look at her.
She didn’t know what to say. Zoey got out of the car and closed the door. Eric pulled away from the curb. She watched, helpless. When he disappeared around the block, she walked into the dorms and to Vikki’s room. Fury filled her, and she slammed her fist into the concrete wall, hating the idea of hurting someone who didn’t deserve it.
Chapter Four: Declan
Declan hated to be kept waiting. As the second most powerful Incubus in the Incubatti society, he wasn’t used to people ignoring him. When dealing with the passive-aggressive leader of the Sucubatti’s IAB on her territory, however, he should have known better than to expect any sort of professional courtesy.
He stood in the Succubae’s headquarters building, accompanied by his brother.
“They like to remind us we’re on their turf,” he said for the ears of his brother.
“We do the same to them,” Wes replied.
“We don’t. The Councils may play these games,” Declan replied. In both societies, the security forces were largely independent of the highly political Councils. He was on tap to assume command of the Incubatti security arm, known as Enforcers. Today was his first jaunt to represent the Enforcers to the Sucubatti, and he was less calm than he anticipated.
“You’ve been saucy lately, little brother.”
Declan said nothing, aware this was true. Half a head taller than Declan with their father’s olive skin and mother’s blue eyes, his brother, Wes, served as the family advisor. The calm, logical brother was the go-to for their father, who was known for being overly aggressive at times. It was a trait Declan inherited, but managed to temper with hard-learned diplomacy. Wes was assigned to go with him as he gradually took on more official duties representing the Enforcers. Their father was simultaneously transitioning into his new role as one of the five representatives on the Council who oversaw the Incubatti society.
Every time Declan set foot on the Sucubatti’s side of the city, he grew short-tempered and tense. He felt the mental tug; it pulled him towards her, the soul-mate he spent the past three years avoiding. Zoey was on campus today. It took a great deal of discipline to stay put instead of trying to find her.
The massive double doors before them opened, revealing the large chamber of the Sucubatti’s inner sanctum, an airy room with Grecian columns, wispy white curtains hanging from the ceiling and windows that faced the gray, April morning. The Sucubatti were all about appearances, from the beautiful women on the council to the chairs carved from marble, glittering crystal chandeliers hanging from gilded ceilings and the tables made of perfectly matched petrified oak. A plush, red carpet extended from the doorway to the table at the far end, at which three Succubae sat.
Declan didn’t wait to be invited. He strode into the opulent chamber
“Declan. It’s been ages since I saw you,” the woman at the center said. In her prime, Olivia oozed the seductive presence her kind was known for. Her voice was low and soft, her porcelain skin flawless and her blue eyes capable of ensnaring a normal Incubus. She radiated power, a compelling draw that wound into a man’s senses and bent him to her will, before he knew what hit him.
“Always a pleasure, Olivia,” Declan replied to the leader of the Sucubatti’s security arm, the IAB. His polished, Southern drawl clashed with her cultured British accent.
“Why does Ethan send a boy to do a man’s job?” the Succubus to her right taunted.
“Not a boy.” Olivia studied Declan. She tapped a long, maroon fingernail on the table. “His successor. I didn’t know he’d chosen.”
“It was made public at last month’s meeting between our respective Councils,” Declan said.
“When does it take effect?”
“Friday.”
Olivia exchanged a look with the woman beside her. Declan sensed her testing him with her sex magic. She could tease him, fill his senses with her elusive allure in a way no other Succubus was able to – but she couldn’t control him. From his father’s warnings, Olivia was lethal in her role as the IAB Chief. One of the women seated at the table with her was all-too-familiar; Declan wasn’t expecting to see Heidi, the Succubus he’d been sleeping with for the past two weeks. He expected a private counsel with Olivia, not an audience with ten of the IAB officers.
“The Council reveals what it wishes,” she said. “What brings you to my side of town?”
“An issue that requires your attention,” Declan replied smoothly. “Before we go to the