Zoey Rogue by Lizzy Ford Page A

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