wildling for eternity.

“She will be back at it tomorrow,” the Professor said with fondness.

“She almost died,” Declan replied, frowning.

“When you meet her officially, you’ll understand.”

“She’s all yours then.”

“For now.” The Professor’s dark eyes were twinkling.

“You like to test me, old man,” Declan teased.

“On the contrary, I am becoming too old to protect her. She will need you soon.”

“I apologize if I’ve caused you strain, Professor,” he said, disappointed with himself. “I will do my duty.”

“I have never doubted you,” was the gracious response. “Your family has always served honorably, Declan.”

Declan heard the silent message for the second time that day. He didn’t want to acknowledge it earlier, but seeing his soul-mate’s unconscious body and knowing the Professor could no longer protect her, he admitted he had to go through with the rite.

“I’ll see you again soon,” he promised the Professor. “I’ve got to … warn my father. If you’ll keep her safe a little while longer?”

“Of course. Would you like me to call my car?” the Professor asked.

Declan glanced out at the steadily falling rain then down at his clothes. They were already ruined. After the recent events, he needed a bit of alone time before he faced his father.

“No, I’ll be fine,” he said. “Do you need help getting her inside?”

“The punishment for stupidity is sleeping on the porch.”

Declan chuckled. “I’ll remember that. Take care, Professor.”

“You, too, Declan.”

The Enforcer walked into the rain. The farther he went from her, the worse his mood got and the stronger her draw became. He didn’t like it one bit. It was his duty to claim the soul-mate destined for him. He postponed it for three years, perhaps thinking it would be postponed forever. Tonight, though, he was forced to admit he wasn’t able to avoid his fate much longer.

Playtime was over. He extended it successfully but had to face the fact: his father and brothers were right.

Declan was resolved to doing what he must by the time he made it back to his apartment. Changing clothes, he checked his phone twice to make sure the Professor hadn’t needed anything. His magic was almost too agitated to control, and the air around him sizzled as he made his way through the apartment building to the top floor, his father’s private apartments.

The elevator required a thumb print and retinal scan before it opened to reveal the foyer of his father’s opulent penthouse suite. The single most powerful Incubus in the universe stood in his kitchen, making pasta.

“I made enough for you.” His father looked him over briefly with the same whiskey-hued eyes Declan and two other brothers inherited. Declan had his chiseled looks as well, though he had his mother’s lighter hair and complexion.

His father always knew when one of his sons was troubled. Declan sat at the breakfast bar, the rich scents of tomato sauce and Italian spices reminding him of when he was young enough to help.

“I recognize that anger,” his father said as the silence stretched on. “Liam was the last to show it, Tommy before him. I had a feeling you were fighting it. Who is she?”

“Trouble.” Declan rubbed his face. “She has more disciplinary citations than the entirety of my brothers combined.”

“She strong enough for you?”

“I don’t know yet.” Judging by the pull, he knew she was. She was driving him crazy.

“A challenge. You love those.” His father smiled.

“Not in my personal life. We’ve got enough to deal with.”

“More than enough,” his father agreed. “You’ll be better able to handle it, with her to ground you.”

“We’ll see.”

“I’ll stop harassing Liam about you. I’ve been concerned. I’d rather you find her now and have time to work it out, before we pass the point of no return.”

“Wise, as always,” Declan replied. “I know it is a duty, but no part of me wants this.”

“The definition of duty. Something we must do but don’t want to.”

Declan snorted. “I love the rest of my duties.”

His father glanced up from stirring the sauce.

“Tomorrow, I’ll start it officially,” Declan answered the unasked inquiry. “Liam and Wes took months to reel theirs in. I’m not so confident the rite will be complete by the time our plan begins.”

“You are also twice as strong as any of my sons,” his father pointed out. “It took four days for your mother and me to complete the rite. I thought I’d go mad.”

Declan laughed. He couldn’t picture the powerful man before him falling under the spell of any woman.

“It is not a pleasant thing to go through,” his father warned. “Knock it out as fast as possible.”

“We’ll see,” Declan said again.

“Onto business. Liam called. I guess he had to take out four more Hunters, these under the age of twenty.”

“Olivia is getting sloppy in her recruiting,” Declan said. “Because she’s ramping up for something, possibly?”

“I think that’s accurate. There’s no telling with that woman. It concerns me when I’m focused on wiping out the Cambion leadership. I can’t have a blind spot.”

“You’re considering her offer of a truce.”

“Temporarily,” his father said, pensive.

“You have an alternate plan. I can see it.”

“It’s not a pretty one. Keep Olivia happy then knock her out of the picture before she can act.”

“Wes agree?” Declan raised an eyebrow. The most thoughtful and patient of all the Incubus Enforcers, the third-born, Wes, had provided the calming force after the death of the family matriarch ten years before.

“More or less.”

Declan laughed.

“He’s too much like your mother,” his father complained gruffly. “It’s probably a good thing.” He prepared two plates of dinner and set one before Declan. “I need you focused, Declan. This soul-mate thing is gonna be hell on you. If she’s anything like your mother, she’ll be a handful starting out. If you need to step away from our plan to take care of it, let me know.”

“I’ll deal with the rite, Dad. I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t.”

They ate in quiet, Declan’s body humming with restless energy that made him want to live in the gym, until he was able to shake it off. He welcomed change, though he wished it was metered out instead of happening all at once.

At least the worst would be over with quickly. The revolution would begin, and he’d claim his mate, all within a span of a couple months.