will be less effective than a speed bump.”
Declan absorbed the information. There was quiet pain and guilt in his father’s features. The shadow of his mother’s death had never left Ethan. Torn between reassuring his father that his soul-mate’s death was not his fault and hunting down Olivia to slaughter her before she laid a hand on Zoey, Declan stood frozen in powerless anger, knowing his father was right. To rock the boat at the wrong time meant that everyone he cared about suffered.
His father, the strongest man he knew, hadn’t been able to protect his soul-mate. What made him think he could help Zoey?
The destructive thought robbed him of breath. Declan pushed it away.
“You’ve got a better head on your shoulders than I did,” Ethan added. “You’re doing what I should have and using your position to protect the woman you love. I was too weak, too angry and emotional.” The words were filled with remorse.
“Dad, I-”
“It will come to a head at some point, though, Declan.” Ethan rested his hands on Declan’s shoulders. “You need to be ready to make a tough choice.”
“I won’t lose Zoey.”
“I know. But there will be implications, depending on what route you take to protect her. Our plan can’t work right now, not until Olivia is isolated. Keep that in mind.”
The warning hit him harder than the truth about his mother’s death. Unable to summon a response, Declan nodded. His insides twisted again, the way they did when he discovered how he’d been cheating on Zoey in a drugged state. He wished they had known each other longer than three days. If so, she might have realized he never would have cheated, and that he truly believed he was with her. “Something will change,” he said at last. “Something has to.”
“I hope so, Son.”
Declan watched his father deftly go about preparing dinner, the weight of his world heavier this night, the reality of how events were unfolding enough to prevent him from sleeping ever again.
He reached into his pocket, where he’d tucked a container of sleeping pills. Doubtful he’d ever get to use them, he nonetheless kept them around, in case he reached a point where he wasn’t able to function at all or he was assured of Zoey’s safety.
I won’t be using these anytime soon. Declan leaned against the counter, the emotions he kept suppressed struggling to the surface.
Nothing and no one was going to hurt his soul-mate. He had to figure out a way to help her.
Ethan pulled his vibrating phone from his pocket. “The Council green lighted the meeting with Zoey,” he said, reading the message. “Tomorrow night. That fuck head Paul is coming with me, though, and they expect us to bring her back in cuffs.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” Declan replied. “I don’t care what they tell you to do.”
“Then I suggest you plan to be there and tell her what to expect.”
Declan whipped out his phone to text her. Council will meet you tomorrow night. They want to capture you. Plan accordingly. Clicking send, he started to set the cell aside and then stopped, clenching it. It was his only real connection to her. Letting it go after hearing his father’s story only seemed to increase the physical distance between them.
She responded quickly. I’ll send coordinates and time. I could use a favor.
Surprised, he debated how to respond. His normal answer was curtailed by his guilt and fear of pushing her away. What? He texted.
“She agree to meet?” Ethan glanced up from the stove.
“Yeah. Said she’d pick the place.”
“Fine with me.”
The addresses of all the Incubatti Councilmembers. Zoey texted.
Declan lowered the phone. The information was carefully guarded, and there was a risk in leaking it that someone could piece together which of the few incubuses possessing the information had given it to Team Rogue. He hesitated only a moment longer before his thoughts returned to the fate of his mother and the fact the Incubatti
Declan absorbed the information. There was quiet pain and guilt in his father’s features. The shadow of his mother’s death had never left Ethan. Torn between reassuring his father that his soul-mate’s death was not his fault and hunting down Olivia to slaughter her before she laid a hand on Zoey, Declan stood frozen in powerless anger, knowing his father was right. To rock the boat at the wrong time meant that everyone he cared about suffered.
His father, the strongest man he knew, hadn’t been able to protect his soul-mate. What made him think he could help Zoey?
The destructive thought robbed him of breath. Declan pushed it away.
“You’ve got a better head on your shoulders than I did,” Ethan added. “You’re doing what I should have and using your position to protect the woman you love. I was too weak, too angry and emotional.” The words were filled with remorse.
“Dad, I-”
“It will come to a head at some point, though, Declan.” Ethan rested his hands on Declan’s shoulders. “You need to be ready to make a tough choice.”
“I won’t lose Zoey.”
“I know. But there will be implications, depending on what route you take to protect her. Our plan can’t work right now, not until Olivia is isolated. Keep that in mind.”
The warning hit him harder than the truth about his mother’s death. Unable to summon a response, Declan nodded. His insides twisted again, the way they did when he discovered how he’d been cheating on Zoey in a drugged state. He wished they had known each other longer than three days. If so, she might have realized he never would have cheated, and that he truly believed he was with her. “Something will change,” he said at last. “Something has to.”
“I hope so, Son.”
Declan watched his father deftly go about preparing dinner, the weight of his world heavier this night, the reality of how events were unfolding enough to prevent him from sleeping ever again.
He reached into his pocket, where he’d tucked a container of sleeping pills. Doubtful he’d ever get to use them, he nonetheless kept them around, in case he reached a point where he wasn’t able to function at all or he was assured of Zoey’s safety.
I won’t be using these anytime soon. Declan leaned against the counter, the emotions he kept suppressed struggling to the surface.
Nothing and no one was going to hurt his soul-mate. He had to figure out a way to help her.
Ethan pulled his vibrating phone from his pocket. “The Council green lighted the meeting with Zoey,” he said, reading the message. “Tomorrow night. That fuck head Paul is coming with me, though, and they expect us to bring her back in cuffs.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” Declan replied. “I don’t care what they tell you to do.”
“Then I suggest you plan to be there and tell her what to expect.”
Declan whipped out his phone to text her. Council will meet you tomorrow night. They want to capture you. Plan accordingly. Clicking send, he started to set the cell aside and then stopped, clenching it. It was his only real connection to her. Letting it go after hearing his father’s story only seemed to increase the physical distance between them.
She responded quickly. I’ll send coordinates and time. I could use a favor.
Surprised, he debated how to respond. His normal answer was curtailed by his guilt and fear of pushing her away. What? He texted.
“She agree to meet?” Ethan glanced up from the stove.
“Yeah. Said she’d pick the place.”
“Fine with me.”
The addresses of all the Incubatti Councilmembers. Zoey texted.
Declan lowered the phone. The information was carefully guarded, and there was a risk in leaking it that someone could piece together which of the few incubuses possessing the information had given it to Team Rogue. He hesitated only a moment longer before his thoughts returned to the fate of his mother and the fact the Incubatti
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