"It's forbidden."
"Okay, Miss Innocent." Vikki rolled her eyes. "Don't you wonder why? The Incubatti sleep with Hunters."
"Really?"
"Yeah. They take on mistresses. Some of them have wives. Where do you think Incubuses come from?"
"I dunno. I had no idea they have wives. Are they Succubae who betray the Sucubatti to live with them?" Zoey took another sip and grimaced. The drink in her hand tasted familiar, but it wasn't any alcoholic beverage she could remember having before. "What is this shit? It doesn't taste right."
"No idea. Oh, it's an amaretto sour. I think." Vikki tasted hers and frowned. "Yeah, these don't taste quite right."
"Tastes more sour than usual." She set it down, but her ears were already buzzing. Whatever was in the drink, it was taking effect.
"Whatever. Anyway, one of the other girls said that Incubuses have preordained wives," Vikki continued. "I guess they're Halflings that can handle the sex energy long term. To claim them, the Incubus has to sleep with them three times in some kind of mating rite, and then they own the woman. They call it three strikes."
Vikki's words floated over her. Zoey tried to pay attention, but now her vision was blurring. She shook her head and downed a glass of ice water to see if the shock of cold cleared her mind.
"No way. That's shitty. V, I think there's something wrong with these drinks."
"What if it's not?" Vikki returned, her voice slurred. "What if it's easier than rotating the football team through your dorm room every week?" She was facing Zoey, but didn't seem to see her through her glazed eyes.
"The whole team? That's like..." Zoey couldn't add when drunk. "More than one a night."
"Yeah. Try three to four."
"Are you hurting that badly?" she asked, astonished, distracted by her concern for her friend. The strange sensations caused by the drink were getting worse.
Vikki didn't seem to hear her. "Do you think this is why all the girls before us got transferred conveniently on their twenty second birthdays? Not because they were slow, but because they couldn't control themselves anymore?"
"Stop drinking that shit, V." Zoey reached out to take the drink Vikki still sipped. Darkness was encroaching on her vision from the edges of her mind. "I think we need to call ... a ride ..." She felt herself hit the floor a moment before her world went dark.
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 fucking 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."