night meant so little to her that she thought he was going to hurt her? She had no clue what it meant to be bonded to an Incubus like him, probably because of the steady diet of lies the Sucubatti fed their Hunters.
“C’mere,” he said.
Zoey obeyed, her hurt turning to anger that made her cheeks red.
Declan touched her neck, his hand loosely resting against it while his thumb caressed the tender place beneath her ear. Zoey shuddered and closed her eyes as he widened the connection between them. His body relaxed at the contact, and he resisted the urge to sigh, more so with his brothers so close. He wasn’t about to appear affected or weak or worse – emotionally compromised! – by the angry little Halfling who stood between him and what he needed to know. His brothers were already too entertained, and he didn’t understand how one night with a stranger meant so much, even if they were meant to be together.
“There will be no second date or strike two or whatever it is!” she snarled.
“You’re almost purring at my feet, my little kitten,” he teased. “Now, stop fighting me. Let go the way you did for me last night.”
Her eyes opened, and he gazed into the dark blue depths, almost as lost as she was when his magic pulsed around her. The power all but lulled her into a doze. Yielding, she leaned into him, her forehead on his chest. The intimacy of her nearness affected him too much. Her body rested against his, her angry surrender nonetheless sweet relief for him.
Declan delved into her mind. He dug out the information he sought and then paused before exploring her assertion about the human she dated. She was hurting, but the attachment was gone, replaced by confusion and her intrigue with Declan. He was pleased to see she thought of him often and not always in bad terms. She instinctively knew where she belonged, even if she was fighting it.
She was warm, her soft skin kept from him by a thin layer of cloth. He wanted it gone, so they could melt together and become one again. If they were somewhere else …
“We’re done.” His husky voice pulled her from the daze.
Zoey lifted her head from his chest. He released her. She straightened, dismayed and confused.
“You made a good impression, little Zoey,” Tommy said from his seat.
“Yeah, right before I betrayed the only people I care about,” she said, her voice catching. She drew a deep breath to calm herself. Declan resisted the need to wrap his arms around her or tell her everything was going to be okay.
“Anything to add?” he asked.
“If I ever see you again in a dark alley, Declan …”
He lifted one corner of his mouth in a smile, which only made her angrier. Wes laughed quietly.
“The inquiry isn’t over,” Declan told her. “There’s a chance for the Professor and Vikki to clear themselves.”
“Is there any chance you won’t use what you saw?” she asked.
“The Sucubatti will be told what they need to know.”
“Am I done?” she asked.
“Until tonight,” he said.
“Fuck you, Declan. And that’s not an invitation.” Zoey whirled and strode away. She swept up her knives as she left, refusing to look at anyone. He sensed she was near tears, torn between fury and sorrow.
He, on the other hand, grew tenser the farther she got.
“Well done, little brother,” Wes said. “What did you discover?”
“Nothing that will aid us in finding an Incubus killer or against the Sucubatti,” he replied. “A couple of loose ends we need to clean up. Vikki needs to leave here now, before the Sucubatti figure out who she’s connected to.”
“I’ll let Liam know,” Tommy said and whipped out his phone.
“The Professor might be above suspicion, but it’s risky. He knows too much,” Declan continued.
“The oldest generation of Incubuses have networks everywhere. Not surprised,” Wes said grimly. “I think more than the Professor is an issue.”
“We’ll let Dad know we need to find a creative way to evac the eldest Incubuses,” Declan decided. “I still am at a loss as to why they lie to these girls.”
“They would not fight half as well, if they knew they were slaughtered after their twenty second birthdays,” Wes mused. “I never understood how the Sucubatti did business anyway.”
“They keep their origins from them, too,” Declan said. He was getting moody and agitated without Zoey in the room. “Cambions know what risks they face. Why would a Halfling not be told what her