Zoey Rogue by Lizzy Ford

of duty. Something we must do but don’t want to.”
    Declan snorted. “I love the rest of my duties.”
    His father glanced up from stirring the sauce.
    “Tomorrow, I’ll start it officially,” Declan answered the unasked inquiry. “Liam and Wes took months to reel theirs in. I’m not so confident the rite will be complete by the time our plan begins.”
    “You are also twice as strong as any of my sons,” his father pointed out. “It took four days for your mother and me to complete the rite. I thought I’d go mad.”
    Declan laughed. He couldn’t picture the powerful man before him falling under the spell of any woman.
    “It is not a pleasant thing to go through,” his father warned. “Knock it out as fast as possible.”
    “We’ll see,” Declan said again.
    “Onto business. Liam called. I guess he had to take out four more Hunters, these under the age of twenty.”
    “Olivia is getting sloppy in her recruiting,” Declan said. “Because she’s ramping up for something, possibly?”
    “I think that’s accurate. There’s no telling with that woman. It concerns me when I’m focused on wiping out the Cambion leadership. I can’t have a blind spot.”
    “You’re considering her offer of a truce.”
    “Temporarily,” his father said, pensive.
    “You have an alternate plan. I can see it.”
    “It’s not a pretty one. Keep Olivia happy then knock her out of the picture before she can act.”
    “Wes agree?” Declan raised an eyebrow. The most thoughtful and patient of all the Incubus Enforcers, the third-born, Wes, had provided the calming force after the death of the family matriarch ten years before.
    “More or less.”
    Declan laughed.
    “He’s too much like your mother,” his father complained gruffly. “It’s probably a good thing.” He prepared two plates of dinner and set one before Declan. “I need you focused, Declan. This soul-mate thing is gonna be hell on you. If she’s anything like your mother, she’ll be a handful starting out. If you need to step away from our plan to take care of it, let me know.”
    “I’ll deal with the rite, Dad. I won’t let you down.”
    “I know you won’t.”
    They ate in quiet, Declan’s body humming with restless energy that made him want to live in the gym, until he was able to shake it off. He welcomed change, though he wished it was metered out instead of happening all at once.
    At least the worst would be over with quickly. The revolution would begin, and he’d claim his mate, all within a span of a couple months.

Chapter Seven: Zoey Cornered

    “You are like a siren, washed up on my front porch.”
    Zoey heard the voice through the haze of pain, dark and cold. She was freezing! Someone touched her, and warmth filled her, along with a desire so sharp, it made her eyes snap open. She sat.
    “That usually works.” The Professor was seated in a chair beside her, smiling.
    “What the f…” she drifted off at his raised eyebrow. “fudge.” Her head pulsed, and her skin was too cold to feel.
    “Didn’t I tell you not to drink?”
    “I had two at the club.”
    “I took the liberty of reading-“ he started.
    “Okay! And a few shots of vodka before we left. But that’s virtually not drinking for me,” she told him and clutched her head. She was on his porch, on the swing where she ended up more than once during her acquaintance with the Professor. “Can I come in?”
    “Did you do anything I asked last night?” he asked in disapproval. He moved towards the front door.
    Zoey pulled off her heels and checked herself. She was alive. No blood. No wounds. No missing weapons. Vikki must’ve dumped her off, knowing she had no Eric to go home to anymore.
    The Professor was still talking. She stood, wobbled then walked into his house, trailing him to the study. He sat in one of the comfortable arm chairs before a blazing hearth. She sat at the other. There was a tray of tea waiting. With hands as steady as the branches they